Knotch connected with Umang Choudhary, Vice President, Content at Expedia Group for our "Own Your Voice" series to hear his story, and to learn what drives Umang in his career.
My story began in what felt like a small nondescript town in India, but that was more than made up for by a gaggle of family and friends who kept life interesting! I felt different, but couldn’t quite put my finger on it….it was a far cry from my current life in Seattle in a career I couldn’t even have dreamed of back then.
A well-trodden academic and professional path in computer and software engineering across India and the US and “feeling set” gave me the room to become independent and eventually come out to myself, my family, and friends. It was how I wanted to live my life not just personally, but also professionally going forward so that I could be my whole authentic self – both at work and in my personal life. Business school helped to make that transition and choose a career that fulfilled me professionally by marrying my foundation in technology with my newly minted business skills and interests.
My mother, who transformed herself from traditional homemaker to family breadwinner after the death of my father at a young age. She’s always inspired me!
Content isn’t always meant to sell a product or necessarily even inspire – it’s great if it resonates well and does. I believe it’s meant to fully inform the shopper/consumer about the product or experience as objectively as possible, especially those aspects relevant to them, and to let them decide whether it’s right for them.
It’s impossible to know how life unfolds; just take it as it comes and do what feels right!
