This profile was originally published in the Corridor Media Group’s inaugural IOWA 500 magazine, which features 500 profiles and listings for an exclusive look at the movers and shakers shaping the economic heartbeat of Iowa. The list includes leaders representing 14 categories, which we believe reflect the scope of business sectors in our state. Brian […]
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Click here to purchase a paywall bypass linkThe list includes leaders representing 14 categories, which we believe reflect the scope of business sectors in our state. Brian Waller's profile introduced the Technology, Energy and Innovation category.
Click here to purchase your copy of IOWA 500.Brian Waller, president of the Technology Association of Iowa (TAI), has long been intertwined with the state’s tech industry.
In 2002, After receiving a pivotal call from Debbie Durham — then a candidate for lieutenant governor and the current CEO of the Iowa Economic Development Authority (IEDA) — Mr. Waller took the first steps toward his current role.
He interned for Ms. Durham’s 2002 campaign and found his love for the state of Iowa along the way.
“I dropped out of college for one semester, moved back, and got to travel around the state of Iowa. In regards to this campaign, I was sold about my love of Iowa,” Mr. Waller said. “I wanted to move back to Iowa because I wanted to be a part of something special. A lot of kids were moving out of Iowa, and I wanted to come back and see if we can make Iowa a special place.”
Born and raised in Sioux City, Mr. Waller graduated from Colorado State University in 2003.
Later, he took on roles at the Science Center of Iowa and later became the executive director of the Des Moines Downtown Chamber of Commerce. He then reconnected with Ms. Durham, who spurred him to join her at IEDA. There, he became familiar with several entrepreneurs in the tech sector, which led him to his current position, emphasizing Ms. Durham’s mentorship along the way.
“I have a philosophy that when someone asks you to get on a rocket ship, you don’t ask questions. You just get on that rocket ship,” Mr. Waller said. “When this job came open, I went to Debbie and said, ‘Debbie, I’d like to pursue this job.’ And basically she said, ‘Sure, I’ll help you try to get this job.’ And so I went for it, and this was 10 years ago, and I loved it, and it’s been the honor of my life ever since.”
Mr. Waller became president of TAI in 2013.
TAI is a member-based association dedicated to “uniting Iowa’s technology community by connecting leaders, developing talent, driving public policy, and fostering diversity and inclusion.” Under his leadership, Mr. Waller said the organization has grown to represent a range of sectors, from agriculture and insurance to aerospace and retail. The association’s board includes technology leaders from major Iowa companies like Hy-Vee, Pella, and Principal Financial Group.
Mr. Waller said his tenure has been highlighted by impactful initiatives like the Iowa Technology Leadership Institute and Iowa Tech Connect. The Leadership Institute launched four years ago to connect mid-career technology professionals across the state, helping them develop executive presence and build networks beyond their workplaces.
“If you think about an information technology professional, they come into their work in their office. They’re usually hands on the keyboard, or they’re within the walls of their office. They don’t have an opportunity to cross-pollinate with other technology professionals midway in their career,” Mr. Waller said. “And so we created the Iowa Technology Leadership Institute, where 25 individuals from all across the state of Iowa that want to be those leaders in their companies, but need to have some of the other skills, such as executive presence and getting [to be] around other technology professionals and having a network in the state.”
In contrast, Iowa Tech Connect — which launched in 2023 — addresses the needs of early-career professionals, particularly those who entered the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic or often work remotely. Mr. Waller said these programs have fostered immense professional growth and camaraderie.
“I have seen an impact on people’s lives with these professional development programs,” Mr. Waller said. “And so year in and year out, we keep churning out these connections, these networks, and these people that come together, and that’s been very enriching.”
In this post-COVID era, Mr. Waller said, emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, data privacy and cybersecurity are transforming the industry at a rapid pace. One of his biggest challenges has been adapting to these changes, he said.
However, looking to the future, Mr. Waller envisions Iowa as the Midwest’s leading state for technology and innovation. He said he hopes that more companies in Iowa start to think of themselves as technology companies, which will open doors to emerging digital environments.
As a leader, Mr. Waller said he is driven by acting as a servant to his employees, and to the industry as a whole. Going forward, he wants to continue to take risks in his professional life, and keep an eye out for any other “rocketship” opportunities coming his way.
“I like to think of myself as a servant leader, and so really what drives me is service, service, service, service. I hope to make my interactions with individuals, when I walk away, that they feel better. People will never remember what you say or what you did, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel.” Mr. Waller said. “I want to continue to say yes to new opportunities that make me scared and nervous. And I just want to keep growing as a professional.”
