Look out for Nicky’s Blog

Posted in Latest News, Nicky's Blog by Nicky on September 16th, 2009

Hi Nicky here and you may know me from last year’s Apprentice, where I was runner up in The Apprentice final. I am delighted to get the opportunity to study this year’s candidates as they try make it to the final. I will be here every week to discuss how the candidates are performing and decide who has what it takes to go the whole way.

My time on The Apprentice was enjoyable but tough. The 12 week grueling timetable had us selling apples on Moore St, launching computer games, organising recycling days and selling Sat Nav’s at Croke Park to name a few, all on minimum sleep and minimum budgets! We lived and breathed The Apprentice for this time, living together, working together and many turning on each other to survive the dreaded boardroom.

I was project manager for 3 tasks, winning two out of three. Win or lose you were always up for a taxing personal and task evaluation from Bill and being recalled to the boardroom was make or break. I sat in this position three times but luckily prevailed and made the final. Two women fought it out in the mammoth final task. After a nail biting and emotional boardroom session I took runner up position, losing closely to Brenda Shanahan.

The entire experience was certainly surreal but brilliant, not only do you learn business skills that would take years of experience but it was what I learnt personally that was life changing. How to face my weaknesses but also discovering skills I never knew existed. The Apprentice gave me a new sense of strength and fearlessness.

I continue to work as a Senior Negotiator and Marketing Coordinator for Hooke & MacDonald, while consulting throughout Ireland.

And of course, I will be here every week blogging on the new candidates and the happenings in this year’s Apprentice!

Nicky