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The Silent Assassin | Vanessa Clements, Player 017 [Ep. 10]

In Squid Game: The Challenge, the loudest players often went home first. But Vanessa Clements (Player 17)—a lobster fisher from Canada—survived all the way to the Final 4 by mastering the art of being the "Long Lost Puppy."

In this episode of Squid Strengths, I sit down with Vanessa to decode the hidden strategies that the Netflix edit missed. From the physics-breaking technique she used to survive the Dice game to the psychological maneuvering that won her the Marbles round before it even started, Vanessa reveals how she played a near-perfect game from the shadows. We also uncover the massive secret she kept during the Boiler Room challenge, a hidden advantage that kept her safe while the rest of us panicked.

Using the CliftonStrengths framework, we analyze her fascinating "Silent Assassin" profile: A rare combination of Harmony (#1) and Command (#5). How does someone who hates conflict take total control of a room when survival is on the line?

In this episode, we decode:

  • The "Lobster Fisher" Mindset: How working in the frozen tundra prepared her for the dorms.
  • Mingle Uncut: The chaotic reality of the game that the "calm" TV edit didn't show.
  • The Marbles Strategy: Vanessa shares her strategy by leveraging game theory and her opponent's psychology.
  • The Dice Hack: The specific "flat roll" physics strategy she used to control the board.
  • The Boiler Room Secret: Revealing the "Protection Box" advantage she hid from the other players.
  • The Final 4 Paradox: Why her greatest strength (Harmony) might have been her downfall at the final dinner.

Featured Strengths:

  • Harmony: Building safety through consensus.
  • Command: Taking charge in high-pressure vacuums (like Mingle).
  • Activator: The instinct to move now (like Red Light Green Light).

About the Guest: Vanessa Clements (Player 17) is a lobster fisherman from Canada and a Final 4 contestant on Squid Game: The Challenge. Known for her quiet resilience and stoic gameplay, she proved that you don't need to be the loudest in the room to control the game.

IG: @vanessaclementz

About the Host: I'm Bryant, a Gallup-certified Strengths Coach and Player 164 on Squid Game: The Challenge. Squid Strengths is where we decode the psychology of survival and how players are wired to win.