A multi-millionaire businesswoman has hit out at business moguls on hit BBC shows like The Apprentice and Dragon’s Den.
Jacqueline O’Donovan, 57, from Kilburn, north west London built up O’Donovan Waste from a small company worth £175,000 to an empire that turned over £1.9million in profit in 2022.
The businesswoman took over the company at the age of just 19 following the sudden death of her father Joe at the age of 51, and within a few years it was one of the world’s leaders in waste disposal.
With almost 40 years of experience in the sector, Jacqueline has criticised TV millionaires for not presenting the reality of building up a successful business on entertainment shows that proclaim to show the grittier side of the board room.
Speaking exclusively to Femail, the CEO explained that she feels that the likes of top famous moguls including Baroness Karren Brady, Steven Bartlett, and YouTube stars like KSI present an unrealistic idea of entrepreneurship by prioritising their own reputations above their businesses.
The mother-of-one criticised Brady for the way she presents herself, suggesting that she leaned in to a ‘Jilly Cooper’-style stereotyping of her look to gain success.
Like Jacqueline, Karren made her millions at an early age, becoming a trainee at the exclusive advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi at just 18.
By the age of 23 she had joined LBC in her role as advertising account executive before joining Sport Newspapers, impressing her boss so much that when he bought Birmingham City F.C., she was given the role of managing director.
Multi-millionaire businesswoman Jacqueline O’Donovan, 57, has hit out at business moguls on hit BBC shows like The Apprentice and Dragon’s Den for setting unrealistic expectations
As well as her roles on executive boards and in advertising, Karren has had a seat on Sport England and acted as chairman of music magazine Kerrang!, worked for Simon Cowell‘s Syco music label and former Topshop owner Sir Philip Green.
Despite her success, Jaqueline has suggested Karren hasn’t helped encourage other women to get in to business by appearing frosty and too much of a ‘she boss’.
She said: ‘She’s very Jilly Cooper in the way she wants to be taken and I think that’s undermined women in business because if a man did that nobody would think it was like 50 Shades of Grey.’
Jacqueline added Karren’s decision to marry a footballer also fed in to the glam ‘powerful woman in business’ reputation that she has cultivated for herself – but it turns some people off.
She added that the former managing director of Birmingham City FC is now out of touch and the advice she offers aspiring business owners isn’t always very helpful.
She said: ‘She’s fallen for the hype of her reputation and she’s not that helpful.’
The CEO even thought that Baroness Brady was not encouraging and said: ‘I think she would laugh or sneer if I offered my thoughts and I don’t think she’s encouraging for other women.’
She also took aim at Dragons’ Den regular and Diary of a CEO host Steven Bartlett as she criticised business moguls with large social media followings.
The mother-of-one criticised the Baroness Karen Bady for the way she presented herself, suggesting that she leaned in to a Jilly Cooper stereotyping of her look to gain success
She also suggested that she hasn’t helped encourage other women to get in to business by appearing frosty and too much of a ‘she boss’
Bartlett, 32, dropped out of Manchester Metropolitan University after one lecture before founding a social media agency Social Chain.
The CEO stepped down from the company in 2020 after selling it the previous year for £300million.
But the young entrepreneur also presents one of Spotify’s most popular podcasts – The Diary of a CEO, which he launched in 2017.
Despite his millions, Jacqueline believes he’s not an effective leader and warns he’s spent too much time running his social media profiles instead of his companies.
‘I think Steven Bartlett has fallen victim to his own personality and he’s got to where he has because of that; not because of his ability alone,’ she said.
Jacqueline went on to discuss ‘fake influencer’ entrepreneurs, hitting out at them for not focusing on building their business and misleading the public.
The London native said that the likes of YouTuber KSI, whose real name is Olajide Olayinka Williams ‘JJ’ Olatunji, have made it seem like making millions is easy but they are in fact misleading people.
The social media star turned celebrity presenter and millionaire first found fame on YouTube as a founding member of the group the Sidemen, making videos of himself commenting on FIFA video games series.
Jacqueline also said Steven Bartlett spent too much time running his social media profiles instead of his companies
He then moved in to comic skits, music and presenting roles before launching a boxing career and a drinks range – Prime energy drinks, which has since partnered with American child star Logan Paul.
Among his many business ventures are a clothing line, record label, restaurant and he has also published an autobiography.
Since the start of his channel in 2008, KSI has made more than $24million with Forbes ranking him the second highest earning creator of 2023.
But Jaqueline has hit out at the star, suggesting his business success has been more down to luck and fame than to his business knowledge and hard work.
‘KSI hasn’t got to where he is today because of his business knowledge. He started out on YouTube and now he’s got those Prime drinks and he’s a boxer but I don’t think his wealth and businesses will last.’ she said.
‘He probably hasn’t been investing wisely or for the future because he’s become so wealthy and famous through social media so quickly.
‘Will he still have everything in 20 years? Probably not.’
She added: ‘Some of the entrepreneurs that are out there and very high up on the profile content. For me they’re quite fake.’
The London native said that the likes of YouTuber KSI have made it seem like making millions is easy but they are in fact misleading people because they don’t have any business knowledge
Jacqueline explained that she increasingly thought business owners were shouting about their successes rather than focusing on growing their businesses.
‘Their businesses are failing so why are you up on that pedestal? Why are you on the bandstand shouting from the rooftops when actually you should be down looking after your business,’ she said.
The award-winning business owner added that she feels there’s a lack of originality in pitches and would love to see more ambitious young entrepreneurs coming up with good ideas.
Jacqueline, who was awarded an OBE by King Charles last year, explained she doesn’t believe in pitching business based on your background, your differences or hardships.
Instead she said they should be confident in the power of their idea.
‘There’s ones that use that use their backgrounds as a lever when it shouldn’t be,’ she said.
Jacqueline added she has previously mentored individuals who have had good ideas; but they didn’t go as far as they could have due to a lack of confidence.
But the CEO explained it’s a fine balance and she warned against confidence that results in the over-selling of a business without a solid foundation to support growth.
The mother-of-one went on to say that business is not necessarily attracting the people it needs who have new ideas and slammed ‘posh kids’ who act like influencers.
Jacqueline explained that she increasingly thought business owners were shouting about their successes rather than focusing on growing their businesses
Despite her criticism, Jacqueline revealed that she had a soft spot for Lord Alan Sugar and called him a fountain of knowledge
She also confessed she didn’t think an entrepreneur can be made; and people with business acumen have a natural flair and passion for entrepreneurship.
‘Entrepreneurs can’t be made, you either have it or you don’t and if you do that’s great but you can’t force it,’ she said.
Jacqueline shared her frustration with TV shows such as Dragons Den and The Apprentice which she described as often ‘b****y’ and unprofessional.
She also slammed the people who appear on the show as being in it for the fame, telling Femail: ‘People who appear on The Apprentice just want air time – it’s not real life or business. It’s just like Love Island. ‘
The OBE-holder said there needed to be a shake-up with the BBC’s shows and said Dragons Den needed to be ‘spiced up’ with newer, fresher Dragons and The Apprentice needed real entrepreneurs back on it.
Despite her criticism, Jacqueline revealed that she had a soft spot for Lord Alan Sugar and said he had lots of important advice to give.
‘Just look at where he’s come from, he’s built himself up from virtually nothing. It’s just amazing,’ she said.
‘He’s a fountain of knowledge.’
