As an entrepreneur who started and sold an award-winning software company while also founding a nonprofit organization to help underprivileged youth in the Philadelphia region, after 25 years, Barry Bealer reconnected with the CEO of Impelsys, Inc. who was looking for a leader to grow the North and South American division of the business. This connection led to his current role as the vice president of publishing, information services, and education where he is charged with expanding the engineering and software footprint for the firm.
Impelsys, Inc. is a global provider of technology and innovation that helps organizations transform into digital-first, data-driven intelligent enterprises. With over two decades of expertise in innovation and technology, the firm is a trusted partner for organizations seeking end-to-end digital advancement.
With more than 270 clients worldwide, a large concentration of the business is in North America. Bealer’s goal is to scale the organization offshore with top industry software engineering leaders and AI data scientists. In the next three years, Impelsys plans to acquire four to five businesses and is positioned for an IPO in the next 18 months to fund the mergers and acquisitions. With a combination of organic growth and strategic acquisitions, the firm is on track to meet its target of becoming a $100 million-dollar business.
Bealer said his most significant accomplishments have been team efforts with his software company recognized as the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 in Philadelphia, the Philadelphia 100, and named to the Inc. 5000 list.
With a career that spans more than 25 years, Bealer said taking risks has been key to his success. “Stepping away from a stable executive position to start my own technology consulting and software business was, in retrospect, a turning point in my career,” he said. “To be successful after taking a risk, you also must find and rely on mentors and people in your industry that you respect who will be a sounding board, and pushing yourself beyond the comfortable and outside your box is difficult but ultimately the place where you learn the most.”
According to Bealer, it’s important for young leaders to know that a career will never be a straight line. “Doors will open, and you won’t know why; doors may never open, and you won’t know why,” he said. “Take the doors that open, explore opportunities, learn something from every job you do, and never stop pushing forward.”
