Raag Khandelwal joined Prodigal in 2022 and is currently heading the Digital Strategy and Ops team. Prior to that, he led the Analytics and RevOps verticals at Prodigal.

Where did you grow up, and where are you based now?

I grew up in Hyderabad, where I spent the first 17 years of my life. I then moved to Pilani for college. After that, I lived in Ahmedabad for a couple of years for my MBA before working in Bangalore and Mumbai. I’m currently based in Bangalore.

What’s your educational background, and what were your previous work experiences before joining Prodigal?

I pursued a dual degree in Civil Engineering and Mathematics at BITS Pilani, but I quickly realized that core engineering wasn’t for me. Numbers and data fascinated me, so I gravitated toward analytics and data science. I worked on multiple projects and internships in that space, even landing a pre-placement offer as a data scientist. But after scoring 99.99 percentile in CAT and securing an admission at IIM Ahmedabad, I decided to pursue my MBA.

Post-MBA, I still wasn’t sure about which industry I wanted to focus on, but I knew I wanted to sharpen my decision-making skills. Consulting felt like the right choice, giving me exposure to different industries. I spent two years at EY working on B2B SaaS projects, followed by two years at BCG, where I consulted for industries ranging from cement manufacturing to iron ore pelletization in West Africa.

What attracted you to join Prodigal, and how has your role evolved since you started?

While consulting gave me great exposure, I often felt like a cog in the wheel. Many decisions were made top-down, and my role was primarily to validate those decisions with data. I wanted more ownership and impact. One of my projects at EY was in B2B SaaS and AI, and it left a lasting impression on me. It was the fastest-growing industry I had worked in, and I knew that’s where the future was headed.

I was also drawn to Prodigal because of the people. When I spoke to Shantanu and Sangram, I was inspired by their vision and backgrounds. Both hailing from IIT Bombay and Shantanu’s journey from BCG to Blackstone to Wharton and Sangram’s experience at Tower Research—one of the most prestigious high-frequency trading firms—made me confident that this was the right place for me. More than that, the energy of the Prodigal team was infectious. I knew I had to be part of it.

I started off leading Revenue Operations and Analytics. About six months in, we identified a huge opportunity in digital execution—creating AI-driven digital strategies for our customers. Shantanu believed I was well-suited for the challenge, so I transitioned into this role. It’s been over a year now, and I love it. Compared to growth plateauing 1-2 years in most companies, my learning curve here has been a hockey stick— constantly rising.

What’s been the most fulfilling part of your journey at Prodigal so far?

Prodigal ensures you never stop growing. The company actively finds ways for people to contribute in areas where they’ll learn the most and add the most value. That’s what makes it such an exciting place to be. Looking ahead, I’m eager to keep pushing boundaries, solving meaningful problems, and making an impact that truly matters.

Can you share a significant project or achievement you’re proud of during your time here?

One of the most rewarding projects I worked on was with a customer who wanted to increase engagement and topline revenue through AI-driven strategies. We implemented our AI models and successfully delivered 20-30% more value. But while executing, we uncovered a deeper issue—email deliverability. Their emails were landing in spam instead of inboxes. Solving that problem unlocked 4-5x growth, far beyond what they originally expected. That experience reinforced a key lesson: delivering value isn’t just about executing what a client asks for; it’s about identifying the real problems and solving them proactively.

What are your favorite hobbies or activities outside of work?

I love playing chess, the guitar, table tennis, and pickleball. Playing the guitar is my way of unwinding after a long day—I make sure to play for 15-30 minutes every evening. On weekends, sports like table tennis and pickleball help me stay active and socialize in Bangalore. And then there’s card magic—a passion that started when I was 14. Even today, I love performing at parties—seeing people’s expressions when they witness something impossible is priceless.

Which of Prodigal’s values resonates with you the most, and why?

The two values that resonate most with me are Pursue Excellence and Specificity. Pursuing excellence is about getting better every single day—if I’m working on something, I want to be the best at it. Specificity is all about backing arguments with data. A decision isn’t just about intuition; it needs to be grounded in facts. These principles have guided me throughout my journey and continue to shape how I approach work at Prodigal.

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