An Unorthodox CEO

This week on An Unorthodox CEO Steve chats again with Sarah our HR Manager all about her trip to the CIPD Festival of Work. They explore the future of work, from AI in HR and supporting team through change to employee wellbeing and the workplace trends every business should be paying attention to. Plus, new employment laws everyone should be aware of!

00:00 Intro
01:35 What is the CIPD Festival of Work
03:07 The ‘Practical Solutions’ Stage
04:30 People are business
05:50 Managing change & providing clarity
07:15 Transformation in business is endless
08:20 Communication is key for change
12:25 Ai and HR - its a tool
17:13 Dealing with difficult conversations
19:47 Ai Policies plus how Sarah & Vic use it
24:00 Struggles of young people getting jobs
26:25 Sarahs standout speaker of the event
30:50 Cons of superhero leadership…
33:14 Employment law changes
37:10 How our probation period works
42:20 Employee wellbeing should be a business priority
45:40 Our Pulse Surveys
48:56 Quickfire Questions
55:45 Top HR Tip
56:20 Outro

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In this episode, Steve & Babatunde discuss architecture, entrepreneurship, learning from criticism, and why some of life's biggest setbacks can become your greatest opportunities. From growing up in Nigeria and moving to the UK for university, to facing redundancy, 18 months of job applications, and eventually building his own architecture business, Babatunde's story is one of resilience, determination, and never giving up.

00:00 Intro
01:25 How Babatunde met John Rayment
03:19 Growing up in Nigeria
04:10 Leaving for University in the UK & getting architecture
08:26 Degree & getting a job
10:47 Being offered his first job & learning on the job
12:00 Masters degree - learning to listen to criticism
15:17 Being made redundant & covid
16:30 Applying for Jobs for 18 months & Babatundes resilience
19:20 The start of Baba Atelier
22:50 Learning to render & building concept work
23:33 Babatundes struggles without a job & how people supported him
27:11 A breakthrough - a new job
31:22 The learnings from having a job and then having his own business
35:11 Why taking advice from others is important
38:44 Babatundes escapes
40:00 Renovating his new home & his drive
43:30 How traumas & knocks are things that make you
46:39 Practice makes perfect
48:31 Helping clients with needs analysis
53:00 Quickfire Questions
1:01:45 Outro
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On this weeks episode, Steve & Jason discuss Jason's journey from travelling the world after university to building a successful career as a commercial agent in the furniture industry. They explore the importance of customer service, what makes retailers and suppliers successful & the challenges of being an agent. Plus the episode also dives into Jason's passion for rugby coaching!

00:00 Intro
01:44 When Jason & Steve first met
02:44 Life growing up & who Jason works with
06:30 Jasons world tour after uni
11:00 Finding Jobs around Australia
15:21 What inspired Jason to travel when he was young
18:13 Getting his first job in Furniture
23:30 Working for Sealy
25:00 Importance of training and right tools for the job
27:49 Why the big suppliers of the 00’s are no more
30:17 What makes suppliers successful
32:04 Why desire is so important
34:05 Customer Service is top of the list
35:20 Being the ‘middle man’
37:40 What Jason finds the most challenging part
41:35 What makes a great retailer
44:25 A mattress protector story
49:35 Jason & working in the same industry as his brother
51:57 Why Jason became a commercial agent
58:00 The differences between a Agent & a Rep
1:00:30 How a trauma shaped Jasons route
1:03:20 Jasons love for Rugby & coaching Rugby
1:12:00 Quickfire Questions
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In this weeks episode Steve chats with Jon our Logistics Manager all about his early job and love of football, to becoming Logistics Manager at Sussex Beds. Plus they talk about the challenges of the role, how delivery has changed over the years, the story behind Jon returning to SB and life outside of work!

00:00 Intro
02:08 Life growing up
04:30 Jons love for playing football
07:27 His first job & taking the leap into a managerial position
10:30 Dealing with his first job going into administration
13:10 Finding a new job - Coming to Sussex Beds as a driver
14:58 How our transport & way we deliver has changed
18:11 Why Jon decided to move on
19:22 The story behind Jon coming back to SB
23:22 Biggest challenges of being a logistics manager
25:49 Fantastic feedback about our delivery guys
27:20 Why Delivery experience matters
30:30 Jons wife Zoe & what they have learnt from her business
32:15 Most stressful part of Jons job
35:50 How Jon de stresses
37:37 Quickfire questions
44:05 Outro
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This week, Steve sits down with Adam Hankinson to break down the psychology behind great sales, the 7 habits every salesperson should master, and what truly wins the sale. Plus, they chat about the top tips to help overcome barriers with customers!

00:00 Intro
01:43 How Adam got into the furniture industry
08:00 Why Adam went out on his own
08:46 Why Managers are key in store
11:06 Has they way we sell changed or is it the way we buy
16:05 What’s the most influential part of obtaining the sale
20:00 Customer “Must haves” are so important
22:45 Important first questions when approaching a customer
24:01 Emotional & Logical responses
25:00 Overcoming barriers with a customer
32:15 What makes the best sales people the best
35:00 Commitment to what you are doing is so important
39:37 About Adams book - Selling Furniture
42:52 The 7 habits in Adams book
50:56 Quotes & importance of the follow up
53:29 Adams book is out now!
55:50 How he handles challenges
57:24 Quickfire Questions
1:05:20
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