Saira Khan
Saira Khan may well be known for her fierce reputation in business, in addition to being 'that gobby one' off The Apprentice, but in reality she's a big softie!
Seeing as we'd only really witnessed the scary side of Saira before our chat, we were understandably apprehensive, but we needn't of been because as it turns out, her passion for working mums to succeed in business, is what seems to be the driving force behind her campaign, and that can sometimes comes across as aggression.
FemaleFirst sat down with Saira for a chat about being a working mum, hosting a kids TV show, and just why she's working with Kodak for her latest business venture...
Hiya how are you?
I'm fine darling, how are you doing over there?
Great thanks, what have you been up to recently?
Well, so many things I have been starting filming beat the boss, I've just finished doing a programme for the money programme that's coming out in march, which is to do with the franchising of curry, so if you like curry then it's a good programme to watch.
I'm the face of a new charity called action medical research, I'm doing an appeal for them and it's about saving little lives. I've been working on my own business too, I've been doing by range of natural skin care products for children, so I've just been developing that and getting it into Waitrose, John Lewis and places like that. So I've been busy busy busy. [FF: that's a lot to fit in, in the space of twelve months!] Yeah, oh god! And I've got a baby too, I've got a little baby. He's coming up to ten months and he keeps me busy too.
You've done so much since The Apprentice, what's been your highlight?
Oh, that's so hard. I've done so many amazing things and met so many people, but I have to say my highlight was, really... erm, oh god, well if I say it's starting my business, then it implies I'm putting my child in second place, but I started my business before I had my baby, but I think for me, starting my business and having my products be on the shelves at supermarkets has been amazing and the fact that I've been working from home, you know I've got a small little offspring at home, and then to see my products out there is just the biggest achievement, it's been my dream.
People obviously know you from The Apprentice, do you think people's perceptions of you have changed since then? I mean, you may have come across as a little aggressive initially...
Oh bless you, you're very kind by calling me aggressive, people have called me 'mouth of the south' and 'very gobby' but I think for me The Apprentice was an amazing experience and you saw aspects of me that you know when I'm in a business environment I can get gobby, but I'd like to say I'm passionate too.
Since then, you know in the four of five years gone by I've been able to portray me other characteristics to the public. Look at Beat the boss for example, I get to work with children and people can see how I interact with them and I did a documentary where I went to Pakistan , so you got to see a bit more about me and my personal life and I think just doing all of those different things and talking to the press about my interests, may make people forget that I was kind of annoying on The Apprentice!
What job title would you give yourself now, because obviously you're involved with so many different things?
I think it would be a mumentrepreneur, that would be my title because being a mum is number one, but I run a business from home and I'm in business too. All of my media work is a business, I have to balance work with looking after my child. A lot of women are finding that now, you know to be a good mum and succeed in business, it's about balancing everything together. You know you can set up work from home, make some extra money and look after your child too.
Your working with Kodak at the moment, what are you doing with them?
With Kodak, what I'm doing is really helping them to promote the message that more and more women are setting up offices from home, and one of their chief focuses is they've got a product called ESP 7 and 9 printers and what's fantastic about these printers is that many people think that starting up an office from home will cost a fortune, but actually it's quite cheap.
You need a good computer, a good phone line and a printer and the printer that they've got is wireless. Now I have to tell you, I'm not illiterate when it comes to computers, but I cannot stand wires and this printer does so much. You can start an empire with just those three pieces of equipment and I guess the reason I'm involved with this scheme is that I'm living proof of it working, I've gone from setting up my office at home to getting my product onto Waitrose shelves, and I did it with that equipment.
I think the days of people thinking business is all about being in a boardroom and wearing a suit just to successful- it's all rubbish. What you do need is good equipment, because that is the stuff you rely on to make those successful presentations to professionals.
Do you think women can have it all now, you know be successful and have a good family life?
Well, to answer you question- yes women can have it all and again I can only tell you that they can because I'm living proof of it. You know I've got a child, I tuck him into bed and get him ready in the morning. I've got good childcare and a office from home and I have a good printer, a land line and computer and I'm in touch with everyone and everything that's going on in my business.
Make sure you're dedicated at home with your office and you know send e-mails etc. on a daily basis and time management is the biggest thing, you've got to allocate time to what needs to be done. I end up doing a lot of work after little baby has gone to bed, just to make sure I've caught up on the day. It's not easy, it's long hours but you do get rewards, not instantly but if you've got the time and determination then you'll succeed.
The biggest thing for women working from home is that you've got the flexibility, its a big risk but if you believe in yourself and you've got the support, there is nothing stopping you, except for yourself.
You're involved with the children's TV show 'Beat the Boss' how did you come up with that format?
It was already in place on the BBC and they saw me on The Apprentice and I think gingerly phoned me up and said 'Look, we're doing this programme and we're not sure if it's something that would suit you or not, so come and have an audition' so, I went down to audition, because I think they thought 'god, she swore so much on The Apprentice, as a kids presenter would she be any good?' and I think I shocked them with my rapport with the kids and then we developed this format, and I put my input in it too. I wanted to tell the kids how it was, you know kids today are so real and they don't want to be patronised they want you to talk to them like proper adults and they can take it too.
What's your skin care range Miamoo all about?
Well, it's for anyone with delicate skin, which includes children. It's good for dry skin and I came up with the concept about three years ago because I suffer from dry skin myself and I just didn't want other children and babies to experience what I did and it literally doesn't contain any nasty chemicals.
So, you've cornered nearly every market- is a fashion range next?!
No, no no! I don't think I'm a fashionista at all, I'll leave that to Victoria Beckham I think.
And on that note, Bye Saira!
Bye Laura, take care.
FemaleFirst- Laura Terry
Saira Khan is working with Kodak Inkjet to encourage people to set up their own home office, and help save small and home office workers money on all their printing using Kodak’s Inkjet Printers.
Saira Khan may well be known for her fierce reputation in business, in addition to being 'that gobby one' off The Apprentice, but in reality she's a big softie!
Seeing as we'd only really witnessed the scary side of Saira before our chat, we were understandably apprehensive, but we needn't of been because as it turns out, her passion for working mums to succeed in business, is what seems to be the driving force behind her campaign, and that can sometimes comes across as aggression.
FemaleFirst sat down with Saira for a chat about being a working mum, hosting a kids TV show, and just why she's working with Kodak for her latest business venture...
Hiya how are you?
I'm fine darling, how are you doing over there?
Great thanks, what have you been up to recently?
Well, so many things I have been starting filming beat the boss, I've just finished doing a programme for the money programme that's coming out in march, which is to do with the franchising of curry, so if you like curry then it's a good programme to watch.
I'm the face of a new charity called action medical research, I'm doing an appeal for them and it's about saving little lives. I've been working on my own business too, I've been doing by range of natural skin care products for children, so I've just been developing that and getting it into Waitrose, John Lewis and places like that. So I've been busy busy busy. [FF: that's a lot to fit in, in the space of twelve months!] Yeah, oh god! And I've got a baby too, I've got a little baby. He's coming up to ten months and he keeps me busy too.
You've done so much since The Apprentice, what's been your highlight?
Oh, that's so hard. I've done so many amazing things and met so many people, but I have to say my highlight was, really... erm, oh god, well if I say it's starting my business, then it implies I'm putting my child in second place, but I started my business before I had my baby, but I think for me, starting my business and having my products be on the shelves at supermarkets has been amazing and the fact that I've been working from home, you know I've got a small little offspring at home, and then to see my products out there is just the biggest achievement, it's been my dream.
People obviously know you from The Apprentice, do you think people's perceptions of you have changed since then? I mean, you may have come across as a little aggressive initially...
Oh bless you, you're very kind by calling me aggressive, people have called me 'mouth of the south' and 'very gobby' but I think for me The Apprentice was an amazing experience and you saw aspects of me that you know when I'm in a business environment I can get gobby, but I'd like to say I'm passionate too.
Since then, you know in the four of five years gone by I've been able to portray me other characteristics to the public. Look at Beat the boss for example, I get to work with children and people can see how I interact with them and I did a documentary where I went to Pakistan , so you got to see a bit more about me and my personal life and I think just doing all of those different things and talking to the press about my interests, may make people forget that I was kind of annoying on The Apprentice!
What job title would you give yourself now, because obviously you're involved with so many different things?
I think it would be a mumentrepreneur, that would be my title because being a mum is number one, but I run a business from home and I'm in business too. All of my media work is a business, I have to balance work with looking after my child. A lot of women are finding that now, you know to be a good mum and succeed in business, it's about balancing everything together. You know you can set up work from home, make some extra money and look after your child too.
Your working with Kodak at the moment, what are you doing with them?
With Kodak, what I'm doing is really helping them to promote the message that more and more women are setting up offices from home, and one of their chief focuses is they've got a product called ESP 7 and 9 printers and what's fantastic about these printers is that many people think that starting up an office from home will cost a fortune, but actually it's quite cheap.