Life Outside Work
The most important things in life don't show up on a resume. Here's what fills the rest of my time.
The O'Brien Crew
I live in Purcellville, Virginia with my beautiful wife Megan (we are both lifelong Loudoun County residents) and our sons John and Sam. Megan is my ride or die. She is an amazing mom, a hall of fame athlete at Loudoun Valley High School, President of a successful business and just all around pretty awesome. John Jr. (my first name is John) is an accomplished golfer and currently running operations for Megan's business. Sam had the foresight to see that in the AI era, his general business administration degree at VCU was not going to set himself up for success, has pivoted to learning a skilled trade. The family is completed by two dogs: Leroy and Isla. They are cute. Leroy is a menace. Isla is the sweetest.
The most important people in my life are the reason I work as hard as I do — and the reason I make sure to step away from work when it matters most.
John & Mike
Sam
Reedville & The Little Wicomico
Our second home sits on the Little Wicomico River in Reedville, Virginia — a small, historic fishing village on the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia's Northern Neck. It's one of the last working fishing communities on the East Coast.
The river feeds into the Bay, offering access to some of the best fishing waters in the mid-Atlantic. When the pace of D.C. consulting gets intense, the water is where I reset. There's something about being out on the Bay that puts everything in perspective.
Golf
A passionate golfer — there are few better ways to clear your head, think through a strategy, and enjoy time outdoors. The parallels between golf and business strategy are endless: patience, preparation, and knowing when to be aggressive.
Cooking
An avid cook with a particular love of Asian cuisine, especially complex noodle soups. There's something deeply satisfying about the precision and creativity involved — building layers of flavor is not so different from building composable systems.
