1. EachPod

Crossover Episode: Our Unorthodox CEO in the Hot Seat

Author
Sussex Beds
Published
Wed 09 Jul 2025
Episode Link
https://shows.acast.com/an-unorthodox-ceo/episodes/6867d92b3b5dc9fc22f100ae

It's episode 12, and we have done something a little bit different! Listen as Steve gets interviewed by Matt Southam, host of the Balanced Ambition podcast! Find out more about Steve as he opens up about the rewarding reality of running a growing family business. They talk about navigating financial turmoil and coaching challenges, installing company-wide KPIs and learning how not to micromanage - we find out more why Steve is An Unorthodox CEO!


00:00 Intro

01:00 Growing up above the furniture shop

04:30 Joining the family business full-time

05:00 Restructuring after a rocky period

05:40 How working with a business coach changed everything

07:23 What makes Steve’s leadership style so different

10:44 Performance reviews with his wife

11:00 Allowing people to fail (and why that matters)

13:25 Hiring people better than you

16:15 Building a culture that outlives the founder

21:30 Why Sussex Beds turns away low-quality sales

22:30 The power of real-time data and KPIs

27:20 Becoming visible as a CEO on LinkedIn

28:30 Resilience: “Knock, knock, knock… win”

33:00 Performance reviews around the dinner table

36:00 The struggle to switch off (even on holiday)

39:00 Why amateur theatre helps Steve decompress

41:30 Final advice for new business owners


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