The Apprentice's Kennedy ‘I WAS FIRED FROM MY OWN COMPANY!'

The Kiwi business prodigy reveals how love has healed the pain of his biggest failure

- Florence Hartigan

At just 25 years old, The Apprentice Aotearoa’s Kennedy Anderson has already achieved more than most people do in a lifetime.

The social media expert’s wrist is adorned with a tattoo of six tally marks, each one representing a business he owns.

“My friends are always teasing me about what happens when I run out of arm space!” he laughs. “It’s a good reminder to myself that I don’t need to own any more than what can fit – otherwise I won’t have time for anyone!”

It’s not surprising this ambitious go-getter has to remind himself to slow down. The Aucklander recalls, “From a very young age, I wanted to be in business when I grew up. On my primary school reports, where they usually write cute things, mine said, ‘Kennedy wants to be a CEO.’”

His parents, both successful business owners themselves, recognised their son’s potential early on. “There was a lot of, ‘If you get this grade on this exam, then you get this reward.’ On The Apprentice, I got teased about whether that was parenting or mentoring!

“My mum and dad used a lot of tricks like if I was ever not appreciating school enough, they’d leave the term invoice slip for my private school fees on my bed to remind me how lucky I was to be there.”