CLAIRE YOUNG



 

How have your experiences on the show changed the way that you do business?
Before The Apprentice I worked on the corporate ladder and I had never actually owned my own business. After the show, I turned down over five hundred job offers, took a risk and set up my first venture. Being your own boss is a steep learning curve and it is very different from being an employee! I had been brought up to understand that you work hard, you go to university and then you get a good job working for somebody else. After the show, I noticed that a couple of my Apprentice colleagues were running their own businesses, and I thought if they can do it so can I - and off I went!

When you look back at your time on the show, what would you say were the most important lessons you took away from it?
1. I famously had a big dressing down from Lord Sugar for talking too much! I’ve learnt
to listen more!
2. To have a plan and not just dive straight in without any strategy. This was usually the biggest downfall of my teams on the show!
3. To have no shame. You are under huge time pressure during tasks so you literally don’t have the time to ‘um and ah’ about decisions. JDI – just do it! Be proactive and grab opportunities. If people say no, so what? Move on.

You were dubbed the ‘Rottweiler’ of The Apprentice – do you think that you have to be ‘ballsy’ to succeed in business as a woman?
Entrepreneurs come in all different shapes and sizes, however, there are common traits: self-belief, confidence and tenacity. I’m very happy to be called Rottweiler. I’m very goal driven and when I set my mind to something I go for it. There will always be obstacles in your way but it’s how you deal with issues and potential failure that will be the making of you. If I’ve had a tough day I draw a line underneath it, learn, reflect and start afresh the next day. This is how I approached The Apprentice and it got me through numerous boardrooms!

Business-wise, what are you up to at the moment?
I work with young people promoting enterprise, entrepreneurship and employability skills. I own an agency www.schoolspeakers.co.uk a company that provides different speakers to be sent into schools. Our overall aim is to inspire, motivate and inform! I am also a director on www.girlsoutloud.org.uk which is a social enterprise working with teens aged between 13 and 18 years old. We’ve recently launched our mentor scheme ‘Big Sister’ which is very exciting! I work with the government and a number of education groups helping to get the enterprise message out there!

How did you come to be involved with ‘Girls Out Loud’?
As a young woman in business unfortunately I’m a bit of a novelty and I do a lot of work in schools showing students that they could have the same career if they wished. I crossed paths with my fellow directors, Jane Kenyon and Rachel Ward-Lilley, several times and realised that we all had the same passion – to help girls! We need more women in business as per the Lord Davies report. We need more female role models (just not more WAGS and Glamour Girls please!) and instead of talking about it we decided to do something – thus, Girls Out Loud was formed.

What does Girls Out Loud do in practical terms in order to achieve its aims?
As a brand we needed something that would engage directly with our target audience – not the parents or the teachers – it was the girls who we wanted to inspire! Sometimes you’re working with students who are disengaged and you need to gain their attention. If you say you’re attending an educational behavioural event then their likely response is ‘no thanks’ and who could blame them? Instead, Girls Out Loud is edgy, relevant and most importantly appeals to them.

You are clearly keen to see today’s young women become the business leaders of the future. Do you think the glass ceiling still exists and if so, what can we do to smash through it?
I feel the glass ceiling exists 100% in certain industries. You only need to go into the City of London’s banking district on a Thursday to witness the sea of white, male, pinstripe suits. It’s human psychology that we naturally gravitate to people similar to ourselves. In order to move forward for better balance we need a number of changes:
a) Positive discrimination in some sectors – without it there will never be the change that is so sorely needed;
b) Better childcare options and greater understanding from employers;
c) Women not trying to be superwoman! It’s impossible to do everything, all of the time.
Women need to prioritise what’s most important to them and we need to learn not to worry about the rest!

You also do quite a bit of public speaking; can you share any tips that might help nervous individuals become more confident orators?
Oh, the irony of being thrown out of the boardroom for talking and earning nicknames like Motor Mouth and Chatterbox – I now use speaking as a key part of my business! I thoroughly enjoy it. All presentations need a structure and you should aim to take your audience on a journey. Also, remember that practise makes perfect, and keep in mind that the audience is usually willing you to do well. I have lots more top tips and will be writing a column about public speaking so watch this space!

Where do you see yourself in ten years time?
I’d like to think I’ll still be in the business world somehow, but I’d also like to get much more involved in politics. I’d like to make a difference to young people and to the UK economy in turn.

Business can be stressful – do you have any coping strategies for when things become hectic?
Keep things in perspective! One of my catch phrases is, ‘No one has died’. No matter how bad the problem seems there is always a solution. It may cost you time and money, but there is always an answer! As an entrepreneur you are the engine behind a business so you need to look after yourself if you want the business to run smoothly. It’s essential to find something that gives you an outlet to rid yourself of stress. I have two horses and I like to go for a ride to clear my head. Otherwise, I get away from my desk and have a cup of tea or read a good book. One of the hardest things is learning to switch off but you need to do it.

Anyone who has ever watched The Apprentice will notice how the team’s dynamics can make or break a task. Do you have any tips on working as part of a team?
Listen and quickly ascertain each team member’s strengths and weaknesses – then delegate the tasks accordingly. Think of yourselves as a machine and working in the most efficient way possible. Communicate, have respect and have fun – humour will get you through a lot of tricky situations!

You have lost 3.5 stone since leaving The Apprentice – how did you fit exercise into your busy lifestyle?
Having two horses and riding nearly every day keeps me moving, and that is key to getting in shape. Exercise and eating well are important to your business, if you’re full of junk food and caffeine then you’ll fall apart eventually – and if that happens then you’re no good to anyone!

What did you think of the most recent series of The Apprentice? Did the right candidate win?
I love watching the show and I really enjoyed the new format. Personally, I’d like to see the business plans brought in earlier on into the process and a change to the treats. They should be business related so the more you win, the better the advantage you have. I liked Tom early on and I think he’s a great business partner for Lord Sugar who really does love a product!

Who would you say is the businessperson that you most look up to?
I look up to Oprah Winfrey and Alan Sugar. Both have come from nothing, are very successful entrepreneurs, have used their wealth and profile to helps others and are both decent, nice people. Lord Sugar is not the big bad wolf you see on the TV!

You're a keen user of Twitter - how do you think that social media has changed the way we all do business?
The Internet has completely changed the world of business and how we interact with others. Word of mouth, i.e. Twitter, is much more compelling than a press advert. It’s also a global little black book and you can expand your network quickly if used properly.