On Episode 2 of Operations Unlocked with Michelle Holmes, Michelle sits down with Pete O’Dell, CEO of Perdata.ai, entrepreneur, author, military veteran, and longtime technology leader whose latest mission is tackling one of the most pressing challenges of our time: loneliness.

At a time when we have more ways to communicate than ever before, many people are still struggling to build meaningful friendships and genuine community. Pete and his team at Perdata.ai are working to change that by using technology to help people move beyond digital interaction and connect in real life around shared interests, passions, and experiences.

But Pete’s journey extends far beyond his latest startup. He is also a Director of Swan Island Networks, a global open-source intelligence company he helped establish following 9/11, and previously served four years in the United States Army. Across military service, entrepreneurship, technology, leadership, and now authorship, Pete has consistently found himself at the intersection of complex problems and meaningful solutions.

Together with his co-founder Johan Wikman, Pete co-authored Dying for Friendship and Community: Two Old Friends Attack Loneliness, exploring what happens when friendship, belonging, and community begin to disappear—and what it will take to rebuild them.

In this conversation, Michelle and Pete unpack the loneliness epidemic, the difference between digital connection and genuine human connection, the role technology can play in strengthening community, and why leaders should pay attention to the relationships being built—or lost—around them.

They also explore Pete’s own experiences with leadership, service, entrepreneurship, friendship, and the lessons that come from building solutions for problems that are deeply human.

This episode asks an important question:

In a world where everyone is connected, why do so many people still feel alone?

🔓 Join Michelle Holmes and Pete O’Dell as they unlock a conversation about friendship, belonging, leadership, technology, and what it will take to bring people back together.

Operations Unlocked — Episode 2
Featuring Pete O’Dell, CEO of Perdata.ai and co-author of Dying for Friendship and Community

Operations Unlocked with Michelle Holmes launches its inaugural episode with Susan Langer, Founder & CEO of Spave and Executive Director of IgniteMN.

In this powerful opening conversation, Susan takes us behind the title and into the journey—sharing the challenges, triumphs, pivotal decisions, and even the role love and purpose have played in shaping her success.

As the founder of Spave, Susan is building at the intersection of financial wellness, behavioral finance, and charitable giving. The fintech platform helps people turn everyday financial activity into opportunities to save, give, and invest toward what matters most.

But Susan’s story is about more than building a company. It is about navigating change, rebuilding, evolving, and having the courage to begin again.

Michelle and Susan unpack what it takes to lead through transition, stay connected to purpose, and build something meaningful when the path forward does not always look the way you expected.

This is more than a conversation about fintech. It is a conversation about leadership, resilience, purpose, and what becomes possible when your work aligns with what matters most.

Welcome to the first episode of Operations Unlocked.