Three Steps Ahead Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:06:04 +0000 https://threestepsahead.buzzsprout.com en-gb © 2026 Three Steps Ahead yes 5d1914a7-e8db-5ddd-9fc4-33bb87579cca Martin Gibbs episodic false Practical strategy for the next move. Three experienced business advisors sharing experience, best practice and emerging trends.

Three Steps Ahead is a podcast about anticipating what’s coming next — in business, leadership, technology and life.

Each episode brings thoughtful, informed conversation between experienced voices who look beyond today’s headlines to explore emerging risks, opportunities and trends. Rather than reacting after the fact, we ask: what can we see coming — and how should we respond now?

Expect analysis without hype, curiosity without dogma, and conversations designed to help leaders, professionals and decision-makers stay ahead of the curve.


Hosted by:

Martin Gibbs - Founder, Footsteps Advisory 

Richard Miller - Founder, Eddystone Miller

Simon Cossey - Founder, The Yellow Growth Company

]]> Buzzsprout (https://www.buzzsprout.com) business leadership, strategy, technology, risk mitigation, future trends, AI, Change success Martin Gibbs https://storage.buzzsprout.com/590h0njsytstf56upr22c0dhs914?.jpg Three Steps Ahead Martin Gibbs Richard Miller Simon Cossey Putting the world to rights in 2026 - with Brian Jukes Putting the world to rights in 2026 - with Brian Jukes Martin Gibbs is joined in this episode of Three Steps Ahead by Brian Jukes, Joint Managing Partner and Head of Corporate Tax at Dafferns, a leading independent accounting firm, based in Coventry. Martin and Brian worked together for more than 25 years and together they reflect on the state of the world in 2026:

- What are the key issues business leaders are facing today?
- What impact does the latest UK tax regime have?
- What on earth is going on with the UK Government, the USA and how can business leaders plan with this uncertainty?
- 2 Accountants Talk about cars again! --- Where are we with the UK car market, the ZEV mandate and the push towards full EVs  -- and how did Brian cope with a long distance road trip to Scotland in his EV?
- The Rise of AI and how this is impacting both the professional services market and employment prospects
- and finally Brian's top book recommendation for business leaders in 2026

More about our guest Brian Jukes and Dafferns

More about Three Steps Ahead
Three Steps Ahead is a business and leadership podcast for business owners, founders and senior leaders who want practical strategy that actually works. Most business podcasts talk about what happened - Three Steps Ahead is about what you should do next.

• Who it’s for: business leaders, founders, senior managers
• What makes it different: practical strategy, simple thinking, real experience
• Why now: 2026 is shaping up to be volatile — clarity matters more than ever

Drawing on decades of advisory, mentoring and peer-group experience, the podcast focuses on how leaders plan well, think beyond the immediate, and navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Listen & follow
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon
🌐 https://threestepsahead.buzzsprout.com
Hosted by: Martin Gibbs | Richard Miller | Simon Cossey

Three Steps Ahead - Practical strategy for the next move

]]> Martin Gibbs is joined in this episode of Three Steps Ahead by Brian Jukes, Joint Managing Partner and Head of Corporate Tax at Dafferns, a leading independent accounting firm, based in Coventry. Martin and Brian worked together for more than 25 years and together they reflect on the state of the world in 2026:

- What are the key issues business leaders are facing today?
- What impact does the latest UK tax regime have?
- What on earth is going on with the UK Government, the USA and how can business leaders plan with this uncertainty?
- 2 Accountants Talk about cars again! --- Where are we with the UK car market, the ZEV mandate and the push towards full EVs  -- and how did Brian cope with a long distance road trip to Scotland in his EV?
- The Rise of AI and how this is impacting both the professional services market and employment prospects
- and finally Brian's top book recommendation for business leaders in 2026

More about our guest Brian Jukes and Dafferns

More about Three Steps Ahead
Three Steps Ahead is a business and leadership podcast for business owners, founders and senior leaders who want practical strategy that actually works. Most business podcasts talk about what happened - Three Steps Ahead is about what you should do next.

• Who it’s for: business leaders, founders, senior managers
• What makes it different: practical strategy, simple thinking, real experience
• Why now: 2026 is shaping up to be volatile — clarity matters more than ever

Drawing on decades of advisory, mentoring and peer-group experience, the podcast focuses on how leaders plan well, think beyond the immediate, and navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Listen & follow
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon
🌐 https://threestepsahead.buzzsprout.com
Hosted by: Martin Gibbs | Richard Miller | Simon Cossey

Three Steps Ahead - Practical strategy for the next move

]]> Martin Gibbs Buzzsprout-19064986 Tue, 28 Apr 2026 15:00:00 +0000 1868 1 5 full false 7 Career lessons we wish we had known 25 years ago 7 Career lessons we wish we had known 25 years ago If you were starting your career today, what would you do differently?

In this episode of The Three Steps Ahead Podcast, Martin Gibbs, Richard Miller and Simon Cossey share practical career lessons drawn from more than 100 years of combined leadership experience. 

This is real world advice for Gen Z, millennials and ambitious professionals who want to build careers that last.

1. Continuous Learning → Qualification Is the Starting Line

 - The real learning begins after you qualify. Career advantage comes from staying curious and adapting faster than change.

2. Stick With It → Careers Compound over time

- Success comes from patience, resilience and long term reputation. Careers are marathons that reward consistency.

3. Personal Brand → You Already Have One, what are you going to do with it?

- Your reputation is forming whether you shape it or not. Be intentional about what you are known for and how you show up professionally.

4. Authentic → Know Your Non Negotiables
- Clarity about your values and principles helps you make better decisions and build a career that fits who you really are.

5. Agile → Do Not Marry the Plan
- Industries evolve and disruption is constant. Direction matters more than rigid planning. Stay alert and ready to adapt.

6. Connected → Opportunity Flows Through People
- Career breakthroughs come through relationships. Build networks, contribute generously and be known beyond your organisation.

7. The Bonus Lesson - Ownership → It Is Your Career
- No one will manage your career for you. Take responsibility for your growth, reputation and future direction.

Whether you are starting out or stepping up, these lessons will help you stay three steps ahead.

Listen & follow:
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/three-steps-ahead/id1870837966
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2dLsrl94ONPxKEJlT3Eh9f?si=899edd4900c34dae
🌐 https://threestepsahead.buzzsprout.com

Three Steps Ahead - Practical strategy for the next move

]]> If you were starting your career today, what would you do differently?

In this episode of The Three Steps Ahead Podcast, Martin Gibbs, Richard Miller and Simon Cossey share practical career lessons drawn from more than 100 years of combined leadership experience. 

This is real world advice for Gen Z, millennials and ambitious professionals who want to build careers that last.

1. Continuous Learning → Qualification Is the Starting Line

 - The real learning begins after you qualify. Career advantage comes from staying curious and adapting faster than change.

2. Stick With It → Careers Compound over time

- Success comes from patience, resilience and long term reputation. Careers are marathons that reward consistency.

3. Personal Brand → You Already Have One, what are you going to do with it?

- Your reputation is forming whether you shape it or not. Be intentional about what you are known for and how you show up professionally.

4. Authentic → Know Your Non Negotiables
- Clarity about your values and principles helps you make better decisions and build a career that fits who you really are.

5. Agile → Do Not Marry the Plan
- Industries evolve and disruption is constant. Direction matters more than rigid planning. Stay alert and ready to adapt.

6. Connected → Opportunity Flows Through People
- Career breakthroughs come through relationships. Build networks, contribute generously and be known beyond your organisation.

7. The Bonus Lesson - Ownership → It Is Your Career
- No one will manage your career for you. Take responsibility for your growth, reputation and future direction.

Whether you are starting out or stepping up, these lessons will help you stay three steps ahead.

Listen & follow:
Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/three-steps-ahead/id1870837966
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/episode/2dLsrl94ONPxKEJlT3Eh9f?si=899edd4900c34dae
🌐 https://threestepsahead.buzzsprout.com

Three Steps Ahead - Practical strategy for the next move

]]> Martin Gibbs Buzzsprout-18849760 Sun, 15 Mar 2026 19:00:00 +0000 1026 1 4 full false Do You Have the Top 6 Human Skills That Could Define Your 2026? - With Sarah Alexander Do You Have the Top 6 Human Skills That Could Define Your 2026? - With Sarah Alexander In this episode of Three Steps Ahead, Martin Gibbs is joined by Sarah Alexander, Founder and Director of Vivid Learning & Development 

In a world shaped by AI, constant change, and relentless distraction, the leaders who thrive are not those with the most tools — but those with the strongest human skills. Drawing on insights from working with thousands of leaders across 2025, Sarah shares the six human skills that will either set leaders apart, or hold them back in 2026 and beyond. These are the capabilities that underpin good judgement, meaningful connection, collaboration, resilience, and adaptability.

While AI can augment knowledge, automate tasks, and increase efficiency, it cannot replace what makes us human. This conversation explores the skills that technology cannot replicate and why developing them is now a leadership imperative.

About Three Steps Ahead
Three Steps Ahead is a business and leadership podcast for business owners, founders and senior leaders who want practical strategy that actually works. Most business podcasts talk about what happened - Three Steps Ahead is about what you should do next.

• Who it’s for: business leaders, founders, senior managers
• What makes it different: practical strategy, simple thinking, real experience
• Why now: 2026 is shaping up to be volatile — clarity matters more than ever

Drawing on decades of advisory, mentoring and peer-group experience, the podcast focuses on how leaders plan well, think beyond the immediate, and navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Watch on Three Steps Ahead on YouTube 

Listen & follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon
🌐 https://threestepsahead.buzzsprout.com
Hosted by: Martin Gibbs | Richard Miller | Simon Cossey

Three Steps Ahead - Practical strategy for the next move

]]> In this episode of Three Steps Ahead, Martin Gibbs is joined by Sarah Alexander, Founder and Director of Vivid Learning & Development 

In a world shaped by AI, constant change, and relentless distraction, the leaders who thrive are not those with the most tools — but those with the strongest human skills. Drawing on insights from working with thousands of leaders across 2025, Sarah shares the six human skills that will either set leaders apart, or hold them back in 2026 and beyond. These are the capabilities that underpin good judgement, meaningful connection, collaboration, resilience, and adaptability.

While AI can augment knowledge, automate tasks, and increase efficiency, it cannot replace what makes us human. This conversation explores the skills that technology cannot replicate and why developing them is now a leadership imperative.

About Three Steps Ahead
Three Steps Ahead is a business and leadership podcast for business owners, founders and senior leaders who want practical strategy that actually works. Most business podcasts talk about what happened - Three Steps Ahead is about what you should do next.

• Who it’s for: business leaders, founders, senior managers
• What makes it different: practical strategy, simple thinking, real experience
• Why now: 2026 is shaping up to be volatile — clarity matters more than ever

Drawing on decades of advisory, mentoring and peer-group experience, the podcast focuses on how leaders plan well, think beyond the immediate, and navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Watch on Three Steps Ahead on YouTube 

Listen & follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon
🌐 https://threestepsahead.buzzsprout.com
Hosted by: Martin Gibbs | Richard Miller | Simon Cossey

Three Steps Ahead - Practical strategy for the next move

]]> Martin Gibbs Buzzsprout-18726130 Sun, 22 Feb 2026 17:00:00 +0000 1692 full false The AI-Augmented Leader: What High-Performing Leaders Must Get Right in 2026 The AI-Augmented Leader: What High-Performing Leaders Must Get Right in 2026 How do leaders get Three Steps Ahead and make better strategy decisions in 2026? In this episode, Martin Gibbs, Richard Miller and Simon Cossey explore what high-performing leaders must get right in a rapidly changing, AI-augmented world.

With early access to Mindshop’s Business Leader Global Trends Report 2026, we analyse the 8 key leadership performance trends shaping decision-making, execution and leadership effectiveness in 2026 — from judgement and operating cadence to psychological endurance and the role of the leader as Connector-in-Chief.

This is not an episode about AI tools or hype. It’s a practical, experience-led conversation about how leaders think clearly, maintain momentum, and make better next moves when volatility and uncertainty are the norm.

About Three Steps Ahead
Three Steps Ahead is a business and leadership podcast for business owners, founders and senior leaders who want practical strategy that actually works.
Most business podcasts talk about what happened.
Three Steps Ahead is about what you should do next.
• Who it’s for: business leaders, founders, senior managers
• What makes it different: practical strategy, simple thinking, real experience
• Why now: 2026 is shaping up to be volatile — clarity matters more than ever
Drawing on decades of advisory, mentoring and peer-group experience, the podcast focuses on how leaders plan well, think beyond the immediate, and navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Listen & follow:

YouTube https://youtu.be/faH3l6brEIM
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon
🌐 www.threestepsahead.co.uk
Hosted by:
Martin Gibbs | Richard Miller | Simon Cossey

Three Steps Ahead - Practical strategy for the next move

]]> How do leaders get Three Steps Ahead and make better strategy decisions in 2026? In this episode, Martin Gibbs, Richard Miller and Simon Cossey explore what high-performing leaders must get right in a rapidly changing, AI-augmented world.

With early access to Mindshop’s Business Leader Global Trends Report 2026, we analyse the 8 key leadership performance trends shaping decision-making, execution and leadership effectiveness in 2026 — from judgement and operating cadence to psychological endurance and the role of the leader as Connector-in-Chief.

This is not an episode about AI tools or hype. It’s a practical, experience-led conversation about how leaders think clearly, maintain momentum, and make better next moves when volatility and uncertainty are the norm.

About Three Steps Ahead
Three Steps Ahead is a business and leadership podcast for business owners, founders and senior leaders who want practical strategy that actually works.
Most business podcasts talk about what happened.
Three Steps Ahead is about what you should do next.
• Who it’s for: business leaders, founders, senior managers
• What makes it different: practical strategy, simple thinking, real experience
• Why now: 2026 is shaping up to be volatile — clarity matters more than ever
Drawing on decades of advisory, mentoring and peer-group experience, the podcast focuses on how leaders plan well, think beyond the immediate, and navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Listen & follow:

YouTube https://youtu.be/faH3l6brEIM
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon
🌐 www.threestepsahead.co.uk
Hosted by:
Martin Gibbs | Richard Miller | Simon Cossey

Three Steps Ahead - Practical strategy for the next move

]]> Martin Gibbs Buzzsprout-18644480 Sun, 08 Feb 2026 20:00:00 +0000 2608 1 2 full false Three Steps Ahead - The Pilot Episode Three Steps Ahead - The Pilot Episode Three Steps Ahead is a business strategy and leadership podcast for owners, leaders and advisers who want practical ideas that actually work.

Practical strategy for the next move
Helping leaders think further

Hosted by Martin Gibbs, Richard Miller and Simon Cossey, the podcast brings together decades of experience in advisory, leadership facilitation, peer-to-peer learning and business development. Across the series, the conversation focuses on simple, effective strategy, authentic leadership, and how leaders can make better decisions in an increasingly uncertain and fast-changing world.

The three hosts share a long history of working with owner-managed businesses. Martin and Richard were partners for more than 25 years at Dafferns Accountants, Simon worked closely with the firm as a business development consultant, and all three have led and facilitated senior peer-learning groups. They are also accredited Mindshop Expert Advisers, with a strong belief in clear planning, shared accountability and continuous learning.

Each episode of Three Steps Ahead is an open, unscripted conversation. Topics include leadership culture, shared values, communication, planning frameworks, experimentation, and what it really means to lead when progress is rarely linear. The podcast recognises that plans don’t always work first time — sometimes it’s three steps ahead and two steps back — but having a plan, learning from experience and adapting along the way matters far more than chasing perfection.

Over the course of the series, the hosts will also explore emerging themes such as the rise of the AI-augmented leader, the growing importance of emotional intelligence, and how leaders can create environments where people feel safe, engaged and able to perform at their best. Alongside the core trio, occasional guest contributors will bring additional perspectives from across business, leadership and professional services.

This podcast isn’t about theory, hype or quick fixes. It’s about thoughtful conversation, shared insight and practical takeaways that leaders can apply in the real world. 

If you’re a business owner, senior leader or adviser who wants to think more clearly, plan more confidently and move forward with purpose, Three Steps Ahead is for you.





]]> Three Steps Ahead is a business strategy and leadership podcast for owners, leaders and advisers who want practical ideas that actually work.

Practical strategy for the next move
Helping leaders think further

Hosted by Martin Gibbs, Richard Miller and Simon Cossey, the podcast brings together decades of experience in advisory, leadership facilitation, peer-to-peer learning and business development. Across the series, the conversation focuses on simple, effective strategy, authentic leadership, and how leaders can make better decisions in an increasingly uncertain and fast-changing world.

The three hosts share a long history of working with owner-managed businesses. Martin and Richard were partners for more than 25 years at Dafferns Accountants, Simon worked closely with the firm as a business development consultant, and all three have led and facilitated senior peer-learning groups. They are also accredited Mindshop Expert Advisers, with a strong belief in clear planning, shared accountability and continuous learning.

Each episode of Three Steps Ahead is an open, unscripted conversation. Topics include leadership culture, shared values, communication, planning frameworks, experimentation, and what it really means to lead when progress is rarely linear. The podcast recognises that plans don’t always work first time — sometimes it’s three steps ahead and two steps back — but having a plan, learning from experience and adapting along the way matters far more than chasing perfection.

Over the course of the series, the hosts will also explore emerging themes such as the rise of the AI-augmented leader, the growing importance of emotional intelligence, and how leaders can create environments where people feel safe, engaged and able to perform at their best. Alongside the core trio, occasional guest contributors will bring additional perspectives from across business, leadership and professional services.

This podcast isn’t about theory, hype or quick fixes. It’s about thoughtful conversation, shared insight and practical takeaways that leaders can apply in the real world. 

If you’re a business owner, senior leader or adviser who wants to think more clearly, plan more confidently and move forward with purpose, Three Steps Ahead is for you.





]]> Buzzsprout-18534995 Wed, 21 Jan 2026 11:00:00 +0000 955 1 1 full false