MENGENAI EPISOD INI
A Trillion. That's how many product data rows Kushal Khatri's platform processes at Feedonomics, which powers the Fortune 500, global brands, and advertising ecosystems that decide what shows up when you search for literally anything online.
Kushal is an engineering leader and technology executive who spent 15+ years building the kind of infrastructure that makes the internet actually function: large-scale data systems, AI, and the backend magic that keeps global commerce from absolutely losing it. He came to the U.S. from India to get his Master's in Computer Science at USC, locked in from day one, and never looked back.
But here's the thing: this episode is also lowkey one of the most personal ones for Karan & Shruti. Kushal and his wife, Himani, have been in our hosts' corner since their early days in LA. We're just talking to a friend who built something genuinely wild and never lost sight of what matters. We get into the immigrant journey from India to CTO, what it actually means to architect systems at a scale most engineers never touch, and where AI is really taking us (not the LinkedIn version; the real one). Don't sleep on this one.
Episode Chapters:
00:00:00 | Introduction
00:01:16 | Growing Up in India: Family, Independence & the Frugal Mindset
00:05:00 | India's Education System & The Secret Sauce of Indian Engineers
00:13:40 | Globalization, Modernization & Coming of Age in a Changing India
00:16:00 | Arriving in America: Culture Shock, USC & Learning to Navigate
00:21:28 | Is It Worth It? The Real Cost & Reward of Immigrating for Opportunity
00:26:00 | Visas, Uncertainty & Building a Career Without a Safety Net
00:30:00 | The AI Revolution: Agents, Automation & What's Actually Changing
00:41:05 | Building Feedonomics: Trillion-Row Infrastructure & Global Commerce
00:46:00 | Leadership, Data & Translating Tech for the Business
00:55:59 | The Skills Gap: What AI Means for the Next Generation of Engineers
01:02:59 | Optimism in the Age of AI: Why Engineers Should Lean In, Not Fear
01:12:53 | Audience Q&A
01:21:14 | The Book Round: Legacy by James Kerr & Lessons from the All Blacks
01:27:00 | Closing Thoughts & Thank You
Subscribe to Karan's Substack here!
Follow Karan on LinkedIn here!
Follow Shruti on LinkedIn here!
Check out our website here!
Check out Kushal's book, Legacy by James Kerr here!
Get in touch with us on socials:
YouTube: here!
Instagram: here!
TikTok: here!
Threads: here!
X: here!
Disclaimer: The content shared on The Learning Lounge is for educational and informational purposes only and reflects the personal experiences, opinions, and perspectives of the hosts and guests.It is not intended as, and should not be relied upon as, medical, legal, financial, or professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional before making decisions related to your health, finances, business, or personal situation. Topics discussed may include wellness, supplements, performance optimization, business strategy, and personal development. Individual circumstances vary, and results are not guaranteed. Guest views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Learning Lounge or Dang World.
A DANG World Studios Production
Our People:
Karan Dang - Co-Host & Chief Creative Officer
Shruti Dang - Co-Host & Chief Operating Officer
Utsav Dang - VP Strategic Operations
Missy Hauser - Podcast Producer
Sydney Dutton - Program Executive
Jolie Orban - Social Creative
Josh Lara - Executive Assistant
Josh Fleury - Long Form Editor
Fahd Sukarno P. Mantukay - Short Form Editor
Nadzmin Lackua - Social Media Graphic Designer
Zaidell Aparejo - Graphic Designer
John Mark Galamay - Social Writer
Megan Jesmer - Art Director
Noah Kugell - Lead AV Technician
Santiago Sanchez - AV Technician
Will Mazzola - Original Lighting & Camera Design
Estrella Trejo - Hair and Makeup
Trina Duarte - Hair and Makeup
German Belkin - Original Soundtrack
Jassi Aunty - Head Chef
Special Thanks:
Late Sidharth Raj Dang, Amrita Dang, Shashi Shukla, Praveen Shukla , Aria Dang, Blue Vir Dang
+ Advisors, Mentors, Friends & Family
