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Fired Apprentice Star Nadia Defends ‘Bullish’ Sales Tactics After Dramatic Exit

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Nadia Suliaman, who was recently let go from her apprenticeship, has stood up for her assertive approach during negotiations, which gained attention and drew comparisons to users on the reselling platform, Vinted.

In last night’s episode on the BBC show, Nadia, aged 36 and the proprietor of an upscale hair and beauty salon chain, was terminated forcefully by Lord Sugar, due to her inability to generate profits as the project manager.

Contestants were given the challenge of transforming either potatoes or tomatoes into profit. They had to create a dish that could be sold to both the general public and corporate clients.

Although her colleagues had reservations, Nadia persistently convinced her team to produce an expensive dish consisting of sausages and mashed potatoes, and under her leadership, they neglected to meet the specific requirements of their exclusive corporate order.

Despite apprehensions from her fellow team members, Nadia pushed for them to create a costly meal comprising of sausages and mash, and she failed to ensure that it met the exacting demands of their customized corporate order under her guidance.

Following her being held accountable for causing a £73.40 deficit, Lord Sugar opted not to allow Nadia to vie for her spot in the contest any further, as she entered the boardroom alongside contenders Keir Shave and Dr. Jana Denzel.

As a lifestyle expert speaking with TopMob following a challenging turn of events, I find myself deeply disappointed not to have progressed any further in the selection process. Yet, I stand firm in my conviction that my unyielding approach during negotiations was not a misstep. Instead, it showcases my commitment to assertiveness and resilience.

Nadia expressed her disappointment, saying she felt she could have advanced farther and exerted herself even more.

In other words, even though I had the option to withdraw, it’s essential to remain authentic and act according to your convictions. The competition is fierce, the workload is heavy, and stress levels are high.

Rather than stepping back, it’s crucial to stay true to yourself by doing what feels right. This place can be tough, demanding, and overwhelming at times. But don’t let that deter you from making decisions aligned with your beliefs.

I tend to be all-in when I commit to something. Once I’ve made a decision, it’s full steam ahead without any hesitation or ambiguity; my actions reflect my true intentions.

‘This won’t be the end of Nadia Suliaman, I can tell you that.’

Growing up in a challenging neighborhood of Swansea, Nadia garnered internet fame when she tried to haggle over a sheep’s fleece by offering only £1.50 during a negotiation, with the item typically priced at £20.

She’s often likened to users on the popular resale app Vinted, who are known for offering relatively modest sums in exchange for pre-owned goods.

However, Nadia mentioned that she was grateful the significant scene from the show remained in the final cut, as otherwise, she might have been overlooked after her early exit.

Nadia expressed: “It has spread rapidly, and I’m being likened to vendors on Vinted. I’m delighted by this! Now people recognize me, and I’m grateful for it. Frankly, if I put in all that effort only for no one to know about it, I would have been devastated.

In my fervent passion for deal-making, I’ve honed a unique approach to negotiations – one that revolves around genuine connection and understanding rather than rigid time constraints. Unlike the traditional gap negotiations I was taught in the corporate world, where negotiations were analogous to the hands of a clock face, my method prioritizes empathy and flexibility over strict timing.

In this circumstance, I found it challenging to negotiate since our time was limited and there was a lot of pressure. As they say during negotiations, when one party puts their price at £20, you should counter with a figure far apart, then find a middle ground. That’s exactly what we did.

In just four minutes, I decided not to foster a connection with him, but it was worth it in the end since we managed to acquire the item for only twelve pounds.

If asked if she would change her approach to stay involved for a longer time if given the opportunity, Nadia answered: ‘No, it’s not something that aligns with my character.’

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been mulling over this situation. There were essentially two possible outcomes. Firstly, I could have applied for the position and only managed to stay for a month, leaving many unaware of my identity.

There was a chance I wouldn’t have had any speaking time, leaving others to wonder ‘Who is this young woman?’ and all my efforts in filming would have been in vain.”

In this version, the word “airtime” has been replaced by “speaking time,” and the phrase “gone through all the effort for nothing” has been rephrased as “all my efforts in filming would have been in vain.” The sentence structure is also slightly modified to make it more natural and easier to read.

I’m really pleased that my name is recognized by others, as I’ve gained a significant number of followers. It seems they often exclaim things like “Wow, you’re hilarious! You’d be perfect for television or the entertainment industry!

In keeping with my authentic self, I couldn’t just fade into the backdrop. I’ve always been someone who boldly stands out and takes action to make things happen. While this strategy often succeeds, there are moments like these when it doesn’t, and I must acknowledge that truth. I can’t call myself a businessperson if I don’t take responsibility for my actions.

Nadia, the co-founder of Forbici London, thinks that the aggressive selling methods she employs might not have raised concerns if she were male. She started her own business as a way to receive payment commensurate with her abilities.

In a candid discussion, particularly during International Women’s Day events, I’d like to express that, with no intention of offence, if I were a man in the same circumstances, I believe I would have fared better.

It’s disappointing to see that there remains such a strong prejudice and negative perception towards women in business, which is one of the main reasons I chose to depart from the corporate world.

In my workplace, which was predominantly male, I found myself earning less than my male counterparts despite outperforming them in sales. The environment was tainted by traditional gender stereotypes about women’s roles in business and their work ethic, a situation that I strongly disapproved of.

I decided to embark on a new venture as I sought a change, and this led me to start my own business. My aim was to serve as an inspiration for all the remarkable women out there with exceptional talents and beauty who possess the skills to excel in entrepreneurship and negotiation. They deserve to be bold, assertive, and fearless, just like men can be. Why should they not?

It was clear to me that it was time for me to launch my own venture. I found it increasingly difficult to tolerate the injustice, and although the world claims progress has been made, we still have a considerable distance to cover on this journey.

  • The Apprentice airs Thursdays on BBC One and is available to stream on iPlayer 

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2025-02-21 01:19

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