Ayshwarya Mohandas, known to most as Ash, works as Manager with eServices at the Government of Yukon. She leads the Project Management Office (PMO) for public-facing online services and manages the Service Delivery team, which includes:
- eServices Consultants (formerly Service Delivery Managers);
- eServices Specialists; and
- Product Managers responsible for delivering citizen-centred digital services.
Ash also oversees the Forms Unit, which designs and delivers official government forms for the Government of Yukon. The Forms unit is an essential part of eServices, ensuring accessible and consistent user-centred standards for PDF and digital forms.
Ash’s eServices journey
Ash joined eServices (and the Government of Yukon) in February 2017 as a Service Delivery Manager. At the time, eServices was only two years old and consisted of a small, three-person team - new, ambitious, and rapidly evolving.
Just five months later, Ash took on a leadership role in the Open Government Program for the government. She spearheaded the initiative, working closely with departments to publish datasets and support the public launch of the Yukon’s open data program. Ash left the program with a clear vision and strategy that continues to guide its growth today.
Since those early days, the original team of three has grown into a team of twelve. In 2019, Ash stepped into the role of Manager of the eServices delivery team - a role she continues to hold - providing leadership across service delivery, portfolio and budget management, process streamlining, and the continuous improvement of online services.
Life before eServices
Ash moved to Canada in 2012 to pursue higher education and challenge herself professionally. As part of her MBA program at Vancouver Island University, Ash relocated to Yellowknife in 2014 to complete a finance internship with CIBC. It was in Yellowknife, which many call the ‘end of the highway’, that she met her husband, remarkably, someone from her hometown of Kerala.
Fresh out of university and ready for a northern adventure, Ash began working in 2015 with Outcrop Communications as an IT Account Manager. Just four months later, she was promoted to Digital Marketing and IT Account Manager. She held this role until she moved to the Yukon to begin her career with the Government of Yukon.
Before coming to Canada, Ash worked in Bangalore, India with large multinational companies including Wipro Technologies and Robert Bosch as a Senior Software Engineer.
Education
In high school, Ash was one of those legendary straight-A students, balancing academics with a full slate of extracurricular activities, including dance competitions, district-level chess, monoact, and drama.
She earned her Bachelor of Computer Engineering (with distinction) in 2007 from the Amrita School of Engineering, part of Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham University.
Ash later graduated with distinction from the University of Hertfordshire in 2013 with a Master of Science in International Business. She went on to complete her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Vancouver Island University in 2014, graduating with distinction, earning a place on the Dean’s Honour List, and holding scholarships in every semester.
Active in the community
Ash lives in Whitehorse with her husband and son and is deeply involved in the local community. She served for three years as an executive board member of the Whitehorse Malayali Association (WMA) and was the primary planner and host of the large-scale WMA Cultural Fest, held at the Yukon Arts Centre in 2023.
Ash regularly participates in cultural and community events organized by WMA. She is also active in supporting new immigrants, helping with accommodation, language support, and settling into life in the Yukon.
Hobbies and adventures
Ash and her family love to travel, explore new destinations, and experience different cuisines and cultures. She’s passionate about introducing her son to new experiences at every opportunity.
There’s a running joke that Ash starts planning her next trip the moment she returns from the last one. It’s not that she doesn’t love her job, she simply believes there’s a big world out there to explore.
Known for her adventurous travel style, Ash has been known to fly from the Yukon to destinations like Greece or Bali for a five-day trip and return straight to work. Being a true people person, Ash loves spending time with friends and thrives on the energy she gets from social connections.
Recently, she’s discovered cruises and quickly became a devoted fan. With Vancouver only a 2.5-hour flight away, they offer a perfect balance of travel efficiency and relaxation for the whole family.
She’s also a big fan of Zumba and dance-based workouts and is currently exploring becoming a certified Zumba instructor.
Family and roots
One of Ash’s favourite times of year is when her parents visit from India. Regardless of the season, they always find the Yukon cold, leading to legendary thermostat battles that usually end with her parents cozy and Ash slightly overheated. Winter visits often include at least one bundled-up outdoor photo.
Ash is deeply connected to her family, modern in outlook while staying firmly rooted in her culture and values.
Sharing her culture
Ash’s family is from Kerala, India, and she brings that culture into the workplace in meaningful (and delicious) ways. From sharing insights into seasonal celebrations to offering an ongoing education about what Indian food really is, Ash enjoys learning and sharing with her team.
At her first team potluck, she brought chickpea curry and egg puffs, perhaps just a little spicier than one colleague expected. Cultural exchange, after all, is all part of the experience.
Of course she has a dog too!
In 2018, Ash’s husband (then boyfriend) successfully convinced her to get a dog. After some hesitation, they adopted Beau (also called Bo), a mini goldendoodle who quickly became part of the family and completely stole Ash’s heart.
Beau has boundless energy - zooming, leaping, and spinning with enthusiasm. There’s never a dull moment when he’s around. As it turns out, this was great practice for welcoming their son in 2020.
Awards and recognition
Ash has received several notable recognitions throughout her career. She earned the MBA Achievement Award as the top graduate in her MBA program.
In 2024, she received the HPW Deputy Minister Award for Leadership and Excellence, recognizing her impact, leadership, and commitment to public service at the Government of Yukon.
Ash is a valued colleague, leader, and friend. She genuinely cares about the people she works with and leads by example. Her door is always open, and collaboration comes naturally to her.
She believes in Leadership in Action, and takes a hands-on approach to service delivery, process streamlining, and the continuous refinement of how eServices works with vendors, department partners, and each other. From early pre-discovery conversations through to service sustainment, Ash remains closely involved at every stage of delivery.
If you ask Ash about a project, she can tell you who’s working on it, where it sits in the process, the status of associated contracts, and how it fits into the broader portfolio. She manages eServices projects and budgets with clarity and care, always helping the team prioritize what matters most.
Ash is truly an invaluable asset to eServices and the Government of Yukon, and we’re fortunate to have her on the team.
Next staff profile
This spring we’ll post the next staff profile on Lee O’Mara so be sure to check back in to read it.
For questions about eServices staff profiles email [email protected].