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

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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

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Zaidell Aparejo - Graphic Designer

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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

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Special Thanks:

Late Sidharth Raj Dang, Amrita Dang, Shashi Shukla, Praveen Shukla , Aria Dang, Blue Vir Dang

+ Advisors, Mentors, Friends & Family