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.
Sahar Hashemi shares how to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset within a large organization. Drawing on her experience building successful businesses, she will explain how to foster agility, innovation, and risk-taking in a corporate environment. Attendees will learn actionable strategies to drive growth and creativity, no matter the size of their company.
Sahar Hashemi uncovers how to break through the barriers of corporate complacency and reignite passion for leadership. She’ll discuss how to shift from a “status quo” mentality to one that fosters creativity and growth. Attendees will leave with the tools to inspire innovation, challenge old systems, and lead with renewed energy.
Sahar Hashemi challenges the common belief that risk is dangerous for business success. Instead, she shows how the real threat lies in staying too comfortable. Attendees will learn how to step out of their comfort zones, embrace smart risks, and make bold decisions that fuel innovation and business growth.
In this keynote, Sahar Hashemi demonstrates the importance of leading with agility and resilience in uncertain times. She’ll reveal the mindset that entrepreneurs use to thrive in fast-changing environments and how to apply it to any leadership role. Attendees will learn to navigate change, inspire innovation, and embrace uncertainty as a leadership strength.
In this empowering talk, Sahar Hashemi reveals the unique strengths women bring to leadership and business. Drawing from her own journey as an entrepreneur, she shares strategies for leveraging these superpowers to create meaningful impact. Attendees will gain confidence and insight into how women can reshape the business world.
This session explores the importance of creating memorable moments for customers and how it can elevate their overall experience. Attendees will learn practical strategies for creating these moments, including personalization, surprise and delight, and emotional connections. By implementing these techniques, businesses can improve customer loyalty and satisfaction, increasing revenue and growth.
