{"version":"1.0","type":"rich","provider_name":"Acast","provider_url":"https://acast.com","height":250,"width":700,"html":"<iframe src=\"https://embed.acast.com/$/627124e6b20735001442cbf2/63d933c6f2393300101095ed?\" frameBorder=\"0\" width=\"700\" height=\"250\"></iframe>","title":"Sian Gabbidon: The Apprentice winner reshaping fashion","thumbnail_width":200,"thumbnail_height":200,"thumbnail_url":"https://open-images.acast.com/shows/627124e6b20735001442cbf2/1675178025455-450f8fe039bea32a4a71fcaf0be8789f.jpeg?height=200","description":"<p>This week’s guest on The Business Leader Podcast is Sian Gabbidon, the Founder of Sian Marie, a UK-based premium loungewear company. She is a media personality with over 100K followers on Instagram and was the winner of the hit BBC show The Apprentice in 2018. Sian has grown her business from a small swimwear brand she founded in her bedroom, to a known loungewear brand with over 60K followers on Instagram.</p><p><br></p><p>We talk to Sian about the secrets to creating a unique fashion brand, her experience on The Apprentice, and the role her personal brand has in the success of her business.</p><p><br></p><p><strong>Here's what we discussed:</strong></p><p><br></p><ul><li>Could you tell us about your business journey up to this point? (00:45)</li><li>What was it like becoming an overnight star from your appearance on The Apprentice and how did it affect your business? (05:34)</li><li>Do you feel that the exposure from being on The Apprentice was more valuable to you then the investment? (07:39)</li><li>You recently ended your partnership with Lord Sugar. What was the reason for this and was it an amicable split? (09:19)</li><li>We're in a cost-of-living crisis and a recession is looming - how have you prepared your business for this? (10:52)</li><li>Do you have any tips on how fashion brands can stand out in a saturated market? (13:48)</li><li>You have 114,000 followers on Instagram – how important is it for your business for you as a person to cultivate your own personal brand? (16:33)</li><li>Do you ever just want to turn off the public-facing part of your life because it must require a lot of upkeep? (21:32)</li><li>Do you feel you received positive support from other business leaders after your win on The Apprentice? (24:40)</li><li>You’ve expressed your opposition to fast-fashion brands and how unethical they are – how do you make sure your supply chain and the production of your clothing is ethical? (27:53)</li><li>Does there need to be a collective psychological shift in the way consumers purchase clothing because of the impact its having on people and the planet? Will this change in our lifetime? (31:28)</li><li>How did you develop your leadership style? (33:09)</li><li>What qualities are lacking among today’s leaders? (36:14)</li><li>The Good News Postcard: If you could live in any decade, other than this one, what would it be and why? (38:30)</li><li>What makes a great business leader? (40:08)</li></ul><p><br></p><p>Thanks to India from the Jill Dando News for bringing us The Good News Postcard this week. Get your dose of positive news by visiting <a href=\"https://goodnewspost.co.uk/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">The Good News Post</a>, a website collated by hundreds of young people aged 8 to 18 in the UK. They've written real-life “news that’s good for you”, covering people, animals, stories to cheer people up, and tips to make lives better.</p><p><br></p><p>Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSYMiQAiikesqqT_uel9aEA\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" target=\"_blank\">Business Leader YouTube channel</a> for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures.</p>","author_name":"Business Leader"}