On this episode, we're introducing a new regular installment of the podcast, the People and Performance Playbook.

Each one of these episodes will be shorter bits of insight from experts at Chapman &Co. Leadership Institute as they share stories from their work and the thinking and methodology they use to help organizations understand and put into practice the idea that people and performance, or human vibrancy and economic growth, can exist in harmony, not in conflict with one another.

These episodes are also a deeper dive into issues written about in Chapman & Co.'s People and Performance Playbook Newsletter, to which you can subscribe when you find them on LinkedIn.

Today's topic is The Shift in Leadership Norms.

If you want to implement the principles discussed on this podcast within your organization to improve its leadership, culture and performance, check out Chapman & Co. Leadership Institute at ccoleadership.com, founded by Barry-Wehmiller' late CEO and Chairman, Bob Chapman, to bring Truly Human Leadership to organizations around the world.

A few weeks ago, Barry-Wehmiller's Chief People Officer, Rhonda Spencer spoke at the 2026 i4CP Next Practices Now Conference. Rhonda was a featured speaker, sharing our message of Truly Human Leadership alongside CEOs and other Chief People Officers from companies such as John Deere, Dick's Sporting Goods, Lumen, Northwestern Mutual, Accenture, Microsoft, FedEx and many more.

Originally, Barry-Wehmiller's Chairman, Bob Chapman was supposed to be part of the presentation alongside Rhonda, but he passed away a week before the conference. However, Rhonda was able to incorporate Bob's thoughts through a series of video clips.

As you've heard on episodes in the past, Rhonda was one of the architects of our culture at Barry-Wehmiller and as you'll hear her tell, she was often charged with implementing and putting structure around Bob's ideas.

Rhonda offers an interesting, insightful and candid perspective for anyone who wants to understand more about Barry-Wehmiller's cultural journey. One that we're still on, every day, one step at a time.

On this Truly Human Leadership Podcast where we continue to pay tribute to Bob Chapman, our leader and mentor who passed away on March 19, 2026.

All of us at Barry-Wehmiller are very appreciative of all the tributes, condolences and kind words that have come in over the last few weeks. If you'd like to send your own tribute, condolence or remembrance of Bob, we have a page to do so at bobchapman.co. When you submit it, we'll make sure it gets to Bob's family.

On our last episode, we paid tribute to Bob Chapman in his own words. On this episode, we want to hear from some of his friends, colleagues and admirers.

Last fall, there was a dinner held at Barry-Wehmiller's St. Louis office to honor Bob's 50 years as CEO of our company and to also celebrate his 80th birthday. Bob and his entire family were there to enjoy the evening and we're incredibly thankful Bob got to experience this tribute while he was with us.

On this podcast, we want to feature the speeches that were given that evening. We share them not only to remember Bob, but to share the lessons all of these folks learned from him. They include:

Raj Sisodia, the co-founder of Conscious Capitalism and the co-author of Bob's book, Everybody Matters: The Extraordinary Power of Caring for Your People Like Family

Tim Sullivan, Barry-Wehmiller board member and longtime part of Bob's leadership team

Rhonda Spencer, Barry-Wehmiller's Chief People Officer

Steve Gund, who is the CEO of the Gund Company

Simon Sinek, speaker and author, Bob's close friend and one of the biggest champions of Bob's message on leadership