I said she had used the old boys network, which indicates men doing the same thing as a criticism but we are specifically speaking about Karren and not them.

What I dont subscribe to either is that because it is a woman boss that she is automatically better than a man and above criticism. I have worked for good bosses of either sex and bad ones of both sexes too.

It works both ways. On this thread, it is about one woman boss only who by her own admission has had several PAs leave quite quickly.

I think some are missing the point it's not about Karren being a woman it's about her having connections which got her into Sachi and Sachi without a degree and also which got her into working with very rich successful businessmen. I would be the saying the same about a man and there are countless men no doubt who have achieved via the same methods. It isn't about what you know any more - wonder if it ever really has been it's about who you know and anybody who doesn't believe that is naive. I'm a woman and went back into education in my 20s earning a Master's degree, studying with Oxford etc. I also have a teaching qualification and can honestly say I totally regret spending thousands of pounds on my education when it isn't about merit. I'm unfortunate that I wasn't born into a rich family and can't think of one single person who I can network with to get me work - that's the difference and there are many more people in the same boat who can't get work for those reasons. A 'strong' man or woman is one who achieves in the face of adversity not one who is assisted. After losing my husband last year, I have still go on to pass my teaching qualification and maybe I'm biased but THAT'S called being strong, not having lots of money and means around you where you can be made to look good.

First of all, I want to say how sorry I am to hear about you losing your husband last year. I'm also sorry that you regret spending all that money on your education and hope that it will come good for you in the end.

However, the comment about not having a degree is rather less relevant to people over 40 who started their careers in the 1980s, when degrees were the exception rather than the norm. Alan Sugar never had a degree or even an A Level to his name (maybe not even an O Level). He never had connections either, of course. However, I and lots of others are sick of the constant Karren-bashing on DS. And yes, I believe it's largely because she's female (there are huge numbers of successful businessmen from wealthy families with connections but no-one seems to be criticising them). As I said earlier, connections or not, she wouldn't be where she is now if she wasn't good at her job.

Thank you for your kind words. I do think she got lucky and yes you're right, men have to so it's not a gender issue. I say the same about anybody like her who got a great headstart. Good for them but when she 'wrote' her book called Superwoman - which incidentally has all been done before - I just found it quite inaccurate because being a super woman or strong man or woman is all relative to what you have or haven't got at your disposal and it's how you cope without.

I agree she is a bit over rated.,

I disagree, if a self proclaimed successful young male entrepreneur with a rich father came on the show like Karen did, I think plenty would be questioning his "success story", male or female.

Sure it is unfair that some people have advantages in life like private education and connections to get them into places but it happens everywhere. It might get you in the door but if you are no good at a job you will soom be heading back out again. Karren has played the game and done well for herself. Its of no consequence to me and makes her no different to a lot of other people.

I'm more concerned that we have a whole government of priviledged people. That's far worse than a few individuals that have climbed the corporate ladder due to their connections.