We are back! Its 2026, and season 3 is here! Listen as Steve and Shane chat through why he decided to take the job at Sussex Beds, how he moved through the roles and when he finally found his right seat!

Plus, like cooking steak? Listen for Shane's top tips!

00:00 Intro

01:31 Shanes life before Sussex Beds

04:00 How he ended up at Sussex Beds

05:55 Why did the initial job appeal to him

07:01 Working with Sarah (his fiance)

10:40 Working in sales as a ‘Sleep Consultant’

11:50 Moving on to being a Store Manager

14:31 A move into the office working on the website

18:50 The catalyst of becoming IT Manager

23:30 Benefits of in-house skills

24:17 Working with Matt & Chris in IT

27:28 Learning to train someone

29:30 Quickfire Questions

36:52 Outro

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Its our final episode of 2025! So we thought we would share with you our goals & aspirations for 2026. Listen as Steve and Victoria share their 2025 goals and if they completed them, plus their goals & the office team's goals for 2026. Have you got a goal? You can share with us in the reviews!

00:00 Intro

02:30 Goals & SB Meetings

03:20 Steve's Goals for 2025

03:30 Steves' 1st Goal

06:30 Steves' 2nd Goal

08:02 Steves' 3rd Goal

09:00 What Steve wanted to do as a leader in 2025

11:20 What Steve wanted to spend more time on in 2025

14:30 Steves 3 Personal Goals for 2026

18:25 Steves' 3 Goals as a Leader

22:40 Victoria Goals for 2025

25:20 Victoria's Goals for 2026

28:18 Sarah's Goals

33:23 Grace's Goals

39:25 Paula's Goals

45:15 Matt's Goals

50:39 John's Goals

56:20 Sue's Goals

1:00:56 Lees' Goals

1:08:39 Outro

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This week, Steve is joined by one of his best friends, Sam! Find out more about how they produce the Hastings Gangshow, Sam's family life and their joint love for amateur dramatics. Plus get a Gangshow exclusive!

You can find out more here - https://whiterocktheatre.org.uk/whats-on/event/hastings-gang-show-2026/

00:00 Intro

02:05 Sam’s family & work life

06:40 The Hastings Gangshow & what its like to produce

08:50 How Steve & Sam became friends

10:00 Why the arts is so important

12:06 Scouting is so inclusive

13:00 Gangshow dates - 7th, 8th, 9th May 2026! 60th Anniversary

14:30 Gangshow exclusive!

16:30 Stresses, pressures & fun

18:10 Thank you to Gangshow Team

20:48 Am Dram & their escapes!

25:25 Quickfire Questions

35:30 Outro

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Listen this week as Steve chats with Andrea Randall-Smith, the CEO of Little Gate. They talk all about the work and the people who make Little Gate a success, what it's like being a CEO for a charity and her escapes! Plus, find out how you can support Little Gate!

00:00 Intro

01:14 Andreas journey to CEO

04:00 Life & work before Little Gate

07:14 Andreas introduction to Little Gate

10:35 The purpose of Little Gate

13:30 How their work transforms lives & success stories

18:20 How you can find Little Gate

21:00 What are the biggest challenges

25:00 How her family supported her

27:39 Changing from working in the organisation to on it

31:05 How they deal with loneliness in the job

32:30 How Vistage has helped both Steve & Andrea

35:24 Where she would like to see Little Gate in 5 years

38:40 Quickfire Questions

44:36 Outro

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On this episode of An Unorthodox CEO, we chat with Joe, Grace's Fiancé, all about how he supports her, what it's like working with his family and how he is building a career for himself in the construction industry. Plus, find out how Joe ended up living with Steve & the Pickerings and their favourite memory together.

00:00 Intro

02:10 Growing up & School Life

05:53 College Courses & First Job

09:15 Working with his Grandad & Dad

12:51 New opportunities

14:00 Difficult decisions & his Dad leaving the business

17:20 Taking the leap to a new business

18:10 Progression through the ranks

20:00 Pressures in the construction industry

27:08? - How Joe met Grace

33:50? Dinner table business discussions

36:10? How Grace & Joe support each other

38:44 How being involved in dinner table discussions has helped Joe in his career

39:45 Holidays together on the business rollercoaster

44:20 Joes escapes from work

45:45 Quickfire Questions

53:05 Tip of the week

54:40 Outro

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On this weeks episode of An Unorthodox CEO Steve chats to Rob Najair about how he turned his passion for sport & helping people into a career. Listen as they talk all about what it was like starting his own business, the importance of sleep for recovery, and how setting boundaries has created a better work-life balance!

You can find more out about Najair Movement by following Rob on Instagram @najair_movement

00:00 Intro

01:25 Where Robs love for fitness came from

05:30 Life after college - what next

07:30 Finding his work passion

09:10 Taking the leap into his own business

11:20 Robs first business & his business coach

17:00 Finding his niche

19:10 How Movement Training works & what injuries Rob sees

21:20 Importance of sleep & value of a quality mattress

24:30 How caffeine and alcohol affect your sleep

26:30 Weight loss & making good habits

28:38 Rob used to PT the office

29:40 Rob time in the theatre

31:20 His escape from work & creating boundaries

35:30 Spending your time where you are best spent

37:57 Where he sees himself in 2 years

40:33 Quickfire questions

47:00 Tip of the week

49:30 Outro

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In this episode of An Unorthodox CEO, Steve sits down with Lewis to talk about his journey from the football pitch to the furniture industry. From playing for Portsmouth to building a career in business, Lewis shares how resilience shaped his path and how he finds balance between home life and work!

00:00 Intro

02:30 Early life & journey into football

07:30 What its was like training with the pros

09:00 Playing with the big names

10:19 How Lewis felt when football came to an end

11:14 His first sales job

12:45 How football made him so resilient

14:20 Enter the world of furniture

16:00 Progressing through the roles

17:49 Jumping from employed to self employed

20:00 Differences between high end & commercial

21:30 Balancing suppliers & retailers

23:30 Travelling & balancing home life

27:45 How the industry could work better together

30:11 Quickfire questions

36:35 Tip of the week

38:56 Outro

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Welcome back to Season 2 of An Unorthodox CEO! This week, we are joined by Paul Matthews, customer experience expert and director at Insight 6!

Listen as Steve and Paul chat about where the opportunity for him to start his own business came from, how creating positive feelings for customers is so important and his highs and lows in business! Plus so much more!

00:00 Intro

02:10 Where Paul started his career

05:40 Always loved sport & fitness

08:00 The opportunity to start his own business

11:00 What insight 6 does for businesses

12:30 How the surveys influenced Sussex Beds

13:10 Why getting feedback is so important

14:53 Turning poor experiences into great ones

17:15 Team satisfaction surveys are needed

18:38 Pauls highlights & toughest parts of running his own business

20:27 A note from Olivia (Pauls Daughter)

21:40 Customers always remember the feeling they had

23:30 How Paul destresses

24:30 A gift from Paul to Steve & Victoria

26:12 Quickfire Questions

30:44 Tip of the Week

32:45 Outro

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