Remembering Bob Chapman: The Mentor Who Changed My Life

**Simon Sinek** (0:00)
I can no longer be accused of being a crazy idealist if what I imagine exists in reality. That's how I felt after I met Bob Chapman and learned about Barry-Wehmiller, the company he led. Sixteen years ago, Bob saw my original TED Talk about the why and sent me a letter. He claimed to have built a company like the one that I described in my work. The only problem is, I tend to write about what's possible. My vision is more of a striving. Clearly, my curiosity was peaked. And so a couple of months later, I met Bob for lunch. To say he was amazing is an understatement. He had an energy like few other CEOs I've ever met before. And that one hour lunch turned into spending three hours together that afternoon. Bob told me story after story about his culture and his people and how they were responsible for the reason the company outperformed the S&P year after year after year. Now you have to understand, CEOs often try to convince me that they have the best cultures and very often after I take a look for myself, I learn that, well, they don't. As much as I loved meeting Bob, I wanted to see it to believe it and see it I did. We spent four days together, traveling from factory to factory across the Midwest. And what I saw, blew my mind. This unknown CEO leading a company with a hard-to-remember name had built a culture that could be the model for all companies. Barry-Wehmiller figured out how to build a business model and a corporate culture that kept people safe, really safe, as well as psychologically safe. They didn't send jobs overseas to save money. They didn't lay anyone off during the 2008 recession. And they won't be replacing people with AI. This company wasn't built for the short-term ambitions of investors, but for the long-term benefit of the people who worked with and for the company. It's built to last generations. Bob built something that he and I both believe deeply, that business can and must be a force for good in the world, not just by giving money away, but by the very business model itself. The very existence of Barry-Wehmiller meant, as I said before, that I can no longer be accused of being a crazy idealist if what I imagine exists in reality. I went on to write about Bob and Barry-Wehmiller in my book, Leaders Eat Last, and Bob and I went on to become very dear friends, and he became a very close mentor. In September 2025, I decided to go back to one of Bob's factories in Phillips, Wisconsin, except this time, I brought a camera crew with me. I wanted to show the world what Bob had built. We made a mini documentary so that the world could meet some of the amazing people who worked in Phillips and to hear from Bob himself. That episode went on to be one of the most popular episodes we've ever released, and I'm so glad we made it because six months after our visit, Bob passed away.
I miss Bob desperately. There's barely a day that goes by that I don't have an impulse to call or text him to ask his advice, make fun of him, or talk about our shared passion for what business and capitalism can and must become again. Years ago, I sent Bob an email in which I made him a promise. What I didn't know was that Bob had that email printed to hang on the wall of his office. There's no force strong enough to pry me from your side, I wrote. I am with you always.
I will carry your torch for decades to come.
When the time is right, I will in turn pass it on to another. Our impact will last generations beyond us. This is what we must plan for.
It's with that promise in mind that I wanted to release the full conversation I had with Bob from the time we spent together in Phillips. I want as many people as possible to hear him and his message. It will, I promise, inspire you.
Thank you, Bob. I miss you and I love you.
Bob, what a tree, ooh, there's a big bee, big wasp.
Let's move the wasp.

**Bob Chapman** (4:38)
He wants to be in the show, he wants to be in the show. Wasp, wasp gone.

**Simon Sinek** (4:42)
Bob, when I walked back in here, back in Phillips, Wisconsin, the flood of memories, the flood of emotions, I've been here a few times over the years, but I haven't been back for probably six or seven years.