Meet Michael J. O’Brien, MEd

As the Organizational Development Specialist for The Performance Institute, Michael O’Brien unravels the complexities of organizations into easy to understand interrelationships. Michael’s diverse background in finance, economics and human behavior enable him to take the seemingly unpredictable relationship side of business and make it tangible and manageable. This clear understanding of corporate cultures has allowed Michael to lead some of the world’s top companies to new perspectives of their strengths and of their challenges. Michael has leveraged this gift of discernment by establishing strategic relationships with organizations around the world, as their culture and leadership expert.

After receiving his Honors Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University in 1986, Michael joined Human Synergistics Canada. During his nine years there, he grew the business 900% by listening to clients and developing new products and processes that met their needs. He educated and supported hundreds of internal and external consultants on the use of individual and organizational measurement tools. Clients included Southam Newspapers, Royal Bank of Canada, Ontario Hydro, Agriculture Canada and St. Joseph’s Hospital. In 1994, he received his Master of Education degree from The University of Western Ontario.

In 1995, Michael was promoted to Director of Sales and Marketing at the home office of Human Synergistics in Plymouth, Michigan. While managing a staff of twelve, Michael continued his client-focused approach with organizations like Saturn, American Airlines, Colgate Palmolive, Hewlett Packard, Disney and the University of Michigan. With these and many other clients, he helped them improve their teamwork, management, leadership and culture.

During O’Brien’s career, he has reached a global audience with an array of products and services that have helped clients achieve incredible growth with improved productivity. The list of clients continues to grow including the City of Beverly Hills, Caterpillar, Child Health Corporation of America, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Labor, Houston Rockets, Manchester College of Arts and Technology, National Association of Realtors, SASOL, Shell Oil and the State of Nebraska.

Michael is a firm believer that we all have to give back to the community. As a charter member of the Katy Sunrise Rotary Club and a Paul Harris Fellow, Michael went to Egypt to help with Rotary’s Polio Eradication Campaign. Michael has served as the secretary of the board for his children’s school. Another of Michael’s passions is South Africa, where he has continued to help this emerging nation continue their miracle of change.

Michael and his wife Angela love to travel and experience different cultures and regions as they help their three children Kate, Colleen and Nicolas grow into citizens of the world.