Yashwanth Iragattapu shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Yashwanth, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Travel and photography are the two things that make me forget about time completely. Whenever I’m in a new place, something inside me slows down and I begin to notice the smallest details. It could be the way sunlight touches a building, the texture of an old street, or the quiet patterns nature creates without trying. These moments spark my curiosity and make me want to understand the stories behind every place I visit. With a camera in my hand, that curiosity turns into a desire to capture what I feel, not just what I see. I love finding angles and frames that reveal the true character of a city. In those moments, I feel fully present, as if I am rediscovering both the world and a part of myself at the same time.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Yashwanth, a Design Technologist and Photographer who’s always been driven by curiosity and the joy of creating. My career has taken me into the world of immersive technology, where I design and prototype Augmented Reality experiences that blend digital information seamlessly into real environments, giving people a clearer and more immersive way to understand the world around them. At Amazon, I’ve had the opportunity to design immersive AR experiences that help millions of customers visualize products in their homes. What excites me most is the opportunity to turn complex ideas into simple, intuitive experiences that feel natural to people.
Outside of work, I express myself through photography. I run a personal brand called Lens Voyage, where I explore cities, landscapes and everyday moments through a unique visual style. Photography helps me slow down, observe the world with intention and share stories that often go unnoticed.
I also enjoy building tools and automations that make life feel a little easier. I often experiment with AI, create small workflows or design side projects that solve simple problems or spark new ideas. There is something very satisfying about turning an idea into something useful.
At my heart, I am someone who loves learning and creating. Whether I am working on design, technology or art, I am guided by curiosity and the wish to bring thoughtful and meaningful experiences into the world.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One moment that truly changed how I see the world was my first solo trip to Germany when I was nineteen. It was the first time I had stepped so far outside my comfort zone. I remember walking through the streets of Cologne, feeling both nervous and excited, and being surprised by how warmly people greeted me. Strangers smiled, helped with directions and made me feel welcome even though I was thousands of miles from home.
Learning about the history of Cologne, especially its World War Two past, left a deep impression on me. Standing in spaces shaped by both devastation and resilience made me reflect on how much the world holds that we rarely think about.
That trip opened my horizons in a way nothing else had. It taught me that there is so much more to learn, so many stories waiting to be discovered and so much personal growth that happens when you step into the unknown. It was the moment I realized how big, beautiful and connected the world really is.
If I had to give one piece of advice to the younger generation, it would be to take a solo trip to another country and allow yourself to figure things out on your own. You will learn so much about the world, but even more importantly, you will learn so much about yourself.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me things that success never could, and over the years I’ve come to believe that real success is impossible without going through difficult moments. Growth doesn’t happen in comfort. It happens when life tests you, stretches you and forces you to see who you really are.
When I first moved to the United States, I just had $100 in my pocket, $60,000 in student loans and my family on the other side of the world, I had no idea what the future would look like. There were days when I survived on just $1 and had free meals at the local Gurudwara. The Sikh community welcomed me like family, without ever asking anything in return. Their kindness taught me compassion and humility in a way nothing else could.
Graduating during the pandemic was another turning point. Companies weren’t hiring, the roles I wanted were niche and being an immigrant meant living with constant uncertainty. You learn to mentally keep two bags ready, because one rule change can uproot your entire life. When my visa expired in 2023, I had to leave the country and start again in Canada. It was painful, but it taught me something important: no matter how much you plan, life will still surprise you. You have to adapt instead of resisting.
The greatest lesson suffering has given me is this: if you persist, stay humble and don’t give up, there is always light at the end of the struggle. Success may feel good, but suffering shapes you. It builds character, resilience and a deeper understanding of the world and the people in it.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
For a long time, I believed that hard work alone was the key to success. It was something I grew up seeing. My parents worked tirelessly every single day, often without a moment to rest, yet they never reached the level of freedom or ease that hard work was supposed to bring. Watching them gave me a strong work ethic, but it also opened my eyes to a difficult truth.
As I grew older, I realised that success is not a simple equation. Hard work matters, but it isn’t everything. Smart work, timing and sometimes even luck play a much bigger role than I once wanted to admit. I’ve seen people who were simply at the right place at the right time go on to achieve incredible things.
That shift in perspective changed how I approach my own life. Now I focus on learning constantly, researching deeply and staying alert to new opportunities. Instead of only working harder, I try to work wiser. I believe success comes from a mix of preparation, awareness and the courage to seize the moment when it shows up. It’s a more balanced, realistic and compassionate way of looking at life.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
If I knew I had only ten years left, the first thing I would stop doing is worrying endlessly about work and finances. I would let go of the pressure to constantly build for the future and the need to meet everyone’s expectations. So much of life gets lost in trying too hard to be “prepared” or “perfect,” and I wouldn’t want to spend my remaining time chasing that.
Instead, I would travel with intention. I would explore the world, experience cultures deeply, and capture stories through my camera, not just for myself but to inspire younger generations to see life differently. Moments, not milestones, would become my priority.
And whatever money I had, I would put it toward something meaningful. I would support education for underprivileged children and make sure those who struggle to find food have a place to turn to. If my time were limited, I’d want every day to feel purposeful, and every choice to leave a small but positive mark on someone else’s life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.yashwanthiragattapu.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lens.voyage/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yashwanth23/
Image Credits
Personal photo – Aniket Sananse
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
