The latest episode of BBC One’s hit show The Apprentice has seen its fifth casualty. Aberdeen pharmacist Roxanne Hamedi was dismissed by Lord Sugar following a disastrous branding task.
The episode challenged the remaining candidates to step into the beverage industry. Consequently, the pressure was on as they tried to impress the judges.
The Bottled Water Task
This week, the teams were tasked with creating and marketing a brand-new bottled water. To succeed, they had to complete three main objectives:
- Develop a unique brand identity and logo.
- Sell the new water brand live on social media.
- Produce an accompanying television advert.
Big Zuu’s Guest Appearance
To help evaluate the task, rapper and sustainable canned-water entrepreneur Big Zuu made a special guest appearance. He assisted Lord Sugar in judging the candidates’ final products. Unfortunately for Hamedi’s team, their branding completely missed the mark.
The Boardroom Drama
Hamedi stepped up as the sub-team leader for the branding element. Therefore, Lord Sugar held her directly accountable when the team’s visual identity failed to impress. She found herself in the final firing line alongside project manager Conor Galvin and pharmaceutical sales specialist Rajan Gill, whose pitch had also gone poorly.
Ultimately, Lord Sugar pointed his firing finger at Hamedi. Reflecting on her exit, she expressed frustration with how the boardroom played out.
“It didn’t feel good to be fired, just because I didn’t think that I deserved to be,” Hamedi stated. “I feel like he [Galvin] did throw me under the bus because I was just an easy scapegoat.”
Moving Forward With No Regrets
Despite her early exit, Hamedi stands by her decision to take a creative risk. She noted that she took on the sub-team leader role specifically to step out of her comfort zone.
Furthermore, she refused to abandon her dignity in the boardroom. “I didn’t want it to come down to begging or being the loudest or most apologetic person in the room,” she added. “I stayed true to myself and that takes integrity.”
Now out of the running for the £250,000 investment, Hamedi plans to continue expanding her own beauty brand, which specializes in combatting hair loss.
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