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PODCAST

An Unorthodox CEO

Welcome to the An Unorthodox CEO Podcast! The brand new podcast from Steve Pickering & Sussex Beds. Join us for weekly episodes as we explore the challenges of business, the ups and downs of working with family, and unorthodox tips and tricks to navigate it all! Following on from Steve"s weekly LinkedIn posts, this podcast takes a deeper dive into business whilst inviting guests on to share their stories. P.S. We film this in our office, so background noise, laughing, and sneezing may be

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All Episodes

52:09

Rob Najair: Turning Passion into a Career

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/11/12

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_movement00:00 Intro01:25 Where Robs love for fitness came from05:30 Life after college - what

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40:46

Lewis Stockford: From Football Player to Furniture Agent

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/11/05

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 Intro02:30 Early life & journey into football07:30 What its was like training with the pros09:00 Playing with the big names10:19 How Lewis felt when football came to an end11:14 His first sales

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35:13

Paul Matthews: Why Customer Experience is so important

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/10/29

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 Intro02:10 Where Paul started his career05:40 Always loved sport & fitness08:00 The opportunity to start his own business11:00 What

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1:24

We are back for Season 2!

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/10/22

An Unorthodox CEO is back and we kick off with the first episode next Wednesday at 8am! You don't want to miss it as we speak to more guests, some of our team and end the year with our goals for 2026! Want to be a guest dont forget you can leave a review or send us an email on anunorthodoxceo@sussexbeds.co.uk Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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1:12:06

Paul Hetherington: From selling timeshares to guiding...

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/09/17

This week, we sit down withPaulto explore his journey from his first job and university days to becoming a leader who now guides CEOs across the country.Listen as he chats with Steve about what it’s like to run a business you didn’t found, the importance of listening and vulnerability, and how Vistage changed his approach to leadership. Plus so much more in our Series 1 finale!00:00 Intro03:18 A bit about Paul & life growing up07:18 Paul’s first Job09:14 Life at University12:05 How Paul ended up

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34:58

Sue Skinner: Creating products for quality sleep

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/09/10

We are back with Sue for episode 21! Listen as Steve and Sue chat about all things product - why they are all our own brand, the process of creating products, and why having the same values as our suppliers is vital! They talk to us about the products on the shop floor that have changed over the last 20 years and why having our own brands helps us get the customer the perfect bed for them.00:00 Intro01:40 Why our product ranges are different to 20 years ago06:45 All our products are built to

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25:39

An Unorthodox CEO Q&A

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/09/03

This week, we’re answering 13 big (and fun) questions – all asked by YOU! From memorable Gang Show moments to when to grow your business, the skills every employee will need in the next five years, and even how a CEO winds down for sleep – there’s something for everyone. Got a different question? Leave it in the review section and we will make sure we answer it!00:00 Intro01:30 What can you see yourself doing if you hadn't of gone into the family business?02:43 When is the right time to grow your

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1:07:09

Ben Barrett: Turning Passion into Purpose

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/08/27

From launching a print business to starting a football agency and raising a large family, Ben Barrett has built a life where passion fuels everything he does. In this episode, he chats with Steve about how he turned bold ideas into successful ventures, why values matter in business, and how he learned to balance ambition with family life.00:00 Intro01:38 A bit about Ben & how he got into print06:30 Having similar values to your suppliers is key10:12 The importance of making customers super

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33:47

Grace Pickering: The Impact of Display & Merchandise

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/08/20

We are back for another episode, and this week we are joined again by Grace. Listen as she talks with Steve about why display is vital in retail and how consumer buyer behaviour affects where we place our beds! Plus, find out how printing in-house has been a game-changer for our display!00:00 Intro01:35 Why Steve love’s merchandise03:20 Graces favourite parts of display & the theory behind it07:55 Store layouts - why they are all different10:57 How we educate customers through display13:30 Why

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42:05

Lee Southerden: Balancing friendship & business

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/08/13

In this episode of An Unorthodox CEO, Steve and Lee chat about how their friendship began, why Lee started at Sussex Beds and the highs and lows of being a Regional Manager! Plus, find out what life being a chef is like and which one they’d ditch — whiskey or wine… (it was a tough choice)00:00 Intro02:27 A little bit about Lee, Chef, Pub Manager & Morrisons08:42 Why Lee joined Sussex Beds10:50 Taking his career change in his stride13:45 How Steve & Lee became friends16:10 Steve’s chat &

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40:52

Sarah Allen: All things HR, Recruitment & Hiring

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/08/06

In this episode, we sit down with Sarah, our People Manager!Listen as Steve & Sarah chat about how their HR, recruitment and processes have changed over the last 6 years! Plus, Sarah shares why she believes HR belongs directly under the CEO, what the real purpose of HR is in a growing business, and why everyone who applies gets an interview.00:00 Intro01:57 A little bit about Sarah04:45 Why Sarah joined Sussex Beds07:10 How she ended up in HR at Sussex Beds09:30 How her apprenticeship helped

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40:44

Josh Pickering: The Power of 1-1s, Surveys & Kudos

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/07/30

We are back with episode 15, and Josh Pickering has joined us again! Listen as Steve & Josh chat about all things engagement, how happiness surveys have helped the team to feel more heard and why the wheel of kudos is a simple way to boost morale and recognise everyday wins. Tune in for some tough, quickfire questions that get Steve & Josh thinking!00:00 Intro02:10 National Stats - % of engaged team members in a business05:05 Focus on getting those 62% to join the engaged 23%07:29 What can

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36:44

Victoria Cole: The voice behind the camera

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/07/23

Our 14th episode is here! This week Steve chats to Victoria (the voice behind the camera) all about why they started the podcast, the highs and the challenges of working in a family business and how university helped to shape her approach to work & life!00:00 Intro02:37 A bit about Victoria, uni life & joining Sussex Beds07:05 How did uni prepare her for work & why ROI is so important10:34 Is working for SB what Victoria expected12:40 Why they started the podcast and how it was

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35:39

Lynn & Julie: Being family members on the front line

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/07/16

Listen as Steve chats with Lynn & Julie in our 13th episode, get ready for lots of laughs. Find out about their funniest moments working together, how they support each other and the challenges of working on the front line in the family business! Plus, get an insight into selling and what the most important aspect of that is!00:00 Intro02:50 What John Pickering was like when he was younger04:20 When Lynn joined the business06:47 How different Sussex Beds is now to 35 years ago07:30 When Julie

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44:31

Crossover Episode: Our Unorthodox CEO in the Hot Seat

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/07/09

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 Intro01:00 Growing up above the furniture

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36:14

Sue Skinner: Letting go, big decisions & being a...

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/07/02

In this episode, listen as Sue chats with Steve about her journey and roles throughout her 30 years in the business, how she copes with challenging times and the best parts of working with her family. They explain the donkey story from Matts episode and Sue talks about her escapes from work!00:00 Intro02:00 The Early Days & School Life04:08 How Sue joined the business09:00 Managing Sleeping Solutions & the challenges13:26 Becoming a Director & looking after Sales & Buying15:11

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42:19

Paula Pickering: Being a Wife, Mum & Marketing Director

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/06/25

It's episode 10, and in this one we meet Paula, Steve's wife! Listen as they talk about how they met, what it's really like being a wife to a CEO and how Paula's beauty salon changed her perspective on business! They chat about all things performance reviews and how working with your children and family is both the best and most difficult part.00:00 Intro03:00 How Paula and Steve met04:07 Paula’s life before Sussex Beds & her love of design07:30 How AI is assisting in the role of marketers09:10

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52:13

Matt Pickering: Brothers to Business Partners

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/06/18

In this episode of An Unorthodox CEO, listen as Matt chats with Steve about how the pressures of taking on huge projects affected him and his drive, and how they got through it together. Plus, find out what it was like growing up and working together as they share some funny stories!00:00 Intro02:00 Life growing up together & school life09:52 When Matt joined the business14:34 Jump scares & Telescopic finger19:19 How Matt ended up in finance24:32 Transitioning into a Director & the

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46:07

John Pickering: How it all started, founding Sussex Beds

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/06/11

It's episode 8 and it's a big one! This week, we talk to the founder of Sussex Beds, John Pickering! Listen as he chats with Steve about what led him to found Sussex Beds, his favourite part of the job, and how his family is his motivation. 00:00 Intro02:25 Life growing up08:00 John’s first venture09:31 Buying Miles Furnishes14:20 How Sussex Beds was born & the heart of the business23:25 John's motivations & his wife Sandra27:05 Passing the business over34:20 Toughest point in business37:01

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27:19

The power of owning your numbers

An Unorthodox CEO ·

2025/06/04

In this episode, Steve dives into the power of owning your numbers and why it can be a total game-changer for any business. Hear how this mindset became a turning point for Sussex Beds, how the book Traction shaped his leadership style, and why every single person in the team has their own number – and what that really means.00:00 Intro02:14 How decisions were made before KPIs & Targets06:22 What was the turning point for the business & our KPIs11:48 Influential books & everybody owning

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26 results

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