Michelle Dewberry
Michelle Dewberry, a former winner of BBC’s The Apprentice and now successful
business consultant, author and entrepreneur, tells her story of winning a high
profile job with Lord Sugar, her decision to leave and the challenges she has faced
when establishing her own business venture in the height of a recession. She will
share the highs and lows, and invite discussion from the audience on their business
ideas, challenges and fears.
What has been the motivational force behind What has been the highlight of your career
Name: Michelle Dewberry your rise to fame in business? so far?
Ask me as a youngster what I wanted to be Having the courage, confidence and experience to
Career Highlights: when I grew up and my answer was simple, “an become a self employed business consultant at
• Age 23, became self-employed honest and successful business woman”. While the age of 23.
consultant, managing multi-million my friends were out chasing boys, I was working
pound projects. three jobs every Saturday and reading business What has been your biggest mistake?
• First female winner of BBC’s The autobiographies in my spare time. Not starting my own business sooner. Having
Apprentice. Chiconomise.com is both liberating and
• Went on to start Michelle Dewberry Tell us about The Appentice. challenging and I thrive on challenge.
Limited and Chiconomise. Driven by my desire to live life to the full, I applied
for the BBC’s The Apprentice where I fought off What advice would you give to fledgling
more than 15,000 hopefuls to be crowned the entrepreneurs?
winner. To say I was pleased is an understatement! It sounds cheesy, but just do it. Stop talking about
But I left after working for Sir Alan for one year. it, stop dreaming about it, stop worrying about
it – just do it.
“Stop talking about it, stop
For those that aren’t up to speed, what have
dreaming about it, stop
you been up to since then? Who, or what company, do you most admire
I’ve subsequently released my autobiography in the business world and why?
worrying about it - just do it. “
‘Anything Is Possible’, consulted for a number I admire Richard Branson and what he has
of companies including The Royal Mail and managed to create with the Virgin brand. I also
The Chamber of Commerce and worked on love the way he manages to set himself life
government initiatives supporting young changing personal challenges and uses himself as
entrepreneurs. My new venture, Chiconomise the ultimate marketing tool for his businesses.
Hall 1 – 1.15-1.45
launched in May.
Thursday
What’s next?
What has been key to your success? Develop Chiconomise.com into the money saving
Should You Go It Alone In Business?
Setting myself regular goals, reviewing them website for women, expand my property portfolio
Starting a business is never an easy
regularly, believing in myself when things go wrong to include a country renovation project and to be
decision. Leaving the stability of an existing
and not judging myself by anyone’s standards happy.
job to venture into the unknown is a scary
other than my own.
prospect. How can you juggle finances?
How do you make your dreams a reality?
Is it worth the risk? Resolve your anxieties
right here!
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