Michael O’Brien – Vice President, Global Public Affairs
From Toledo, Ohio. Living in Washington, DC, since 2008.
Prior to joining BSA in October 2022, I led public affairs and advocacy at the National Association of Manufacturers and worked in public affairs for the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. I started my career in journalism, working as a national political reporter for NBC News and The Hill newspaper. I have a B.A. in political science from the University of Michigan and an MBA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
What/who inspired you to pursue the career you have today?
After leaving media, I was eager to work at the intersection of business, advocacy, and communications. Working in public affairs for different industry groups offered an incredibly unique platform to marry together those interests.
What’s the most unique part about working at BSA?
Like many others in this series have said, BSA stands out thanks to the incredible expertise of our colleagues and our unique global reach. We don’t work on the same tired set of issues that a dozen other industry groups are involved with; at BSA, we work alongside colleagues around the world to shape the development of tech policies at their outset.
How would you describe BSA and the software industry to someone unfamiliar with them?
BSA is the global advocate for enterprise software companies. We represent the companies that create some of the world’s most innovative AI, cloud service, and cybersecurity products, and our members’ products and services impact virtually every business, government, and community.
Your turn: What advice can you give someone who just started their career/wants to pursue a similar career?
A close relative once gave me terrific advice: “Dream so big you scare yourself.”
That’s good advice in any line of work. Push yourself to think big about the impact you want to have in your chosen career and commit to pushing beyond your comfort zone to chase your dreams.
Do you have any pets, and if so, what do you have?
Shout out to Tuck, our 6-year-old goldendoodle, who often perches nearby in my home office when I’m working remotely.
Favorite book/podcast/long-form article you recommend? What did you learn?
I consume a mixture of college football and business/strategy podcasts. Unless readers are looking for a good Michigan football podcast, I really like “Cold Call” and “IdeaCast” from Harvard Business Review, “Inside the Strategy Room” from McKinsey & Company, and “Fixable” on the TED audio network.
Favorite spot for a coffee meeting?
During warmer weather, any Compass Coffee location for their nitro cold brew. The pour-over coffee at A Baked Joint near BSA’s offices is a nice treat during colder months.
Favorite spot in your hometown or current city?
Anyone who knows me understands that my happy place is Ann Arbor, Michigan (ideally on a game day in the fall). I love heading back to campus to recharge — and grab a sandwich and coffee from Zingerman’s.
How do you unwind after work?
Fitness is an important ritual before the workday to get the blood flowing and catch up on overnight news and emails. After work or on weekends, I love to unwind with a long walk with the dog or spend time in the kitchen working on an interesting meal to go with a fantastic bottle of wine.
