How an IT Manager Always Looks Forward to the Next Great Thing
Still catching his breath, with a bead of sweat running down his brow, Mahesh Iyer stands in the middle of his favorite pickleball court in Austin, TX, a racket in one hand and his phone in the other. As he eagerly works to reserve the next match, huffing and puffing between screen swipes, his buddies chuckle from the sidelines. They know the deal all too well—for Iyer, one match is never quite enough.
Later that afternoon, Iyer smiles from ear to ear as he slides into a booth across from his grown son, who arrived at their favorite sports grill a few minutes earlier to catch up on the latest games. Screens glow from nearly every wall, and both men eagerly glance around to track the latest scores. No matter the sport, they can’t get enough. The priority is clear, though: Having previously lived in Pittsburgh, they’re both die-hard Steelers and Penguins fans. As appetizers arrive, Iyer exchanges a smile with his son and rests a hand on his shoulder. In that moment, there’s no place he’d rather be.
The next day, Iyer settles into his desk chair at home, where a world map stretches across the wall behind him. Anyone who joins a video call with him can see it, and sooner or later, they learn the story behind it. He absolutely loves to travel, and his currency collection is proof. Bills and coins from around the globe fill his workspace, each one a reminder of somewhere he’s been and the different perspectives he’s gained along the way. He’s tickled pink every time he adds a new piece to the collection, and so far he’s visited more than 35 countries. True to fashion, he’s always planning the next trip.
Still, for all the incredible places Iyer has been, his favorite destination is one he never tires of visiting. When work is done for the day, he walks three blocks down the street to his son’s house, where his three grandkids greet him at the door and send him tumbling to the ground with hugs. From there, the house is abuzz. Iyer chases them from room to room. Hide-and-seek, piggyback rides, toy show-and-tell, tea parties—it’s all on the agenda. Between the giggles, he asks about their days, cherishing every moment until it’s bedtime.
One thing is abundantly clear about Iyer: Whether he’s competing, exploring, spending time with family, or taking on a new challenge, he has a seemingly endless appetite for life. It’s a trait that’s helped him thrive as IT Manager at NDIT.
People are at the heart of what matters most to Mahesh Iyer, whether it’s making memories with loved ones or building meaningful relationships with colleagues.
From New Delhi to North Dakota
Born and raised in New Delhi, India, Iyer came to the U.S. to earn his master’s degree and ultimately stayed, launching his career as a coder in Boston before moving to Pittsburgh. From there, he spent more than two decades in the corporate world, doing consulting work that took him across continents and time zones. It was in 2020 that he and his wife followed their son and daughter-in-law to Austin, just as their first granddaughter was born.
A year later, in July 2021, Iyer joined NDIT, his first role in government. He’d been hired to lead the Bank of North Dakota application support team, and he quickly found a culture that matched his drive.
“No one ever said, ‘No, you can’t do that,’” Iyer recalls. “It was always, ‘Oh, you’re hungry for more? You have our support. Run with it!’”
Since joining NDIT, Iyer has developed a newfound appreciation for the role of government, finding purpose in knowing that his work makes a difference in the lives of citizens.
Modernizing for Citizens
Iyer’s experience with digital modernization—especially in the world of automation—has been especially valuable from day one, leading to the completion of a number of vital projects.
The more leaders saw his desire to take on more of NDIT’s strategies, the more they entrusted him with additional application teams, such as those serving North Dakota’s Retirement Investment Office and Department of Transportation. During Iyer’s time with the latter, for example, he supervised the people behind the modernization of the state’s licensing systems, a total rewrite after nearly 20 years.
Another great example is Iyer’s leadership of the Drupal team, the group behind North Dakota’s statewide web platform. The group is deeply involved in a number of efforts, including the state’s digital accessibility rollout, giving him another opportunity to help shape the future of government technology. It’s a challenge, to be sure, but that’s exactly what Iyer thrives on.
Whether he’s automating processes or making it easier for citizens to access state services, Iyer’s genuinely excited about finding new and better ways to serve citizens. It’s a passion that has rubbed off on his colleagues.
Traveling the world has given Iyer a broader perspective and appreciation for different cultures and ways of thinking—one of the many things that makes him a thoughtful, well-rounded leader.
More Than a Manager
Spend a few minutes with Iyer, and it’s clear that he cherishes his fellow team members very much.
He’s recruited a number of colleagues during his time at NDIT, and he’s thrilled that they’ve all chosen to stay on his team. Throughout the weeks and months, he checks in with each of them because he cares about what’s happening in their lives. Are they comfortable? Are people treating them kindly? Do they have all the tools and support they need?
“I want to make sure they’re as happy as I am,” he says with a smile.
That’s what makes Iyer shine as a leader at NDIT. After working in the corporate world, which he says can often be “cutthroat,” he recognizes that people are at the heart of what brings a mission together. He loves that everything he and his fellow team members do is to help citizens. It’s an incredible purpose.
It’s also a great reminder of what he values most in this world: the people around him.
Whether he’s chasing grandkids down the hallway, tracking three games at once, penciling in his next adventure, or digging into the next big project for the people of North Dakota, one thing is certain: Iyer isn’t slowing down. Quite the contrary.
He’s hungry for more.