Karan Dang, father to Aria Dang, is an internationally acclaimed creative leader currently spearheading Brand Creative & Innovation at Walmart. He earned recognition on AdAge's 40 under 40 list in 2021, advancing the fields of Creativity and Marketing. In 2017, he ranked as the #6 Creative Director globally, according to the Cannes Lions Global Creativity Report. His achievements include over 150 international awards, including 2 Cannes Lions Grand Prixs, AdAge's Campaign of the Year, the Webby for Best Digital Campaign, and multiple best-of-show accolades at One Show, among others. He has also served as a judge for major award shows like Cannes Lions, One Show, NYF, and AICP, as Jury President. As the Head of Brand Creative, Karan continually raises the creative standards at Walmart, shaping the brand's reputation and cultural relevance with a strong focus on diverse talent that mirrors the communities we serve. Over the past year, he led the creative efforts for Walmart's initial foray into the metaverse. Karan also drives the creative direction for the company's cultural marketing, aiming to intertwine the brand with culture and culture with the brand. Key initiatives include partnering with Issa Rae's Hoorae Media to launch a Digital Development Program, a pioneering endeavor that nurtures, empowers, and prepares the next generation of Black creators for success. Additionally, he creatively leads Walmart's brand expression in the experiential space, showing up at culture forward events such as Pharrell Williams' Something in the Water festival, LL Cool J’s Rock the Bells festival, Beauticon, Revoltworld, Legacy Classics etc where Walmart created on-site activation spaces highlighting and celebrating the remarkable contributions of Black creators and Black-owned brands. In the past, Karan also led the creative department at the in-house agency Yellow Shoes. Focused on a digital-first approach and with a strong emphasis on inclusivity, he drove integrated, innovative storytelling for beloved IPs like Marvel, Star Wars, and Pixar. He led new product launches and land expansions, including Avatar's Pandora, Toy Story Land, Avengers Campus, and the $2 Billion Star Wars Galaxy's Edge. Notably, A key driver of gender equity at Yellow Shoes, Karan took his creative department to over 50% female in less than 1.5 years.