VENEZUELAN sales director Jessica Ramella emerged as the winner on The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition, edging out Filipino Louie Sangalang.
On the show’s season finale which last aired on Monday, Ms. Ramella, 31, was given the $250,000 job offer to become the chief of staff of Asia’s largest martial arts organization at ONE’s global headquarters in Singapore.
She bested 15 other individuals in the competition, which tested both the contestants’ business acumen and physical abilities in its 13 episodes.
The decision on who the winner would be was arrived at following the last two’s final interviews with ONE Chairman and CEO Chatri Sityodtong and Grab founder and CEO Anthony Tan.
Both executives were impressed on how the finalists conducted themselves and answered, taking note of Ms. Ramella’s fighting spirit to overcome tremendous challenges in life to be where she is now, and Mr. Sangalang’s experience as a martial artist and how he understood the very ethos of ONE Championship, which is its athletes.
In the final boardroom session, Mr. Sityodtong and advisor Niharika Singh went through what transpired during the last interview and the performance of Ms. Ramella and Mr. Sangalang throughout the competition.
Mr. Sityodtong praised Mr. Sangalang for his integrity and ability to lead with calm judgment. However, he was worried about whether or not he could earn the trust of those he would be tasked to lead.
On the other hand, he underscored Ms. Ramella’s wide range of skills, and for her grace and dignity in the face of adversity, but questioned her risk-taking ability and close-guardedness.
In the end, the ONE official chose Ms. Ramella as the winner.
In The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition, the organization was looking to find a “warrior” to join its team who embodies what the organization is all about and can help it grow moving forward.
Sixteen contestants vied for the spot, including two Filipinos – Mr. Sangalang and Baguio-based Lara Alvarez. — Michael Angelo S. Murillo
