Sahar Hashemi

Sahar Hashemi is a visionary entrepreneur renowned for her ability to transform ideas into impactful brands. With a track record of building three influential businesses, she has consistently demonstrated how to reignite entrepreneurial energy in environments where it has stagnated. Sahar's journey began with the co-founding of Coffee Republic, the UK’s first US-style coffee chain, which revolutionised the nation’s coffee culture. She further disrupted consumer habits with Skinny Candy, introducing sugar-free treats to the mainstream market. Currently, Sahar leads Buy Women Built, a movement that is reshaping perceptions of women-built brands. What began as a single tweet during the pandemic has evolved into a powerful community of over 2,000 women-led businesses generating more than £2.5 billion in turnover. Buy Women Built has successfully launched the world’s first women-built aisle on Ocado, showcasing the importance of visibility in driving sales and influencing consumer behaviour. Major retailers, including Whole Foods and QVC, have embraced this initiative, integrating it into their platforms. Sahar is also an accomplished author, with her book Anyone Can Do It becoming the UK’s second highest-selling entrepreneurship book. Her insights into the challenges of bureaucracy and perfectionism are further explored in Start-Up Forever, a Financial Times Book of the Month, which serves as a guide for leaders to maintain the entrepreneurial spirit within their organisations. Sahar's contributions to the economy and charity have earned her global recognition, including being named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and receiving an OBE from Queen Elizabeth II. Sahar’s approach is rooted in powerful storytelling and real-world experience, enabling her to reconnect audiences with their inherent creativity and courage. Sahar inspires action and innovation, making her insights invaluable for anyone looking to drive change.