IT solutions in the Government with Karthik Viswanathan

IT solutions in the Government with Karthik Viswanathan

Author: PM Power Consulting August 17, 2024 Duration: 27:46

I am in conversation with Karthik Viswanathan, the President of Ochyo Inc, a consulting firm that specializes in serving State & Local governments around strategy development, technology enablement and business process optimization

In this part of the conversation, Karthik shares:

Karthik's career path:

  • Started in IT after college in Bombay (now Mumbai)
  • Worked in tech support for a university in the US
  • Joined a research company (GTE Labs, now part of Verizon) focused on telecom technologies
  • Transitioned from research to government work focusing on applying technology to improve citizen services

Government vs. Private Sector:

  • Government projects can have a larger social impact
  • Funding for government projects is based on impact and efficiency, not ROI
  • User experience (UX) is becoming increasingly important in government services, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic
  • Cloud migration and low-code/no-code development are accelerating innovation in government

Key points about impact in government projects:

  • Needs to consider a "long tail" of users with diverse needs
  • Focuses on human impact and reducing frustration for citizens
  • Must balance efficiency and initial investment costs

Shifting landscape of government technology:

  • From building systems for internal needs to user-centered design
  • Cloud migration enabling faster and more scalable solutions
  • Rise of low-code/no-code development for quicker implementation

Karthik Viswanathan is the President of Ochyo Inc, a consulting firm that

specializes in serving State & Local governments around strategy development, technology enablement and business process optimization.

He was previously the Vice President for Development & Strategy for AIinGov responsible for driving strategic partnerships and relationships to accelerate the time to market and operational efficiencies for AIinGov’s customers. 

Prior to that, Karthik served in senior IT leadership roles in State and Municipal governments. He was the Assistant Secretary for Technology Services & Security to help streamline IT services for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts including CIO roles for Labor & Workforce and Department of Revenue. Karthik has also served as CIO for the City of Somerville.

He holds engineering degrees from the University of Mumbai and Texas A&M University, and an MBA from Northeastern University.


LinkedIn Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaviswan/




Behind every line of code, there's a person with a story. Software People Stories, from PM Power Consulting, moves beyond abstract theory and polished case studies to explore the real, human experience of building technology. This isn't about hypotheticals; it's a collection of candid conversations with the practitioners themselves-developers, designers, product managers, and architects-who share firsthand accounts from the trenches. They talk about the paths that led to success and, just as importantly, the unexpected detours and failures that provided the most valuable lessons. Each episode delves into the nuanced journey of discovering what users need, designing elegant systems, navigating complex development, and ultimately delivering solutions that matter. By focusing on these personal narratives, the podcast reveals the core of software creation: a blend of technical skill, creative problem-solving, and team dynamics. Listeners gain practical wisdom and relatable perspectives on the challenges and triumphs inherent in the tech industry. Tune in for an honest look at the craft, where the stories of people are just as crucial as the software they build. You'll find this podcast a refreshing source of insight for anyone involved in or curious about the technology and business landscapes, offering career lessons learned the hard way.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Software People Stories
Podcast Episodes
Reviving Developer Passion with Paramu Kurumathur [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:39
My guest today is a good friend and colleague - and not to forget with whom I was a co-author for a book, Paramu Kurumathur.In this episode, Paramu discusses how his recent development work evolved from small Google Apps…
From Gaming to Global Efficiency with Evan J Schwartz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:05
My guest today is Evan J. Schwartz, the COO of AMCS Group North America, a global leader in sustainable cloud technology. He also serves as an Adjunct Professor and Board Advisor at Jacksonville University, mentoring gra…
Navigating Career Curves and Breaks with Chaitra Rao [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:10
My guest today is Chaitra Partha Rao, Vice President at Daimler Truck Innovation Center India – Manufacturing , Sales & Aftersales.Chaitra shares how her childhood aspirations to become a neurosurgeon shifted to commerce…
Navigating Tech and Chaos with Tyler Wells [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:24
My guest today is Tyler Wells, co-founder of Brain Grid.Tyler recounts 25+ years in software, from an early IBM XT to work across military communications, startups, Skype/Microsoft, and seven and a half years at Twilio b…
Building a Business Dream with L A Balamurugan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:59
My guest today is L.A. Balamurugan, known as Bala. With extensive experience in software development, he now plays the role of a delivery coach.In this conversation filled with nuggets from his experience, Bala shares hi…
Unleashing Potential with Rajesh Sharma [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:07
In this episode, I am in conversation with Rajesh Sharma, co-founder and chief product officer of ProHance. Rajesh covers a lot of ground starting from his move from Public Sector to SaaS Founder.Rajesh describes his pat…
A real natural with Arundathi Rao [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:41
Host: Chitra Gurjar4 decades and counting, always energized to do something, work is my DNAFrom post and telegraph to giving tuitions to creating her own agency to studyAn advocate for herself, nurturing her desire to se…
Bits, Banking & Business Analytics with Muthusamy Vetrivel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:45
In this episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri speaks with Muthusamy Vetrivel, Manager – Business Analytics at Saudi National Bank (formerly Saudi French Bank), about a career that spans over four decades of technol…
Belong, Don't Blur with Dr. Vaijayanthi Srinivasaraghavan (Viji) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:52
In this deeply personal and inspiring episode of Software People Stories, Gayatri speaks with Dr. Vaijayanthi Srinivasaraghavan (Viji) — a seasoned technology leader, Senior Director at UPS, and a resilient voice for wom…