Meet Dr. Karyn Koven | Educational Entrepreneur, Founder and CEO of LanguageBird

We had the good fortune of connecting with Dr. Karyn Koven and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Dr. Karyn, putting aside the decision to work for yourself, what other decisions were critical to your success?
Other than deciding to work for myself, the single most important decision I made that contributed to my success was committing to finish what I start, but doing so with the best team I could assemble. I made a conscious choice to trust my team to help me achieve our goals. The most challenging aspect of this was learning to let go of control and trust others to make decisions on my behalf. This trust was crucial, as it allowed new ideas to flourish and enabled us to execute plans and turn dreams into reality. By empowering my team, I could focus on the bigger picture and drive LanguageBird forward.
Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
I founded LanguageBird in 2015 with a mission to revolutionize online language education for middle and high school students. I saw the limitations of existing programs and wanted to combine the flexibility of online learning with live, native-level instructors. LanguageBird is dedicated to providing personalized, high-quality, and interactive language learning experiences, meeting diverse student needs. Our approach blends the convenience of online platforms with the dynamic engagement of live instruction, focusing on constant interaction and speaking.
What sets us apart is our celebration of language, diversity, culture, travel, and globalization. LanguageBird isn’t just an online language school; it’s a cultural journey. We use practical technology to prepare students for future careers while fostering a deep appreciation for global languages and traditions. I’m especially proud of our project-based learning approach, which highlights students’ creativity and cultural awareness. Our curriculum is textbook-free, tailored to student interests—whether it’s learning Italian through cooking, Spanish through baseball, Korean through K-Pop, or Russian through dance.
We offer more than traditional language courses, including middle and high school credit courses, conversational lessons, tutoring, test prep, and partnerships with schools to expand their language programs. Recently, we partnered with Avant STAMP, allowing language speakers of all ages to earn the Global Seal of Biliteracy.
LanguageBird is more than an online school; it’s a community built on relationships, trust, and a shared passion for language and culture. As the only accredited online school for teens offering a wide range of languages, we’re dedicated to shaping the future of language education by connecting students with real people, not just software.
Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am one of those rare LA natives so I know much of the city very well. I think when I have people visiting I always take them to Palisades Park and for a walk down Montana Avenue to the beach overlook, down through Santa Monica and to Venice. A visit to the Getty and LACMA is a must for me. I’m in education and live close to UCLA, where I went to graduate school so I usually take people on a walk around the campus. LA is such a diverse and incredible city for sites and art and food so it really depends on the interest of the visitors! We have it all.
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Recognizing that our success and where we are in life is due in part to the efforts, support, mentorship, love, and encouragement of others, I’d like to give a special shoutout to several key figures and groups. First and foremost, my parents have been instrumental in my life, providing unwavering support and guidance. My teachers, both from my childhood and those who served as mentors, taught me the fundamentals of building an institution of learning. My peers and colleagues over the years have shown me the power of collaboration and the joy of creating something new. Today, I rely heavily on expert mentors, my business coach, and my Women’s Presidents Organization chapter, who provide invaluable support and guidance. Each of these individuals and groups has played a vital role in my journey, and I am deeply grateful for their contributions and continued support.
Website: https://www.languagebird.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/languagebird/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/languagebird
Twitter: https://twitter.com/language_bird
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LanguageBird/