Michael Matthews MBE - CEO Sleepout UK

Michael Matthews MBE

Business Leader and Consultant

Ambassador: CEO Sleepout Darlington

How long have you been in business for?

My career started as an apprentice in 1980 as an apprentice Toolmaker I later moved into Sales, The Darkside, in 1988. Loved Sales. Moved into Executive level Management in 2000

What are some of your driving values?

Success is 90% attitude and 10% aptitude.

You’ve always been great at giving back, why is it important to you?

Coming from humble beginnings and challenging experiences in my early life I have developed a great deal of empathy with individuals & organizations trying to get on.

Which causes are closest to your heart / one thing about society in the UK that you wish you could change?

My biggest concern these days is not just related to the UK its related to the whole world. “Too few people have got too much money and too many people don’t have enough money.” The top 10% of the world’s wealthiest people control 85% of the world’s wealth and the remaining 90% of the world’s population control 15% of the worlds wealth.

How did you get involved in the CEO Sleepout?

CEO Sleepout is something I proactively offered to support after I launched my business consultancy.

What other ways do you "give back" or work to strengthen communities you work within?

In my adult life I’ve spent large periods of time being “time poor” so I’ve given back by using my time efficiently supporting, leading, and founding business support organizations education initiatives and discreet fund raising for causes such as Homelessness, Cancer Research and Heart disease. 01.10.19 I was the largest single fundraiser in the UK on JustGiving.

Name one thing you'd like people to know about your life and work:

I practice what I preach and rely on 90% attitude/ 10% aptitude, shooting for the moon in the belief if I don’t make the moon I will still go along way.

How might you see business playing a part in creating a fairer society here in the UK?

Speaking from personal experience Fundraising is a great way for business to develop their staff, develop teamwork, develop leadership and develop a selflessness culture which is critical to success.

Why is it important that those in business lead with purpose?

In my experience businesses that lead with purpose attract the best staff!