DeKALB | One of NIU’s own could become Donald Trump’s next “Apprentice.”

Alumna and “The Apprentice: Los Angeles” finalist Nicole D’Ambrosio spoke at NIU Tuesday night.

D’Ambrosio, 26, described her experiences in the business world and on the popular reality show to a filled auditorium in Barsema Hall.

“I knew without question that’s what I wanted to do,” D’Ambrosio said. “When I went trick-or-treating when I was little, I was always trying to negotiate for a better candy bar.”

While attending NIU, D’Ambrosio worked three jobs to pay tuition. She also took real estate classes at Kishwaukee Community College, where she got her associate’s degree and real estate certificate.

“I worked hard and I played hard,” D’Ambrosio said. “I took advantage of every single thing around me. Anywhere I thought I could grab something or get something new, I went for it.”

D’Ambrosio started her own commercial real estate business, D’Ambrosio Inc., while still in school, and would put in 40 hours at the office while majoring in marketing at NIU.

“Clients would say, ‘Why aren’t you at the closing?'” D’Ambrosio said. “I’d have to explain, ‘I’m still in college – points are based on attendance.'”

Always being open to learning is key in the business world, D’Ambrosio said, and she still continues to learn within the world of business.

“I will always continue to go to business seminars and real estate seminars,” D’Ambrosio said. “I don’t know everything. Even Donald Trump doesn’t know everything.”

D’Ambrosio said many deadlines for tasks on “The Apprentice” came down to the wire, as the contestants were required to do “on-the-fly” interviews.

“They always pulled us for the interviews right before deadline,” D’Ambrosio said. “During the interviews, we’d see who could make the producer fall off his chair laughing more.”

The final episode of “The Apprentice: Los Angeles” will air live Sunday night on NBC.