The most interesting careers rarely move in straight lines. They zigzag through curiosity, take detours through uncertainty, and often find their sharpest clarity in moments that don’t look like breakthroughs at all. Sometimes, it begins on a school field, in the middle of a team huddle. Sometimes, it looks like asking one more question than everyone else in the room. And sometimes, it’s simply the quiet decision to keep going, even when the odds, or the inbox, say otherwise.
It is within this layered, evolving idea of growth that Tara Kapur, Global Director Of Marketing, Duolingo English Test, begins to map her journey, one that moves fluidly between media, marketing, and the pursuit of building something that meaningfully disrupts the status quo.
“I think for me, the first time I realized that I have some sense of leadership qualities was probably when I was in school,” Kapur said. “I wasn’t a straight A student, but I was a pretty versatile kid. I enjoyed extracurriculars, I was part of team activities, I ran cross country, and I was my school head girl. All of those experiences were foundational in building leadership.”
What stayed with her wasn’t just participation, but the process of earning influence. “We had elections, we campaigned, we built proposals, we showcased what difference we were going to make,” she said. “That’s where I realized I do have a certain level of influence.”
That early understanding of leadership, she explained, evolved into something more nuanced over time. “A lot of leadership is asking the right questions,” Kapur said. “Journalism, in particular, puts you in a position where you’re constantly engaging with senior people across sectors. That builds confidence and curiosity. That combination is really powerful.”
If leadership is often boxed into a single personality type, Kapur is quick to challenge that perception. “There’s typically one picture of what leadership should look like, an extroverted, type A personality,” she said. “And women, in particular, face an added layer where they’re labeled bossy or aggressive if they fit that mold.”
But the shift, she believes, is already underway. “The world is evolving. You’re seeing more holistic versions of leadership today,” Kapur said. “Platforms like LinkedIn are showcasing leaders who are not just defined by their work, but by their lives, being a parent, building a business, navigating partnerships. That diversity is what will continue to change perception.”
At Duolingo, where education meets entertainment, the pace can be relentless. Yet, Kapur approaches it with a mindset shaped as much by discipline as by passion. “I genuinely enjoy my work,” she said. “Finding creative solutions to challenges motivates me. That itself reduces burnout because it doesn’t feel like a chore.”
Her approach to work, however, is far from indulgent hustle. “I use running as a metaphor a lot because I used to be an ultra marathon runner,” she said. “For me, it’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon. You need to sustain your energy.”
That philosophy reflects in her daily habits. “I don’t try to finish my entire to-do list,” Kapur said. “I focus on the top one to three critical tasks in a day. It’s more achievable and helps you build a sustainable rhythm.”
Equally important, she insists, is knowing when to step away. “Take your PTO,” she said. “So much leave goes unused, especially in India. That time exists for a reason. It helps you reset and come back stronger.”
The conversation around balance inevitably leads to a deeper, more structural reality, particularly for women. “There’s a much larger mental load,” Kapur said. “Beyond work, there are still traditional expectations around managing the household.”
She doesn’t frame it as an individual struggle alone, but as a societal shift in progress. “If women are matching roles in income, there needs to be equal balance at home as well,” she said. “That’s why the idea of ‘share the load’ is so important. It’s not just a campaign, it’s a principle.”
Without that balance, she pointed out, the consequences are visible. “You see dropouts as you move up the hierarchy,” Kapur said. “Not because women lack talent, but because it becomes impossible to sustain that level of responsibility alone.”
Even in the way she resets, Kapur leans into practicality over idealism. “I don’t completely switch off,” she said. “I check my emails occasionally during a break, not to respond, but to reduce the burden when I return.”
She also builds a buffer into her routine. “I never optimise my vacation end to end,” Kapur said. “I come back a day earlier, get my house in order, and plan my week. Those small steps reduce stress.”
Her career choices, too, follow a distinct pattern, one rooted in disruption. “If you look at the businesses I’ve worked with, the common thread is disruption,” she said. “Whether it was Bloomberg, Vice, Netflix, or Duolingo, they were all trying to change something that already existed.”
That challenge is precisely what draws her in. “I like solving tough problems,” Kapur said. “I like being that person trying to change how people do things.”
At Duolingo English Test, that translated into building from the ground up. “I was the first hire for the test in India,” she said. “It was about building the go-to-market strategy, finding the right partners, and driving that change on ground.”
Despite the shift across industries, her core marketing philosophy has remained consistent. “You need to understand your consumer,” Kapur said. “What motivates them, how they make decisions, that remains the same whether you’re selling content or a test.”
From there, everything else follows. “You build insight, create campaigns, and focus on distribution,” she said. “Marketing is about breaking through clutter, and that requires both creativity and clarity.”
Behind this journey, however, lies a strong network of people who’ve shaped her path. “Your network is critical,” Kapur said. “It helps you grow, evolve, and move forward.”
That support system, for her, began at home. “I’ve been very privileged to have strong examples of leadership in my family,” she said. “My grandmothers were highly educated and deeply invested in learning. My parents continued that, and my sister has been a benchmark of success for me.”
Professionally, too, mentorship has played a key role. “I’ve had strong female bosses throughout my career,” Kapur said. “They’ve helped me build confidence and shaped how I approach challenges.”
And if there’s one idea that anchors her journey, it is this: the refusal to measure it against anyone else’s timeline. “You’re running your own race,” she said. “Earlier in my career, I faced a lot of rejection. I applied to 50 or 60 jobs before one said yes.”
That one opportunity, she explains, changed everything. “I took a pay cut to make a shift I believed in,” Kapur said. “At that point, others around me were earning more. But if I kept comparing myself, I would have been demotivated.” Instead, she chose conviction. “My race is different,” she said. And in a world that constantly demands speed, that might just be the most radical way to move forward.
