Steare's early career included roles as a social worker and banker, and ten years as chief executive of a recruitment company.

[5] Steare was a member of the Expert Drafting Committee for Rights and Humanity, invited by the British Government to prepare recommendations for the G20 London Summit in April 2009.

[6][7][8] In collaboration with Athens-based chartered psychologist Pavlos Stamboulides, Steare conducts empirical research on moral character, judgement and behaviour.

[14] He is a regular contributor to Chartered Banker[15] magazine in which he challenges the "dysfunctional totalitarian construct" of modern corporations,[16] In July 2020, he became a columnist for the Financial Times.

[6][7][20][21] Steare has developed programs in leadership, ethics and corporate responsibility for organisations including BP,[10] Citigroup,[22] HSBC,[10] PwC,[22][23] the Financial Services Authority[1] and the Serious Fraud Office.