About this episode
This episode honors Bob Chapman, reflecting on his impact as a leader and his philosophy of Truly Human Leadership.
On this episode, we remember BW Chairman Bob Chapman, who passed away on March 19, 2026. Bob Chapman was more than a business leader, author and speaker, he was a relentless optimist who dedicated his life to building a better world. He worked to redefine what it meant to be a leader in business, to further the understanding that it was an awesome responsibility because the way we lead impacts the way people live. He worked tirelessly to bring more caring to business and built the foundation for Barry-Wehmiller to champion new definitions for success in business: by demonstrating that economic growth and human vibrancy can exist in harmony. Bob became CEO of a struggling Barry-Wehmiller in 1975 upon the death of his father, William Chapman. At the time, the company was a $20 million supplier of equipment for the brewing industry. As of 2025, when Bob handed the reigns of the business to his son Kyle, the current President and CEO, Barry-Wehmiller had become a $3.6 billion-plus global powerhouse with 12,000 team members and a portfolio spanning industrial and packaging automation, professional services, and life sciences technology. Beyond his business acumen, in the late 1990s…
Topics covered
- leadership
- business transformation
- human vibrancy
- optimism
- success in business
- personal growth
Keywords
- Bob Chapman
- Barry-Wehmiller
- leadership
- business
- human vibrancy
- optimism
- success
- transformation
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Barry-Wehmiller
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- Healing Leaders w/ Raj Sisodia and Nilima Bhat · February 19, 2026 · 41 min
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