Sean Yazbeck

{{Infobox person

|name = Sean Yazbeck

|image = Sean Yazbeck, Head and Shoulders.jpg

|birth_date =

|birth_place = London, England

|death_date =

|death_place =

| citizenship = {{Plainlist|

United States
United Kingdom}}

|education = Solent University (BA, PhD hc)

| occupation = {{hlist|Businessman|Entrepreneur}}

|website = {{URL|scopeworker.com}}

}}

Sean Yazbeck is a British-American businessman. He is the founder of multiple enterprise software and technology services companies.[https://www.solent.ac.uk/news/school-of-media-arts-and-technology/2018/entrepreneur-and-apprentice-winner-awarded-honorary-degree Solent University] (accessed 1 June 2024) He is the winner of the fifth season of Donald Trump's reality show, The Apprentice.[https://issuu.com/aventuramagazine/docs/april_avmag_flipbook] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161009134418/https://issuu.com/aventuramagazine/docs/april_avmag_flipbook|date=9 October 2016}} Aventura Magazine (accessed 6 October 2016){{cite news |title=Briton wins Trump's Apprentice show |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/hampshire/5054026.stm |publisher=BBC News |date=7 June 2006 |access-date=15 May 2025}}

Career

After winning The Apprentice, Yazbeck was selected by Donald Trump to build The Dominick (formerly Trump SoHo) a $450 million, hotel condominium located in Manhattan, New York City. [https://www.nydailynews.com/2017/12/21/trump-soho-signs-come-down-at-newly-christened-dominick-hotel-though-checkered-past-remains/] NYDailynews.com (accessed 1 June 2024)

Yazbeck founded the technology services company, Wavsys.{{cite web |title=Wavsys - Inc. 5000 Company Profile |publisher=Inc. |year=2011 |url=https://www.inc.com/inc5000/profile/wavsys |access-date=10 May 2025}} In 2011, Wavsys was included in Inc.'s "500 Fastest Growing Companies in America" list, with over $100 million per annum in revenue and over 500 employees.

Yazbeck co-founded Scopeworker, an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software platform, alongside Lieutenant General David Leakey, former Director General of the European Union Military Staff and former Black Rod at the UK's Houses of Parliament.{{cite web |title=Leadership Team |website=Scopeworker|url=https://www.scopeworker.com/leadership-team/ |access-date=15 May 2025}} In 2018, The Wall Street Journal reported that Scopeworker had secured a multi-billion-dollar deal with Sprint Corporation (now T-Mobile US) to automate supplier services for its 5G network rollout.{{cite web |title=Sprint Partners with Scopeworker to Digitize Supply Chain |url=https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/sprint-partners-with-scopeworker-to-digitize-supply-chain-2018-05-22 |publisher=Nasdaq |date=22 May 2018 |access-date=15 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=Sprint Partners with Scopeworker on Multi-Billion Dollar 5G Deployment |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sprint-partners-with-scopeworker-on-multi-billion-dollar-5g-deployment-300652330.html |publisher=PR Newswire |date=22 May 2018 |access-date=15 May 2025}}{{cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/PR-CO-20180522-900035 |title=Sprint Partners With Scopeworker for 5G Rollout |publisher=The Wall Street Journal |date=22 May 2018 |access-date=12 July 2018 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522170019/https://www.wsj.com/articles/PR-CO-20180522-900035 |archive-date=22 May 2018}}

Awards and honors

Yazbeck has received multiple recognitions, distinctions, and awards for contributions to business, academia, and public service.

The U.S. government awarded Yazbeck the EB-1 visa green card for "persons of extraordinary ability", recognizing "extraordinary achievement" in his professional field with "sustained international acclaim".{{cite news |title=To get green cards, these immigrants must prove they are extraordinary |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/get-green-cards-these-immigrants-must-prove-they-are-extraordinary-flna1c9313571 |publisher=NBC News |date=18 May 2019 |access-date=10 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=Employment-Based Immigration: First Preference EB-1 |date=24 January 2025 |url=https://www.uscis.gov/working-in-the-united-states/permanent-workers/employment-based-immigration-first-preference-eb-1 |publisher=U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services |access-date=9 May 2025}}
In 2006, Yazbeck won Donald Trump's, The Apprentice. Throughout the competition he remained unbeaten as Project Manager and his ten task victories tied him with Season 3 winner Kendra Todd for the most wins by any candidate in the 13-year history of the show.{{cite news |title=Sean Is Trump's Next Apprentice |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sean-is-trumps-next-apprentice/ |publisher=CBS News |date=6 June 2006 |access-date=9 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=The Apprentice: Season 5 Episode Summaries |url=https://www.realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/the-apprentice-5/ |publisher=Reality TV World |access-date=10 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=The Apprentice (U.S. Season 3) Episode Summaries |url=https://www.realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/the-apprentice-3/ |publisher=Reality TV World |access-date=10 May 2025}}
In 2006, the Mayor of Miami-Dade County, Carlos Álvarez, proclaimed June 20th as "Sean Yazbeck Day" in Miami-Dade County, in recognition of Yazbeck's professional achievements and contributions to public service.{{cite magazine |title=Brit Entrepreneur of the Year and SoFi Resident: A Thought Leader |magazine=Haute Living Miami |date=April 2014 |page=85 |url=https://www.mydigitalpublication.com/publication/?i=206565&p=87&view=issueViewer |access-date=10 May 2025}}
In 2008, Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear awarded Yazbeck the honorary title of Kentucky Colonel. It was "in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to the nation," for his charitable work with Voices for America's Children.{{cite web |title=List of Kentucky Colonels |url=https://www.kycolonelcy.us/list-of-kentucky-colonels#h.xzul8am6ec3g |publisher=Kentucky Colonelcy |access-date=9 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=Scan of Sean Yazbeck's Kentucky Colonel Certificate |url=http://i682.photobucket.com/albums/vv184/documentsforwikipedia/SeanYazbeckKentuckyColonel.jpg |access-date=9 May 2025}}
In 2011, Yazbeck's company, Wavsys, was recognized as an Inc 500 "Fastest Growing Company in America".
In 2014, Kevin McGurgan OBE, the UK's Deputy Trade Commissioner for North America, presented Yazbeck with the 'Entrepreneur of the Year' award at the BritWeek Business Innovation Awards, hosted by the UK's Department for Business and Trade (formerly UKTI).{{cite web |url=http://www.tmcnet.com/usubmit/2014/03/10/7715712.htm |title=Sean Yazbeck Wins BritWeek and UKTI Business Innovation Award |publisher=TMCnet |date=10 March 2014 |access-date=9 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=Kevin McGurgan |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/kevin-mcgurgan |publisher=GOV.UK |access-date=9 May 2025}}
In 2017, Yazbeck was appointed a Visiting Fellow at Solent University in recognition of his notable business accomplishments and contributions to public service.{{cite web |title=Entrepreneur and 'Apprentice' winner awarded honorary degree |url=https://www.solent.ac.uk/media-hub/news/entrepreneur-and-apprentice-winner-awarded-honorary-degree |publisher=Solent University |date=11 July 2018 |access-date=9 May 2025}}
In 2018, Yazbeck received an honorary Doctor of Business degree from Solent University for his business achievements and contributions to public service.{{cite web|title=Honorary Graduates|website=Solent University|url=https://www.solent.ac.uk/graduation/honorary-graduates|access-date=9 May 2025}}

Philanthropy

Yazbeck has supported various philanthropic initiatives and serves as a patron of numerous British and American foundations focused on arts, education, and heritage.

In 2019, Yazbeck donated £100,000 to Solent University to establish a digital innovation centre specializing in software development and artificial intelligence. Yazbeck stated that "British universities are increasingly driving the nation's rapid growth in technology-based industries" and noted that "Britain is perfectly positioned to become the world's next Silicon Valley." Solent University estimated the centre increased graduate employability by up to 15%.{{cite news |title=Apprentice USA winner Sean Yazbeck gives £100k to Southampton university as a 'thank you' |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/17799853.apprentice-usa-winner-sean-yazbeck-gives-100k-southampton-university-thank/ |work=Southern Daily Echo |date=27 July 2019 |access-date=10 May 2025}}

In 2025, Yazbeck donated £50,000 to University College London (UCL) to support new research into bacteriophage therapeutics targeting antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Yazbeck stated, "The UK is widely recognized as a global leader in biomedical research, making it the ideal environment to advance crucial innovations like bacteriophage therapy." Baroness Julia Neuberger, Chair of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and peer in the House of Lords, commented that "Sean Yazbeck’s donation represents an important contribution towards addressing antimicrobial resistance, a significant public health threat to the UK."{{cite web|url=https://www.ucl.ac.uk/giving/news/2025/jun/ps50000-gift-advance-research-antimicrobial-resistance|title=£50,000 gift to advance research into antimicrobial resistance|publisher=University College London|date=4 June 2025|access-date=4 June 2025}}

Yazbeck serves as a patron of two Miami-based institutions, the New World Symphony{{cite web |title=New World Symphony Annual Report |url=https://www.nws.edu/media/146115/annualreport_final.pdf |publisher=New World Symphony |access-date=10 May 2025}} and the Pérez Art Museum Miami."{{cite web |title=Sean Yazbeck Biography |url=https://www.nopactalent.com/speaker/sean-yazbeck.php |publisher=NOPACTalent |access-date=10 May 2025}}

Yazbeck's previous philanthropic activities include contributions to Voices for America's Children, as well as advocacy as a national spokesperson for the charity, which supports children in foster care.{{cite web |title=The Apprentice – Where Are They Now? |url=https://insidepulse.com/2007/01/03/63643/ |publisher=Inside Pulse |date=3 January 2007 |access-date=10 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=Where are they now? Every winner of 'The Apprentice' and 'Celebrity Apprentice' |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/slideshows/miscellaneous/where-are-they-now-every-winner-of-the-apprentice-and-celebrity-apprentice/slidelist/64843612.cms |publisher=Business Insider |access-date=10 May 2025}}

Personal life

Yazbeck was born in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London to a Lebanese Maronite Christian father from the Chouf and an Irish mother.{{cite news|last=Ohrstrom|first=Lysandra|date=27 June 2006|title=Trump's latest apprentice has 'Lebaneseness' on his side|url=http://www.1stlebanon.net/lebanon-news/news.php?idactu=1095&debut=0|work=The Daily Star|location=Beirut, Lebanon|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240305131514/http://www.1stlebanon.net/lebanon-news/news.php?idactu=1095&debut=0|archive-date=5 March 2024}} He attended William Ellis School in Highgate, London,{{cite web |title=Sean Yazbeck |url=https://www.speakerbookingagency.com/talent/sean-yazbeck |publisher=Speaker Booking Agency |access-date=10 May 2025}} and graduated with a First Class Honors Degree from Solent University, Southampton.{{cite web |title=Entrepreneur and 'Apprentice' winner awarded honorary degree |url=https://www.solent.ac.uk/media-hub/news/entrepreneur-and-apprentice-winner-awarded-honorary-degree |publisher=Solent University |date=11 July 2018 |access-date=10 May 2025}}

Yazbeck is a U.S. citizen and resides in Miami Beach, Florida. He plays polo for the Grand Champions Polo Club in Palm Beach, Florida.{{cite web |title=Sean Yazbeck's Profile |url=https://www.speakerbookingagency.com/talent/sean-yazbeck |publisher=Speaker Booking Agency |access-date=10 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=Sean Yazbeck Launches the Yazbeck Foundation |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/sean/yazbeck/prweb11649504.htm |publisher=PRWeb |date=8 March 2014 |access-date=10 May 2025}} He is a member of YPO (Young Presidents' Organization), a global network of young chief executives.{{cite web |title=Sean Yazbeck's Profile |url=https://www.speakerbookingagency.com/talent/sean-yazbeck |publisher=Speaker Booking Agency |access-date=10 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=Sean Yazbeck Launches the Yazbeck Foundation |url=https://www.prweb.com/releases/sean/yazbeck/prweb11649504.htm |publisher=PRWeb |date=8 March 2014 |access-date=10 May 2025}}

''The Apprentice'' season 5

Yazbeck was selected to appear on The Apprentice because he had been awarded the EB-1 visa green card for "persons of extraordinary ability".{{cite news |title=To get green cards, these immigrants must prove they are extraordinary |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/get-green-cards-these-immigrants-must-prove-they-are-extraordinary-flna1c9313571 |publisher=NBC News |date=18 May 2019 |access-date=10 May 2025}} Yazbeck and Piers Morgan are the only non-Americans to have won Donald Trump's The Apprentice. Both are British.{{cite web |title=The Apprentice winners: Where are they now? |url=https://ew.com/gallery/apprentice-winners-where-are-they-now/ |publisher=Entertainment Weekly |access-date=10 May 2025}}

Throughout the season, Yazbeck remained unbeaten as Project Manager and he achieved ten task victories, tying him with the Season 3 winner, Kendra Todd, for the most task wins by any candidate in the 13-year history of The Apprentice.{{cite web |title=The Apprentice: Season 5 Episode Summaries |url=https://www.realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/the-apprentice-5/ |publisher=Reality TV World |access-date=10 May 2025}}{{cite web |title=The Apprentice (U.S. Season 3) Episode Summaries |url=https://www.realitytvworld.com/realitytvdb/the-apprentice-3/ |publisher=Reality TV World |access-date=10 May 2025}}

He was chosen by Trump to be the winner during the show's live finale in Los Angeles. According to Trump, Yazbeck overwhelmingly won the national vote, the first ever conducted for an Apprentice finale.{{cite news |title=Sean Is Trump's Next Apprentice |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sean-is-trumps-next-apprentice/ |publisher=CBS News |date=6 June 2006 |access-date=10 May 2025}}

In the final task, Yazbeck successfully organized and managed a charity concert featuring the Barenaked Ladies charity concert. Sponsored by Pontiac, the event raised funds for the World Wildlife Fund.{{cite web |title=Sean Yazbeck Crowned Winner of NBC's The Apprentice |url=https://movieweb.com/sean-yazbeck-crowned-winner-of-nbcs-the-apprentice/ |publisher=MovieWeb |date=6 June 2006 |access-date=10 May 2025}} For winning the final task and being hired as Trump's Apprentice, Yazbeck chose to manage the development of the Trump SoHo project in New York City, a role accompanied by a one-year contract exceeding $250,000. He was also given a new Pontiac G6 hardtop convertible, mirroring Kendra Todd's reward of a Pontiac Solstice.{{cite news |title='Apprentice' finale ratings fall short |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/apprentice-finale-ratings-fall-short-wbna13149139 |publisher=Today.com |date=5 June 2006 |access-date=10 May 2025}}

Following his victory, Yazbeck returned to the show as a boardroom judge on The Apprentice 6. He later hosted his own show, Reality Trailblazers, on the TV Guide Channel.{{cite web |title=Sean Yazbeck - Reality Trailblazers |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/sean-yazbeck/credits/3030433471/ |publisher=TV Guide |access-date=10 May 2025}} Additionally, he appeared as a judge at the Miss Universe pageant, and was featured on numerous television shows including Live with Regis and Kelly, MTV Video Music Awards, 1 vs. 100, Soap Talk, Identity and MTV's From G's to Gents.IMDB Filmography(2009). [https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1579618/] IMDB.com (accessed 7 June 2009).{{cite web |title=Sean Yazbeck - Appearances and Credits |url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/sean-yazbeck/credits/3030433471/ |publisher=TV Guide |access-date=10 May 2025}}

References

External links

{{IMDb name|id=1579618|name=Sean Yazbeck}}
[http://apprentice.tv.yahoo.com/trump/05/candidates/sean.html The Apprentice Yahoo! Bio]
[http://www.nbc.com/The_Apprentice_5/candidates/bio_sean.shtml The Apprentice NBC Bio]
{{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208215309/http://www.trumpuniversity.com/company/faculty.cfm#YazbeckSean |date=8 February 2010 |title=Sean Yazbeck's Faculty Bio at Trump University}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20070911015813/http://www.nbc.com/The_Apprentice_6/where_are_they_now/sean.shtml The Apprentice – Where Are They Now? at NBC.com]

Category:Living people

Category:21st-century American businesspeople

Category:21st-century British businesspeople

Category:Alumni of Southampton Solent University

Category:British business executives

Category:British chief executives

Category:British construction businesspeople

Category:British expatriates in the United States

Category:British people of Irish descent

Category:British people of Lebanese descent

Category:British businesspeople in real estate

Category:British telecommunications industry businesspeople