From School Struggles to CEO: Steve Younane on Strengths, Confidence and Leadership

What if success has less to do with having a perfect plan and more to do with understanding your strengths? In this episode of More Than a Score, we sit down with Steve Younane: a business leader, CEO, musician, father, and someone whose pathway from school to leadership was far from predictable. Growing up as one of seven children in a family that deeply valued education, Steve felt the pressure that comes with looking up to high-achieving siblings and wondering whether you could ever measure up. At school, he wasn't driven by academic excellence. He openly shares how he struggled to focus, often felt distracted, and saw studying primarily as a way to get a score that would help him move on to the next stage. What he didn't realise at the time was that many of the strengths that would shape his future were already emerging. Through music, sport, leadership opportunities, and building relationships, Steve was developing skills that couldn't always be measured by tests or report cards. From forming a school band and leading teams to eventually leading major organisations and global brands, Steve's story is a powerful reminder that success rarely follows a straight line. This conversation explores comparison, confidence, self-awareness, leadership, and the importance of recognising that people contribute in different ways. For parents, it's a reminder that a child's future isn't determined by how motivated they are by school alone. For young people, it's reassurance that not having everything figured out doesn't mean you're falling behind. And for anyone navigating uncertainty, Steve offers a thoughtful perspective on finding your strengths, backing yourself, and building a meaningful life and career. What You'll Discover • What it was like growing up as one of seven children in a high-achieving family • Why Steve often felt distracted and disconnected from traditional study • The pressure of comparing yourself to siblings and peers • How music became one of the first places he discovered confidence and purpose • Why leadership often appears before we recognise it ourselves • The surprising lessons Steve learned from forming a band and leading teams • How strengths developed outside the classroom shaped his future success • The role self-awareness has played throughout his career and leadership journey • Why different people bring different strengths to teams • What Steve wishes young people understood about success and career pathways Recorded at Sabre Sound Studio A special thanks to the team at Sabre Sound Studio for hosting this conversation and providing a fantastic space for meaningful conversations like this one. If you're looking for a professional podcast, audio, or creative recording space, be sure to check them out. More Than a Score: Redefining Success Beyond School is hosted by Laura Pitt and Dan Steele, a former teacher and award-winning school leader on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria. New episodes fortnightly. Subscribe to follow along.