Shrey Bhagat is an Indian wedding photographer and co-founder of Raabta Studios. With 14 years of experience and 450+ weddings across 30 countries, he shares his approach to Indian wedding photography, destination weddings, storytelling, and building a global creative business.

From the palaces of Rajasthan to the coastlines of Greece, Shrey Bhagat has built a career around capturing weddings as stories rather than staged productions. Named one of *Vogue India's Top 5 Wedding Photographers* and *International Wedding Photographer of the Year (IWPOTY 2025)*, Shrey joins Karan and Shruti to discuss photography, creativity, advertising, entrepreneurship, and the rapidly evolving Indian wedding industry.

Indian weddings are not just cultural celebrations. They are a $130 billion annual industry, with around 8 to 10 million weddings taking place in India every year. Research from Jefferies has estimated that wedding spending is second only to food and groceries among major consumer spending categories in India. Other industry sources rank weddings among India's largest economic sectors.

#ShreyBhagat #IndianWeddingPhotography #WeddingPhotography #RaabtaStudios #IndianWeddings #DestinationWedding #WeddingPhotographer #Photography

In this episode, we discuss:

• What Indian weddings truly represent

• Why pre-production is 60% of a successful wedding shoot

• How wedding photography has evolved across generations

• The origin story of Raabta Studios

• Shrey's approach to authentic emotion and visual storytelling

• The Five Rs of reading a wedding

• Portrait coaching, creative direction, and posing

• Lessons from The Creative Act by Rick Rubin

CHAPTERS:

00:00:00 Introduction

00:00:33 What an Indian Wedding Really Is

00:05:58 From Our Parents' Weddings to Our Own

00:06:55 The Evolution of Indian Weddings

00:09:30 Pre-Production: 60% of the Wedding

00:14:28 From Advertising to Photography

00:15:13 The Sister's Wedding That Started It All

00:15:52 The Grandfather's Camera

00:16:27 Learning From a Master: Jatin Kampani

00:19:34 Creating for Yourself

00:21:38 From Fashion to Wedding Photography

00:29:16 Building Raabta With Manveen (the mirror)

00:34:13 The Five Rs of Reading a Wedding

00:36:45 A Story to Be Honored (His philosophy)

00:39:27 Spill the Tea (rapid-fire)

00:42:07 Pushing Beyond the Comfort Zone

00:44:45 From Culture to Camera

00:49:13 Interactive: Coaching Julia's Poses

00:50:10 Aria Stands In for Julia (portraits)

00:50:15 The Quiet Work Behind Mastery

Subscribe to Karan's Substack:

https://karandang.substack.com/

Connect with Karan:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangkaran/

Connect with Shruti:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shruti-dang/

Explore The Learning Lounge Podcast:

https://www.dangworld.com/thelearningloungepodcast

Read The Creative Act by Rick Rubin:

https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+creative+act+by+rick+rubin

FOLLOW THE LEARNING LOUNGE:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninglounge.podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learninglounge.podcast

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@learninglounge.podcast

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@learninglounge.podcast

X: https://x.com/learning41807

Check out Shrey's book, THE CREATIVE ACT BY RICK RUBIN: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=the+creative+act+by+rick+rubin&adgrpid=185635902199&hvadid=779570267404&hvdev=c&hvexpln=0&hvlocphy=9002126&hvnetw=g&hvocijid=9726273596588737422--&hvqmt=e&hvrand=9726273596588737422&hvtargid=kwd-1945215516440&hydadcr=20394_13639531_2283105&mcid=016a54a6ecaf3bf79e7c55ce9ba45e4f&tag=googhydr-20&ref=pd_sl_9sdaafjqvh_e

DISCLAIMER:

The Learning Lounge content is for educational and informational purposes only. The opinions and experiences shared by hosts and guests are their own and are not medical, legal, financial, mental-health, tax, investment, or other professional advice. Consult a qualified professional regarding your individual circumstances. Results vary, and outcomes are not guaranteed. Guest views do not necessarily reflect those of The Learning Lounge, Dang World, its owners, employees, affiliates, sponsors, or partners.

CONTENT CREDIT:

Any imagery, footage, or references related to the Ambani and Kardashian events are used for editorial and illustrative purposes. Credit belongs to the respective copyright owners.

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

Muita Muthee — Podcast Producer

Sydney Dutton — Community and Operations Manager

Josh Lara — Executive Assistant

Leny Balute — Chief of Staff

Rahul Sharma — Long Form Editor

Fahd Sukarno P. Mantukay — Short Form Editor

Nadzmin Lackua — Social Media Graphic Designer

Keith Tan — Shortform Creative Producer

John Mark Galamay — Social Writer

Noah Kugell — Lead AV Technician

Will Mazzola — Original Lighting & Camera Design

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, and family.

#IndianWeddingPhotography #WeddingPhotographer #CreativeEntrepreneur

Learn the McDonald's viral marketing strategy and the campaigns behind some of the brand's biggest cultural moments. Meet Amanda Mulligan, Head of Social Media and Creator Marketing at McDonald's, the mind behind the Chicken Big Mac launch with Kai Cenat, the Grimace Effect taking over Mets fans everywhere, and McNugget Caviar dominating Super Bowl weekend. If it went viral and had those big golden arches behind it, there's a good chance Amanda had something to do with it. With over a decade in the social media game, she has helped define what it means for a brand to truly become part of culture. We talk about the strategy behind viral campaigns, creator marketing, habits, instincts, hard-earned lessons, and what it really takes to run social for one of the world's most iconic brands.

Episode Chapters:

00:00:00 | Welcome "I Am Woo"

00:18:35 | The Accidental Social Native: NYC, Travelzoo & a 6-Month Detour

00:19:47 | Social Is the Future of Marketing

00:36:20 | Grimace: How a Forgotten Birthday Became a Comeback

00:41:00 | McNugget Caviar: The $0 Drop That Beat the Super Bowl

00:49:31 | Subcultures, Anime & Showing Up as a Fan

00:53:40 | Building a Brand's Social From Scratch

01:06:05 | Building Teams & the "Culture of Yes"

01:10:29 | The Oktoberfest Disaster

01:16:19 | The Big Arch: Leaning Into the Joke

01:19:15 | Fan Truths & Following Your Fans

01:29:49 | Give Us the Chai

01:34:34 | Manifestation, Moon Water & the McDonald's She Wrote Down

02:03:12 | Audience Q&A: Moving On, Burnout & New Leadership

02:07:49 | The Book: How to Win Friends and Influence People

Subscribe to Karan's Substack: https://karandang.substack.com/

Follow Karan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangkaran/

Follow Shruti on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shruti-dang/

Check out our website: https://www.dangworld.com/thelearningloungepodcast

Check out Amanda's book, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie: https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034/

Get in touch with us on Socials:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninglounge.podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learninglounge.podcast

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@learninglounge.podcast

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@learninglounge.podcast

X: https://x.com/learning41807

Disclaimer: The content shared on The Learning Lounge is provided for educational and informational purposes only and reflects the personal experiences, opinions, and perspectives of the hosts and guests. It should not be considered or relied upon as medical, legal, financial, mental health, tax, investment, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your individual circumstances before making decisions related to your health, finances, business, career, or personal situation. Discussions may include topics such as wellness, supplements, peptides, performance optimization, business strategy, investing, and personal development. Individual circumstances vary, and results are not guaranteed. The views, opinions, statements, and claims expressed by guests are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Learning Lounge, Dang World, its owners, employees, affiliates, sponsors, or partners. Dang World does not independently verify all guest statements and assumes no responsibility for decisions made or actions taken based on the information presented.

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 - Community and Operations Manager

Josh Lara - Executive Assistant

Euan Pascual - Long Form Editor

Fahd Sukarno P. Mantukay - Short Form Editor

Nadzmin Lackua - Social Media Graphic Designer

Mark Managan - Shortform Editor

Keith Tan - Creative Producer

John Mark Galamay - Social Writer

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

Disney creative lead Carol Saraiva shares how she went from winning Cannes Lions to reinventing her career at Disney. In this episode, she discusses advertising, copywriting, creativity, branding, leadership, and building a global creative career across Brazil, Portugal, and Los Angeles.

Her grandfather is the "Walt Disney of Brazil," her mother is the real-life inspiration for the country's most famous cartoon character, and the one thing Carol refused to do was join the family business. Instead she became the third most-awarded copywriter in the world, used her Cannes Lions as a passport out of Brazil, and rebuilt herself twice: once in Portugal, where she could barely write the language, and again in Los Angeles, where she lost the craft she was best at and had to become an art director, a director, and a screenwriter to survive. This is a conversation about reinvention, about creativity changing as you age, about the immigrant tax of whitewashing yourself to fit in, and about why she now spends her own time and money opening doors for the next generation of women who want to do what she did.

Episode Chapters:

00:00:00 | Welcome: From São Paulo to Disney

00:15:00 | Agency vs. Brand: When the Best Idea Stops Being the Point

00:20:00 | Does Creativity Change as You Age?

00:23:30 | São Paulo: Where Ad People Are Rock Stars

00:24:50 | The Award That Became a Passport

00:34:30 | Bald Cartoons: The Campaign That Changed Everything

00:37:30 | Portugal: Losing the Language She Was Best At

00:48:00 | Diversify Your Skills (or You Won't Lead Well)

00:52:00 | Spill the Tea

00:54:00 | Elas na Gringa and Women at Disney

01:19:00 | Creative Royalty: Her Grandfather, Her Mother, and the Black Sheep

01:53:00 | Creative Partnership, Mentorship, and Interns

02:05:00 | The Immigrant Tax: Whitewashing Yourself to Fit In

02:14:00 | Audience Q&A and the Book

Subscribe to Karan's Substack: https://karandang.substack.com/

Follow Karan on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dangkaran/

Follow Shruti on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shruti-dang/

Check out our website: https://www.dangworld.com/thelearningloungepodcast

Check out Carol's book, We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: https://www.amazon.com/We-Should-All-Be-Feminists/dp/110191176X

Get in touch with us on Socials:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninglounge.podcast

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learninglounge.podcast

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@learninglounge.podcast

Threads: https://www.threads.com/@learninglounge.podcast

X: https://x.com/learning41807

Listen on:

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-learning-lounge/id1891447172

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6oIgrRc7xQzTbftzkQlOFr

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@learninglounge.podcast

Disclaimer: The content shared on The Learning Lounge is provided for educational and informational purposes only and reflects the personal experiences, opinions, and perspectives of the hosts and guests. It should not be considered or relied upon as medical, legal, financial, mental health, tax, investment, or other professional advice. Always consult a qualified professional regarding your individual circumstances before making decisions related to your health, finances, business, career, or personal situation. Discussions may include topics such as wellness, supplements, peptides, performance optimization, business strategy, investing, and personal development. Individual circumstances vary, and results are not guaranteed. The views, opinions, statements, and claims expressed by guests are solely their own and do not necessarily reflect those of The Learning Lounge, Dang World, its owners, employees, affiliates, sponsors, or partners. Dang World does not independently verify all guest statements and assumes no responsibility for decisions made or actions taken based on the information presented.

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 - Producer

Sydney Dutton - Community and Operations Manager

Josh Lara - Executive Assistant

July Studio - Post Production House

Fahd Sukarno P. Mantukay - Short Form Editor

Nadzmin Lackua - Social Media Graphic Designer

Mark Managan - Shortform Editor

Pauline Ann Taguiam - Shortform Editor

Keith Tan - Producer

John Mark Galamay - Social Writer

Santiago Sanchez - AV Technician

Will Mazzola - Original Lighting & Camera Design

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

#Creativity #Advertising #Copywriting #Marketing #Disney #Branding #Leadership #CannesLions #Storytelling #Podcast

Experiential marketing doesn't get more insane than this. A 270-foot dragon coiled around the Empire State Building made 8 billion impressions in a single campaign. 90,000 square feet of Texas desert turned into HBO's Westworld. 400 drones forming a scannable QR code 300 feet over Austin. 15 landmarks across 14 countries cracked open into the Stranger Things Upside Down in a single night. One agency made all of it - Giant Spoon.

In this episode, Karan and Shruti sit down with Marc Simons, co-founder of Giant Spoon, the independent agency behind some of the most talked-about experiential marketing campaigns in the world.

In 2013, Marc walked out of the holding-company world with three colleagues and no safety net. Over the next 13 years, he built Giant Spoon into one of the most celebrated agencies in advertising. This is a conversation about creative risk, what it actually takes to start an agency, the art of selling big ideas, and how he rebuilt after the moment in 2020 when it all nearly fell apart.

Whether you work in advertising or marketing, you're thinking about starting your own agency, or you just want to know how the most ambitious brand stunts in the world actually get made, this one's for you.

Episode Chapters:

0:00 | Welcome; Dragons, Westworld & a Drone in the Sky

3:52 | The Pet Store: What His Grandfather Taught Him

8:18 | Two Weeks of Pre-Med, Then a Pivot

11:07 | The Internship and Two Lessons That Stuck

15:26 | Madison Avenue Meets Silicon Valley

26:27 | Demo Days and the Failed Black Card

32:56 | The Leap: Leaving the Holding Company

38:50 | Love and Money: The Wpromote Deal

52:09 | Spill the Chai

59:33 | Why "Giant Spoon" (and Alan Cohen)

1:03:40 | Try Anything, Give a Damn, Enjoy Each Other

1:04:08 | Scaling to 100 and the Pandemic Layoff

1:10:15 | Advice for the Next Builder

1:13:19 | The Obstacle Is the Way

Subscribe to Karan's Substack here!

Follow Karan on LinkedIn here!

Follow Shruti on LinkedIn here!

Check out our website here!

Check out Marc's book, The Obstacle is the Way by Ryan Holiday here!

Get in touch with us on Socials:

YouTube: here!

Instagram: here!

TikTok: here!

Threads: here!

X: here!

Listen on:

Apple Podcasts: here!

Spotify: here!

YouTube: here!

Disclaimer: The content shared on The Learning Lounge is for educational & informational purposes only & reflects the personal experiences, opinions & perspectives of the hosts & guests.It is not intended as & 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 & personal development. Individual circumstances vary, & results are not guaranteed.Guest views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of TLL 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 - Community Manager

Josh Lara - Executive Assistant

Sandino Laygo - Social Media Manager

July Studio - Long Form Post Production House

Fahd Sukarno P. Mantukay - Shortform Editor

Nadzmin Lackua - Social Media Graphic Designer

Mark Managan - Shortform Editor

John Mark Galamay - Social Writer

Keith Tan - Creative Producer

Joann Ferro - BTS

Austin Waybright - AV Technician

Will Mazzola - Original Lighting & Camera Design

Trina Duarte - Hair & 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

Jean Batthany is one of the most accomplished creative leaders in advertising, marketing & brand building. Our conversation with her was so good, we had to split it into two parts. She was first-ever Chief Creative Officer at Walmart, creative transformer of Disney's in-house agency, founder of The Art of the Pause & pioneer of Regenerative Creativity.

In Part II, Jean opens up to us about the sexual abuse she endured from a global leader at her company, takes us inside the covert culture at her last workplace, the 160K sq ft studio she built, and the career pivot that blindsided her. She opens up about losing her father, the LinkedIn post that went viral in the aftermath, and the moment burnout finally had a name.

We talk about how burnout is an injury, not a fatality and it starts healing with taking 1/24th of your day for yourself. We close with some of the best Audience Q&A to date. Don't miss it!

Episode Chapters:

0:00 | Welcome & Recap

4:06 | Chai Rapid-Fire Segment

13:06 | The Walmart Pivot: First-Ever Chief Creative Officer

16:54 | Covert Culture & Grin F*cking

18:14 | Building the 160K Sq Ft Studio

20:10 | Blindsided: A Calendar Invite She Didn't Expect

21:48 | Her Father's Death 24:15 | The LinkedIn Post That Went Viral

24:56 | The Awakening: Naming The Art of Pause

29:37 | "Burnout Is an Injury, Not a Fatality"

30:22 | Daily Practices 34:53 | Audience Q&A

38:33 | Closing: You Cannot Be Anxious and Grateful at the Same Time

Subscribe to Karan's Substack here!

Follow Karan on LinkedIn here!

Follow Shruti on LinkedIn here!

Check out our website here!

Check out Jean's book, It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw here!

Get in touch with us on Socials:

YouTube: here!

Instagram: here!

TikTok: here!

Threads: here!

X: here!

Apple Podcasts: here!

Spotify: here!

YouTube: here!

Disclaimer: The content shared on The Learning Lounge is for educational & informational purposes only & reflects the personal experiences, opinions & perspectives of the hosts & guests.It is not intended as & 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 & personal development. Individual circumstances vary, & results are not guaranteed.Guest views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of TLL 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

Shitanshu Tyagi & Garima Pradhan - Long Form Editors

Fahd Sukarno P. Mantukay - Short Form Editor

Nadzmin Lackua - Social Media Graphic Designer

Zaidell Aparejo - Graphic Designer

John Mark Galamay - Social Writer

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

Jean Batthany is one of the most accomplished creative leaders in advertising, marketing & brand building. Our conversation with her was so good that we split it into two parts.

She was the first Chief Creative Officer at Walmart & the creative leader who transformed Disney's in-house team into an award-winning agency. She's the founder of The Art of the Pause & the pioneer of Regenerative Creativity: a new operating system for how we create, lead & work without burning out. For over 30 years, she's led award-winning creative at DDB Chicago, BBDO, Saatchi & Saatchi, Merkley + Partners, and she was named one of Business Insider's 30 Most Creative Women in Advertising.

Her message moves past burnout & toxic productivity toward something more radical & more human, psychologically safe cultures brave enough for big ideas & failing forward. She has shared it on stages including TEDx, Cannes Lions, ThinkLA & NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

At Walmart, Jean led the creative mission to build a 160,000 square foot studio for creativity at the speed of retail. At Disney, she transformed the creative services team & built a culture of curiosity, learning & innovation. Today she works as a Fractional CCO, partnering with mission-driven leaders and brands to build a more sustainable, equitable, beautiful world.

Off the clock, Jean is the proud mother of two daughters, a former Advertising Working Mother of the Year & a past board member of Girls Inc. of LA. She's happiest on, in, or near the water, food is her love language & she still gets high on ideas.

Episode Chapters:

0:00 | Welcome — "Teach Me to Be a Girl Dad"

4:27 | 24-Year-Old Jean: Saatchi & The First Job

8:19 | The Myth of Doing It All

9:36 | Mom Guilt & Parenting From Guilt

11:49 | Feminism

16:22 | Anger Might Save Us

19:42 | Hustle Culture, Boundaries, & Hell Yes or F*ck No

27:09 | From Creative Maker to Creative Leader

28:21 | The Susan Cradle Moment: Breaking the Glass Ceiling

33:02 | The Personal Brand Revelation

40:57 | Disney: First Six Months in Fetal Position

48:46 | Servant Leadership at the Mouse House

52:48 | Closing: The Hottest Fires

Subscribe to Karan's Substack here!

Follow Karan on LinkedIn here!

Follow Shruti on LinkedIn here!

Check out our website here!

Check out Jean's book, It Looked Like Spilt Milk by Charles G. Shaw 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 & informational purposes only & reflects the personal experiences, opinions & perspectives of the hosts & guests.It is not intended as & 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 & personal development. Individual circumstances vary, & results are not guaranteed.Guest views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of TLL 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

Shitanshu Tyagi & Garima Pradhan - Long Form Editors

Fahd Sukarno P. Mantukay - Short Form Editor

Nadzmin Lackua - Social Media Graphic Designer

Zaidell Aparejo - Graphic Designer

John Mark Galamay - Social Writer

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

This week on The Learning Lounge, hosts Shruti and Karan Dang sit down with Andrew McKechnie, Head of Business Creative at OpenAI, for a wide-ranging conversation on creative leadership, brand strategy, and what it takes to lead creative work inside one of the most influential companies in tech.

Andrew's path is anything but conventional. Raised across Kenya, Indonesia, the Philippines, Singapore, New Zealand, and Boston, he built a global creative career that runs through the high-pressure advertising world of the early 2000s, AdAge-recognized rebranding work, and senior executive roles at Apple and Verizon before OpenAI.

In this episode, Andrew opens up about the hard parts: building a career with no roadmap, raising a family across cultures, and creating products that may one day reshape the very work he's spent his life doing. He shares why he believes creativity is fundamentally an act of optimism, what separates a truly great mentor from a good one, and how to think about risk and achievement when there's no clear path forward. He also unpacks his book pick, The Untethered Soul, and the philosophy behind it.

Whether you're a creative, an executive, or someone figuring out your next move, this conversation delivers honest, hard-won insight on creativity, leadership, and reinvention.

Episode Chapters:

00:00:00 | Introduction

00:01:41 | Meet Andrew McKechnie

00:03:21 | Reconnecting in Mallorca & Creativity as Commerce

00:05:36 | Growing Up Across Nairobi, Auckland & Singapore

00:07:55 | Starting Out: An Internship in Singapore

00:10:53 | Talking His Way Into the Creative Department

00:12:40 | The Discipline of 100 Ideas & the Power of Words

00:17:27 | Copywriting in the Age of AI

00:25:01 | The Golden Era of Singapore Advertising

00:27:31 | Underdog Agencies, BBDO & KFC

00:30:02 | Breaking Into the American Market

00:34:15 | Putting In the Work: Self-Promo & Persistence

00:37:29 | Segment: Tea Time: Rapid Fire

00:40:30 | The Unfinished Degree

00:43:21 | Raising Kids in a High-Powered Career

00:45:39 | Building Verizon's First In-House Agency

00:47:01 | In-House vs. Agency: There's No Single Model

00:51:56 | The Hidden Cost of Leadership

00:57:08 | Hiring, Culture & "You Get What You Tolerate"

1:02:12 | On Mentorship: Peers, Mentors & Mentees

1:05:15 | What It Takes to Get Hired at OpenAI

1:12:11 | Brand Is Underrated, and so are Creatives as CEOs

1:14:44 | Segment: Audience Q&A

1:18:29 | Book: The Untethered Soul

1:25:15 | Outro

Subscribe to Karan's Substack here!

Follow Karan on LinkedIn here!

Follow Shruti on LinkedIn here!

Check out our website here!

Check out Andrew's book, The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself by Michael A. Singer here!

Get in touch with us on Socials:

YouTube: here!

Instagram: here!

TikTok: here!

Threads: here!

X: here!

Apple Podcasts: here!

Spotify: 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

Walter Gainer III - 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

Noah Kugell - Lead AV Technician

Will Mazzola - Original Lighting & Camera Design

Estrella Trejo - 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

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

Episode 1 brings us one of the most accomplished executives in entertainment, retail, and brand strategy: Leslie Ferraro, former President & CEO of QVC and HSN (a $9 billion business), former President of Disney Consumer Products, and personal mentor to your hosts, Shruti and Karan Dang.

This conversation goes deep. Leslie opens up about growing up one of six sisters, how sports forged her confidence, and her mother who fundamentally shaped the leader she became. We trace her path from Economics to Strategy to Marketing and unpack what separates great marketers from the rest — including the clearest, most useful explanation of product-market fit you'll ever hear.

Leslie shares what she's learned about taking risks, finding mentors, and deliberately broadening your career, before dropping her now-legendary take on why Culture beats Strategy Every. Single. Time. She gets candid about navigating pregnancy & motherhood as a senior executive, and how she redesigned her leadership role on her own terms.

We hit the Chai Round , dig into why women ask for less (and what to do about it), and break down the real difference between mentorship, sponsorship, and allyship. Leslie walks us through leading Disney, QVC, and HSN at the highest levels, including the fascinating story behind Disney's Guest Experience innovation.

She closes with final advice that will genuinely stay with you, and a challenge to Dare to Lead.

This is the episode we built this show right out of the gate for. Don't miss it.

Episode Chapters:

0:00 | Cold Open & Key Takeaways •

2:16 | Welcome to the First Episode •

2:55 | Growing Up With Six Sisters •

8:45 | The Power of Sports & Competitive Drive •

12:05 | Learning, Curiosity & Finding Direction •

18:40 | Breaking Into Business & Early Career Lessons •

24:15 | Disney, Storytelling & Brand Building •

31:10 | Leadership, Culture & Building Great Teams •

38:50 | Navigating Career Pivots & Big Decisions •

46:20 | Retail Innovation & Live Commerce •

54:30 | Motherhood, Career Balance & Mom Guilt •

1:02:15 | Marriage, Partnership & Choosing the Right Support System •

1:10:40 | Self-Doubt, Confidence & Trusting Your Intuition •

1:18:55 | Leadership Advice for the Next Generation •

1:27:40 | Empowering Women in Business •

1:36:30 | Family, Legacy & Life Perspective •

1:45:50 | Final Thoughts & Rapid-Fire Wisdom •

1:50:26 | End of Episode •

Subscribe to Karan's Substack here!

Follow Karan on LinkedIn here!

Follow Shruti on LinkedIn here!

Check out our website here!

Check out Leslie's book, Dare to Lead by Brené Brown 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

Fahd Sukarno P. Mantukay - Short Form Editor

Nadzmin Lackua - Social Media Graphic Designer

Zaidell Aparejo - Graphic Designer

John Mark - 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

Welcome to The Learning Lounge! Where leaders talk about how success actually happens.

The internet celebrates outcomes. It rarely explains the decisions behind them. The Learning Lounge is a podcast hosted by Karan and Shruti Dang, who sit down with founders, operators, and leaders in exciting, innovative industries to unpack the real stories behind their journeys; the doubts, trade-offs, failures, and frameworks that shaped their success. Because the next generation shouldn't have to build in the dark.

Tune in every other Wednesday for new drops!

Subscribe to Karan's Substack here!

Follow Karan on LinkedIn here!

Follow Shruti on LinkedIn here!

Check out our Website here!

Get in touch with us on Socials:

YouTube: here!

Instagram: here!

TikTok: 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.

Our People:

Karan Dang - Co-Host & Executive Producer

Shruti Dang - Co-Host & Executive Producer

Utsav Dang - Executive Producer

Missy Hauser - Podcast Producer

Sydney Dutton - Program Executive

Jolie Orban - Social Media Manager

Josh Lara - Executive Assistant

Fahd Sukarno P. Mantukay - Short Form Editor

Nadzmin Lackua - Social Media Graphic Designer

Zaidell Aparejo - Graphic Designer

John Mark - 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

Renee Bones - Photographer

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