Inspirational Woman: Sabrina Stocker | CEO, My Tennis Events

Sabrina StockerSabrina Stocker, 23, is better known for appearing on BBC One show The Apprentice, where she reached the Semi-Final.

Away from the TV screens, she is the Managing Director of her own Tennis company – My Tennis Events. Sabrina’s other claim to fame was appearing in the popular TV show The Inbetweeners after it was filmed at her secondary school, Ruislip High.

The London-born Entrepreneur began playing Tennis at the tender age of seven, winning the prestigious Queen’s tournament at just 12, she then took the bold move of becoming a tennis coach at the age of 14.  Sabrina launched My Tennis Events in 2016 with zero capital and using her own medals and trophies to give to winners. It then became so successful that she now runs 400 different tournaments a year and has gained partnerships with David Lloyd, Virgin Active, Better and the LTA.

At the age of 19 Sabrina decamped to the Edinburgh Business School to study for an MBA, she became the youngest person ever to graduate from the University with distinction, and she believes this helped her with her Apprentice tasks. On her first day filming the show, she admits to being more excited about seeing Lord Alan Sugar, Claude Littner and Karren Brady. She made lots of great friends taking part in the show and still keeps in touch with them via group chats and events.

Aside from tennis, Sabrina’s other passion is travelling and she previously globetrotted for travel company STA, making online content for them from every country she visited.

She cites Emma Watson as one of her leading role models, due to the fact she is a feminist, extremely smart and very good at what she does.  Sabrina also looks up to entrepreneur Gary Vee, as she believes he is very wise and agrees significantly with his business advice and opinions.

Tell us a bit about yourself, background and your current role

My name is Sabrina Stocker. I’m the CEO of My Tennis Events and Active Dragons. I was a finalist on the BBC One show ‘The Apprentice’, battling out against Lord Sugar in the boardroom. I’m known as ‘tennis girl’ and the ‘espresso martini girl’, and for both I’ll happily comply! I’ve got a Masters in Business Admin with a goal to be in the Forbes top 30 Under 30.

Did you ever sit down and plan your career? 

Every single day I’m analysing and refining what I want to do going forward. Whenever I’m sat down with someone more successful than me, I always talk about my life plan and see what their thoughts are. I use these meetings to help guide me forward. I always find they have valuable advice to offer, and ultimately will save me time moving forward!

Have you faced any challenges along the way?

The biggest challenge I’ve faced is the fact that none of my friends, at that time, owned businesses. I was going against what everyone else was doing, creating my own pathway. It’s tricky because if your friends have a 9-5 Mon-Fri, and you’re working evenings & weekends, it’s difficult to have a social life. Or, if I have a really busy week, it’s not me cancelling to be rude, it’s me just having to get things done. Now they understand, but it was hard to get some too.

What has been your biggest achievement to date?

I’ve grown my tennis company to be the biggest tennis events company in the U.K. and I’m really proud of myself for being able to grow this organically and without investment. I now train others to do what I do, and have the opportunity to inspire others to do the same.

What one thing do you believe has been a major factor in you achieving success?

Growing up as a tennis player has made me extremely adaptable and hard working. For me, business is like a game of playing tennis, your tactics constantly change, you have to be forward thinking, as well as playing to your own strengths.

How do you feel about mentoring? Have you mentored anyone or are you someone’s mentee? 

I think having a mentor is really important… I’m hoping to find one for myself soon! I currently mentor several start up businesses, and it’s crazy to think of how much they’ve achieved, I’m really proud of my mentees.

If you could change one thing to accelerate the pace of change for Gender Parity, what would it be?

I think we need more women in parliament, more women taking control of the key decisions within the government. It is massively male dominated, and I think bringing strong, independent women would allow their mindset to filter down through the economy, as well as positively influence decisions.

If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self what would it be?

Think big. You are in complete control of what happens to you. If you want to do something, do it. No one is going to give you a wake up call apart from yourself.

What is your next challenge and what are you hoping to achieve in the future? 

I’ve got a mission to inspire others to be their best self. I’m now launching seminars partnered with the European Business School (ESCP) helping others to start their own business, in a fun ‘Start your own business up in 48 hours, Apprentice Style’ workshops, as well as launching my Blonde in Business Podcast. I’m just getting started.

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