Michael Chapp, Chief Operating Officer of Oura, believes the key to meaningful leadership starts with creating space—for mindfulness, innovation, and personal well-being. Grounded in a daily practice of meditation and inspired by a family legacy of creativity and resilience, Chapp’s leadership is as much about fostering personal balance as it is about driving operational excellence. At Oura, a company renowned for its wearable technology that prioritizes accuracy and usability, he focuses on creating tools that empower individuals to take charge of their health in meaningful ways. His vision reflects Oura’s mission: combining cutting-edge technology with actionable insights to enhance well-being and productivity.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, specializing in biomedical and materials science research, from Michigan State University, followed by a master’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Chapp’s journey began in a family environment that encouraged creativity, with his mother serving as one of his earliest inspirations. His technical expertise and business insight were further honed through impactful roles at Hewlett-Packard and General Motors, as well as through his entrepreneurial ventures, including Utomic and EcoFlow. At Oura, Chapp leverages his extensive experience to focus on operational excellence, scaling strategies, and driving the company’s mission of improving health and wellness worldwide.
Chapp’s emphasis on creating space for personal reflection and growth is central to his leadership at Oura. Viewing mindfulness as essential to thriving in today’s fast-paced world, he integrates these principles into both his daily life and the company’s vision. This approach shapes Oura’s mission to make health data actionable and accessible, empowering users to make small, meaningful changes that enhance their well-being. Chapp’s work demonstrates that innovation isn’t just about technology—it’s about fostering habits that enable people to live healthier, more intentional lives.