This week, Steve chats with Richard Cripps about life as a solicitor, the challenges of being a Managing Partner, and what it was like navigating the acquisition of Rix & Kay. Discover the differences between a Managing Partner and a Managing Director, hear how Richard balances pressure with leadership, and why some of the hardest decisions were also the right ones for the business.

00:00 Intro

02:28 Why Richard became a solicitor & growing up

07:10 Where he trained & his first job

08:48 What partnership was and is now

10:56 Taking partnership for the first time & joining Rix & Kay

12:28 Differences between Managing Partner (MP) & Managing Director

15:04 The challenges of being a MP - wearing lots of hats

20:10 Why mid size solicitors are having to adapt

23:20 What a Solicitors fall back position of comfort is

24:12 How the market has changed for Soliciting businesses

27:40 Richards thoughts on AI in Law

31:40 The process of Rix & Kay being acquired

37:00 Toughest challenge faced as MP

39:11 Why Richard joined Vistage & the benefits

43:57 Life as a Partner at Knights - how Richard managed the change

45:54 How Richard switches off

50:00 Advice for anyone striving for senior roles in Law

53:05 Quickfire Questions

1:00:05 Outro

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This week's episode, Steve chats with Oliver Towner all about what it's been like taking on a 150-year-old family-run business, the ins and outs of the funeral industry & its biggest misconceptions. Plus, Oliver shares what it was really like working his first funeral, navigating Covid & why sustainability is a growing factor in all funerals.

00:00 Intro

01:58 Growing up in a family business

03:12 What Oliver did before joining the business

05:30 First day working on a funeral & the day to day jobs

08:38 Biggest misconceptions about funerals & funeral directors

10:30 Furniture side of funerals

13:00 Oliver taking on the role as Managing Director & the transition from taking over from his dad

19:50 What covid was like in the funeral industry

23:35 Hardest point of Olivers time so far

25:31 Olivers release from the pressures

28:50 Olivers ‘Baptism of fire’

30:27 Olivers plans for the business

34:10 Biggest changes Oliver has made

35:20 Sustainability in the industry

38:52 Why Towners dont do any specific marketing

42:30 How data works in the funeral industry

44:54 Biggest risks going forward in the industry

47:00 Grief & Death - why dont we talk about it

53:00 Quickfire Questions

59:40 Outro

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This week on An Unorthodox CEO we are joined by Sarah Southerden Lee's wife and friend of Steve & Paula! Listen as Steve & Sarah chat all about how she found her way into finance & how she worked her way up. Plus, find out how Sarah met Lee & how many pairs of shoes she owns...

00:00 Intro

01:40 Sarahs life growing up

03:15 How she found her way into finance

08:15 Best part of Sarahs job

10:40 Working from home & productivity

13:40 Becoming a Team Leader

17:20 Anxiety & overcoming it

20:21 How Sarah met Lee

22:54 Sarah, Lee, Steve, Paula & their friendship

23:51 Sarahs thoughts on Lee joining the business

26:00 Looking in on the challenges of Sussex Beds

28:20 Quickfire Questions

34:30 Outro

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.