Stephen Brady
With a life changing amount of money and a partnership deal with one of the biggest business tycoons in history up for grabs, those two words could send most people to tears.
Following last nights episode, where team Sterling failed to bag enough money with online deals, lost the task and with it two of their team members Stephen Brady and Gabrielle Omar, I spoke to one of Lord Sugar’s latest casualties Stephen.
Prior to speaking to Stephen, I was almost expecting an intimidating business interview that I would leave feeling stressed and in need of a cup of coffee, but actually I had a rather lovely conversation about being in the boardroom, stressful working conditions and relationships in ‘The Apprentice’ house.
I ignored my gut instinct to go to the spa and I shouldn’t have done that. I did deserve to go.
I quizzed Stephen on his Apprentice experience, he said: “Before the process I said determination and enthusiasm is needed for business and I still believe that. I watched ‘The Apprentice’ for years and so being in the boardroom for the first time was really daunting.”
It didn’t get any easier though, with long hours being put in at the office, stressful tasks and growing friendships in ‘The Apprentice’ household, Stephen said: “The boardroom gets more difficult because you build stronger relationships with people, so it is harder to criticise people opposed to if you were strangers and you are also more tired”
But Stephen didn’t seem too dishearten by the exit from the apprentice, if anything he was more upbeat and reflected on the whole process positively “I don’t have any regrets, it was a good experience. I would probably have eased myself in better if I was given the chance again. Just to stop myself being so tired towards the end.”
“I didn’t go with my gut instinct, working in a team like that is difficult because you don’t want people to think you aren’t listening to them. I ignored my gut instinct to go to the spa and I shouldn’t have done that. I did deserve to go”
Of course every businessman is only as good as his fellow workers but upbeat Stephen had only positive things to say about fellow contestants, he told me: “I think Ricky has a strong chance of winning because he is intelligent, has a lot going for him and has the boardroom experience. After spending that much time with him, I wouldn’t be surprised if he wins. I’m not sure Gabrielle deserved to go this week, she was just tired.”
Tensions get high in the boardroom and people fight to the death not to be fired, however Stephen assures that when they get to the house after the boardroom, everything goes back to normal. “When you watch the show, you think after the boardroom, how can you just be friends? But I think it is like a game of tennis with a friend, you compete but afterwards you have to forget about it. Everyone got on really well and I liked everyone.”
Now Stephen is in the spotlight and has the press on his tail after his time on the show, but he is taking it all in his stride however as he tells me “The interesting thing with the press is that regardless of if it is good or bad, people are interested in you. So you have the opportunity to put your real personality across. You have to deal with good and bad, it is all part of the same deal.”
But Stephen is still staying grounded and tells all about his future plans. “I have a business idea to revolutionise the dry cleaning industry. It is called boxclean and will give people the opportunity to drop their dry cleaning off anywhere, anytime and get it delivered back to you anywhere, anytime and you can do it all from you phone. Secondary to that I want to do some things with radio and TV following ‘The Apprentice”.
After watching Stephen‘s strong character in ‘The Apprentice’ for weeks, it is safe to say the businessman may have left the process but hasn’t left his enthusiasm or determination with it.
FemaleFirst Emma Chaplin
Tagged in The Apprentice