Durable Happiness with Krishnan Iyer | Beyond the Blue Badge


Discovering gratitude, purpose, and a lasting sense of fulfillment

After 15 years in various leadership roles at Microsoft, Krishnan Iyer is tapping into his passion of helping others. Specifically, Krishnan is focused on addressing homelessness, poverty and social inequity. He serves on the boards of organizations in the Seattle area that are dedicated to these areas, founded Humanize Homelessness in 2018 and launched Dignity First in 2021. In this Beyond the Blue Badge episode, hosted by Rich Kaplan, Krishan shares how his journey at Microsoft and working with those less privileged have shaped his current work and helped him discover purpose, gratitude, and create durable happiness.

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Alums act locally and think globally to Humanize Homelessness

Alums act locally and think globally to Humanize Homelessness


When Paul Shoemaker wrote his book “Can’t Not Do” about finding your purpose and tackling big hairy problems in the world, Krishnan Iyer was at the book launch and he was inspired by his fellow Microsoft alumnus.

“I was telling Paul, ‘I don't have my Can't Not Do.’ So, he actually wrote it on my book, ‘I hope you find your ‘Can't Not Do.’” He said. “So, I took that book, and I had it, and I didn't find it right away. So, I was always like, ‘What is my Can't Not Do?’"...

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Act with Alumni: Krishnan Iyer & Jayant Swamy


NWhere Microsoft Alumni Network members share their personal stories about giving back and invite others to act with them.

Microsoft alumni Krishnan Iyer and Jayant Swamy are putting principles they learned at Microsoft to work again – this time to help Humanize Homelessness.

Krishnan worked at Microsoft from 1991 to 2006, first he helped enterprise customers transition to Windows 2000, then as a group manager with the Windows core operating system division, then finally as an acting general manager for the Microsoft.com learning platform group. After leaving Microsoft, he founded consulting firm Expera and mobile first patient engagement platform mohCare. Jayant was at Microsoft from 2008 to 2011 as a senior program manager. When he left, he started JSWAM where he’s a corporate trainer and finance and management consultant...

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Act with Alumni: Krishnan Iyer & Jayant Swamy
King County homeless population third-largest in U.S.

King County homeless population third-largest in U.S.


National homelessness figures compiled by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development show that with an estimated count of 11,643 in 2017, King County trails behind only Los Angeles County and New York City in overall homeless population. That overall number includes people living in shelters and other facilities, as well as outdoors...

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What Wakes You When You’re Numb To The Homeless?


That’s a question Krishnan Iyer answered for himself. And for homeless people in his community. Krishnan grew up in Mumbai, India, and told me he sort of grew numb to the immensity and depth of poverty and homelessness there. He came to America decades ago and then something woke him up on the streets of Bellevue, Wash. last year...

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What Wakes You When You’re Numb To The Homeless?

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