What Tech Leaders Can Learn from San José’s Data-Driven Approach to Government

January 8, 2026

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About the Guest

Mayor Matt Mahan

Mayor of the City of San José

Matt Mahan is the 66th Mayor of San José, California, and assumed office in January 2023. Prior to public service, he spent more than a decade as a venture-backed startup CEO after beginning his career with Teach for America. As mayor, he has focused on applying performance management, data transparency, and technology-driven innovation to city government, with priorities spanning homelessness, public safety, housing, infrastructure, and economic opportunity.

Episode Overview

What happens when a former startup CEO brings performance management discipline into city government?

In this episode of Technovation, Peter High speaks with San José Mayor Matt Mahan about applying data-driven decision-making, KPIs, and accountability—practices familiar to tech leaders—to the public sector. Drawing from his experience running venture-backed startups, Mahan explains how focus, measurement, and feedback loops are reshaping how City Hall operates.

Key topics include: