How a business administration grad made it to the finals of ‘The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition’

Imagine being offered a quarter-million-dollar job at the world’s largest martial arts organisation.

That’s what “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition” is all about.

In this high-stakes competition involving both business and physical challenges, 10 candidates from around the world are fighting for the grand prize – to work in ONE’s headquarters in Singapore under CEO and Chairman Chatri Sityodtong.

Gonzalo Gastón Sánchez is one of them.

Sánchez has always prioritised practical learning over formal education, which has kept him adaptable and aligned with his career’s fast-paced demands. Source: Gonzalo Gastón Sánchez

The importance of being open to new challenges

Born in Madrid but raised in various parts of the world, Sánchez grew up as a third-culture kid — and he loved it.

Living in multiple countries allowed him to meet people from all walks of life; whether it was making friends at the international schools he attended or learning to speak multiple languages, Sánchez embraced everything life threw at him.

“I didn’t even realise I was growing up speaking Spanish, English, and Indonesian,” he says. “It’s such a gift, especially nowadays, when you see how much effort goes into learning a new language.”

With a childhood spent moving between Jakarta, Singapore, Spain, Poland, and Dublin, as well as family holidays in Australia and Africa, Sánchez knew that he had one more continent to tick off his list — North America. 

Luckily for him, the opportunity presented itself during his Bachelor’s in Business Administration at IE Business School in Spain when he participated in an exchange programme that brought him to the University of South Carolina in the US.

“I saw this as a challenge for myself to embrace a different culture once again and see what I could gain from the experience,” he says. “In the end, it was good; I got to view my entire life perspective in a very different way.” 

Although only six months long, Sánchez’s time in South Carolina proved rewarding. He met great people from diverse backgrounds and formed lasting friendships. It also allowed him to see the world through a new lens.

It might even suffice to say that his worldly travels and experiences, especially as a travel and lifestyle social media influencer, helped him through whatever came his way – like “The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition.”

Sánchez was contacted via Instagram for his prominence as a regional travel blogger and invited to participate in The Apprentice: ONE Championship Edition’s second season. Source: Gonzalo Gastón Sánchez

“I knew it would be a challenging experience, putting me under significant pressure,” says Sánchez. “Nonetheless, I accepted the challenge, which turned out to be an incredible experience.”

The show’s central premise was having the contestants show their grit by tackling physical and business challenges.

This included, but wasn’t limited to, completing a three-part relay race and pitching various business projects — like developing a hawker dining product with sustainability in mind — to current business tycoons, pushing its contestants to their limits. 

On the physical side, Sánchez thrived. Thanks to years of preparation, he was in peak condition, thanks to training for Spartan races and even representing his country in the World Championship of Dragon Boat Racing. His physical stamina gave him a clear advantage in nearly every challenge.

On the business front, however, things weren’t as straightforward. The tasks were tough, and the time constraints added another layer of difficulty.

“While it looked like we had a full week to complete each task, in reality, we had only one to three days to deliver results,” he says. “Working under such pressure while navigating different personalities and mindsets added to the difficulty. It was as much about handling interpersonal dynamics as it was about accomplishing the tasks themselves.”

Filming took place over eight intense weeks, split between Singapore and Qatar. During that time, Sánchez was completely cut off from social media and his phone.

“Even though we were competing for job positions, the format still required a certain level of drama and engagement,” he shares. “To foster those connections and create the necessary tension, they needed to isolate us from our real lives and place us into this bubble.”

Although it was a welcome break from the usual hustle, the environment was far from relaxing. The competition was fierce, and the pressure was non-stop, making it both exhilarating and draining. 

But in the end, Sánchez, who made it into the show’s finals, found it an unforgettable experience that he would gladly relive.

“I learned a great deal from the different contestants, judges, and guest speakers who joined the show,” he says. “In fact, I would say the three main things I gained were adaptability under pressure, the power of collaboration, and resilience with self-belief.”

Sánchez was one of the most resilient contestants, ultimately reaching the finals. Source: Gonzalo Gastón Sánchez

The key to success? A solid foundation

Sánchez credits his career success thus far to the foundational knowledge and practical experiences he gained during his undergraduate studies in business administration.

His time in IEU Labs — IE University’s hands-on alternative to traditional internships — helped him thrive. IEU Labs offers first- and second-year degree students real-world experience right on campus. 

Sánchez joined the entrepreneurship track, which he found incredibly inspiring. 

“It was an intensive programme where, in just a few weeks, you had to come up with an idea or concept and execute it all the way through,” shares Sánchez. “I worked alongside people from various backgrounds, including those from different master’s programmes. They also brought in external speakers and mentors to help us, which made the experience fascinating.”

All of this has served him well in his career to the point that he chose not to pursue a master’s programme — at least for now.

Instead, he firmly believes in learning through hands-on experience and focusing on building skills directly relevant to his goals. 

“I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset, even from a young age, and this has resonated with me,” he says. “Co-founding an education startup and leading D&I initiatives at Google and TikTok provided me with valuable insights I couldn’t have gained in a classroom.”

However, Sánchez isn’t against further education. In fact, he remains open to pursuing a master’s degree if he decides to enter an industry where he lacks specific insights or specialised knowledge.

But for now, he believes that real-world experience offers more valuable learning after an undergraduate degree. 

“Since I’ve primarily worked in tech and education, my network is mostly in those fields,” he says. “If I wanted to switch to something like hospitality, a master’s could be really useful in gaining knowledge and building the right connections.”

Building the right foundation isn’t just about getting into a suitable programme too; for Sánchez, this also meant looking at the bigger picture when certain situations weren’t entirely in his favour.

When Google sought a student ambassador in Spain, they shortlisted several profiles, with Sánchez’s standing out due to his active involvement in intrapreneurial activities and tech events. Source: Gonzalo Gastón Sánchez

During his business administration studies, he secured an unpaid opportunity as a Google Student Ambassador, and he knew it was something he wanted to see through.

“Many people weren’t interested because it lasted a year and involved hosting events for Google on various university campuses for free, which they saw as a volunteer job,” he says. 

After a year of hosting events and representing Google, Sánchez’s work paid off — the tech giant offered him an internship in Poland with its customer support team.

It was the summer between his second and third years of university, and it was an eye-opening experience.

Not only did he learn a lot, but he also excelled in his role. By the end of the internship, he had a job offer from Google.

Post-graduation at Google involved working with the company’s Customer Success team and later on, the headhunting team.

His journey also took him from Dublin to Singapore, where he applied the skills he had honed in a culture he was deeply familiar with. But just as he was settling into his hunting role, a new opportunity arose.

“I was approached by TikTok to help establish their offices and operations in Southeast Asia,” says Sánchez. 

It was an offer he couldn’t refuse; after nearly six years at Google, Sánchez knew it was time for a change.

“I’m the type of person who dislikes complacency; when I feel comfortable, I tend to stop learning,” he says. “The role at TikTok would allow me to engage in 360-degree recruiting rather than just headhunting, further stretching my skill set.”

Ultimately, Sánchez took the leap and embraced the new challenge, which was a “fantastic decision.” 

After leaving TikTok, Sanchez launched his own company called Careercraft Labs. Source: Gonzalo Gastón Sánchez

Embracing new opportunities and chasing new goals

After nearly four years at TikTok, Sánchez left and co-founded Careercraft Labs, an education company he started with a friend. 

Careercraft Labs helps students navigate their career paths and develop essential soft skills for today’s job market.

The company offers personalised workshops, mentorship programmes, and resources to help students explore their career interests and build a strong personal brand. 

By leveraging his connections and HR experience, Sánchez helps university students craft standout profiles, CVs, and the skills they need to succeed in interviews and networking — ultimately helping them land their dream jobs.

With rapid expansion across Southeast Asia, Careercraft Labs is partnering with international schools and universities in seven countries, already supporting over 50 students globally. 

“We’re growing rapidly, and that’s actually why I decided to leave TikTok,” Sánchez says. “I started this business over a year ago, but now that it’s gaining real momentum and partnerships, I decided to dedicate myself to it fully.”