Anand Vasudev on The Apprentice Season 10: "I Want to Be at the Top — It Was Wrong, But Being a Project Manager, You Want to Win"
Anand Vasudev, 31 — an Emory University graduate from Tampa, Florida, who was the youngest person ever promoted to a senior role at a Fortune 500 company and was building a vitamin-infused wine startup in New York — was fired from NBC's The Apprentice Season 10 after Donald Trump read aloud a text message proving Anand had asked friends to pose as customers and spend $50 at his pedicab stand. Premier Guide Miami's Daedrian McNaughton spoke with Vasudev about his regrets, the outpouring of fan support, and who he thought would make it to the finals.
From the Vault · 2010
This is an archival piece from the Premier Guide Miami collection. The coverage, context, and details reflect the time it was originally published.
Anand Vasudev, 31 — an Emory University graduate from Tampa, Florida, who was the youngest person ever promoted to a senior role at a Fortune 500 company and was building a vitamin-infused wine startup in New York — was fired from NBC's The Apprentice Season 10 after Donald Trump read aloud a text message proving Anand had asked friends to pose as customers and spend $50 at his pedicab stand. Premier Guide Miami sat down to find out what that means — and what comes next.
Anand Vasudev, 31, from Tampa, Florida — an Emory University graduate who was the youngest person promoted to a senior role at a Fortune 500 company — was proving to be a strong competitor on NBC's The Apprentice Season 10. After being laid off from a lucrative real estate investment firm, he moved to New York City to launch an innovative vitamin-infused wine company. He was fired after Donald Trump read aloud a text message proving he had asked friends to pose as customers during a pedicab task.
The boardroom exchange: Trump: "I've just been given some very disturbing news that Anand has been text messaging people telling them to bring in money. Anand, is that true?" Anand: "That is not true sir." Trump then read the text aloud: "Come to Trump Tower from 10AM-1PM. Bring at least $50. Pretend like you don't know me. Need you to buy a pedicab from me or one of my teammates. I'm project manager so my ass is on the line." Anand: "I want to be at the top, I want to win, and nobody came... it was wrong and it was inappropriate but being a project manager, you want to win." Trump: "This is why the country's gotten into such trouble. This is the kind of thinking that we've been witnessing on Wall Street for the last five years — Anand, you're fired."
On the impact of his departure: "When I first watched the show I was very nervous. I didn't know how it was going to affect me. But I've gotten an outpouring of support from fans, friends, and family. People run up to me on the street, shake my hand, give me hugs. People say, 'I don't think what you did was so bad. If I was in your shoes, I probably would've done the same thing.' The fact that I have so much support out there really makes me happy."
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On whether he would have made the finals: "I'm very confident. In all the previous episodes I showed America what I'm made of. I would've definitely gone pretty far if I had not gotten in trouble sending a text message. I know I definitely could've been a force to be reckoned with. But that's just not the way the cookie crumbled."
On the remaining contestants: "Stephanie's a real go-getter. I see a lot of myself in Stuart — he's definitely got that attitude and the drive to win. Clint is a workhorse. He'll do anything it takes. Brandy's got the brains and the beauty. Everyone brings something different to the table."
The Apprentice Season 10 aired on NBC, Thursdays at 10:00-11:00 PM ET.
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