Sian Gabbidon: The Apprentice winner reshaping fashion

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.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.Here's what we discussed:Could you tell us about your business journey up to this point? (00:45)What was it like becoming an overnight star from your appearance on The Apprentice and how did it affect your business? (05:34)Do you feel that the exposure from being on The Apprentice was more valuable to you then the investment? (07:39)You recently ended your partnership with Lord Sugar. What was the reason for this and was it an amicable split? (09:19)We're in a cost-of-living crisis and a recession is looming - how have you prepared your business for this? (10:52)Do you have any tips on how fashion brands can stand out in a saturated market? (13:48)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)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)Do you feel you received positive support from other business leaders after your win on The Apprentice? (24:40)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)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)How did you develop your leadership style? (33:09)What qualities are lacking among today’s leaders? (36:14)The Good News Postcard: If you could live in any decade, other than this one, what would it be and why? (38:30)What makes a great business leader? (40:08)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 The Good News Post, 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.Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and the Business Leader YouTube channel for more interviews with some of the world’s leading business figures. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.