Show-Me State Times

Saint Louis University’s Emerson Leadership Institute is set to begin its Leadership Speaker Series with an event featuring Bob Chapman, chairman of Barry-Wehmiller, on Monday, November 3. The event will take place at SLU's Il Monastero Banquet Center and is open to the public at no cost.

The program will feature a fireside chat between Chapman and Jackson Nickerson, Ph.D., Edward Jones Dean of the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at SLU. The discussion will focus on dignity-based leadership.

Chapman is recognized for his leadership at Barry-Wehmiller, a global capital equipment and engineering solutions company with $3.6 billion in revenue. He led the company through a transformation that emphasized a people-centered approach known as Truly Human Leadership. Chapman is also the coauthor of “Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family,” which has been reissued in a revised edition for its tenth anniversary.

“Business can be the most powerful force for good when leaders prioritize both people and performance,” Chapman said. He is recognized by Inc. and SHRM as one of the world’s top CEOs and leadership visionaries.

During the event, Chapman will share insights from his book before joining Nickerson in a conversation about building cultures based on respect, trust, and belonging. A cocktail reception and networking session will follow.

The Emerson Leadership Institute’s Dignity-Based Leadership Development Program offers various initiatives to help leaders develop skills centered on dignity and belonging. Through workshops and speaker events, the program aims to promote values-based leadership within Saint Louis University and the wider community.

The Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University was founded in 1910 and is among the oldest business schools west of the Mississippi River. It is recognized for its commitment to innovation and inclusion, with several programs ranked nationally by U.S. News & World Report.