Q) What was it like hearing the words "You're fired?"
A) A lot of the people who got fired on the show deserved it because they made elementary and tactical business mistakes. I got fired for bending the rules. It felt awful to hear those words from Mr. Trump, especially because I had earned a lot of respect from him up until that point. It stung very badly that day and continues to sting me still today, well after the fact. As the weeks went on, I was more and more confident that I was going to be hired as the next Apprentice, and I'm sure most of the viewers felt that way too. Even though I let Mr. Trump down that day, he knows he's going to see big things from me in the future.
Q) Did you agree with Trump's rationale for your firing?
A) I don't disagree with Mr. Trump's decision to fire me, however I do wish he gave me a second chance. Mr. Trump's history is well-documented, and he is the master at finding loopholes and bending rules in order to get to the top. That's why he's found so much success in his lifetime. I don't think there's anything morally wrong with what I did. I also tried to find a loophole in order to gain a competitive advantage.
Q) What moment or moments on the show were surprising to you?
A) There were far too many moments on the show that surprised me. I was shocked how many contestants would stab each other in the back when we were in the boardroom (thankfully, that never happened to me!) But what shocked me the most was how many not-so-qualified contestants made it so far in the show. The majority of the players are all very bright and accomplished, but there were a few who I noticed continually making the same mistakes and errors in judgment, and somehow they slipped by week after week.
Q) Do you feel as though you've made any lasting friendships and business relationships from the show? With whom?
A) This is a one-of-a-kind experience, and although we're all competing against each other for one common goal, we all respect each other and value each other's friendship. Early on, I had a few differences with Mahsa and Stephanie, but now I consider them to be close friends. David and I didn't see eye to eye, but now that the competition is over, I have a newfound respect for him. Some of the other people I have maintained close friendships/relationships with are Brandy, Poppy, Steuart, Tyana, Alex, etc… I think we'll all remain pretty close for a long time.
Q) What was the best part of your experience? Why?
A) The best part of being on The Apprentice is how much I learned about myself. With such a grueling schedule, and the broad range of business tasks we were required to work on, I learned that I had a lot of business acumen in areas my career never really focused on. This competition is a great test of strength and stamina. In addition to personal discovery, I also made a lot of friends on the show that I am very close with still. But best of all, how many people can say they got to work with Donald Trump?
Q) What have you been doing since being on the show?
A) Since the show ended, I've had a chance to do some traveling while enjoying the notoriety that is associated with The Apprentice. I have worked very hard to continue building my network and look for business opportunities in a variety of industries. In addition I have made some progress on my own business ideas and hope to launch them in the near future!
Q) Has the experience changed you? Do you approach decisions differently now?
A) I still approach my career and business ventures the same way that I did before and how I did on the show. My work ethic and strategic thinking have worked out very well for me so far in my career. It was just a bad judgment call that got me in hot water towards the end. I am definitely a lot wiser now after my mistake, and I try not to beat myself up about it. We all make mistakes. You just have to live, learn, move forward, and be even better.
Q) What has the experience taught you about people?
A) This experience has taught me that people can really accomplish just about anything under pressure if they want it really badly. This was a magnificent experience and I am very lucky to have been part of it.
