Sahar Hashemi

summary

Sahar Hashemi founded Coffee Republic, the UK’s first US style coffee bar chain with her brother and built it into one of the UK’s most recognised high street brands with a turnover of £30m.  Giving up her career as a lawyer in London, she staked everything on a dream – and made Coffee Republic one of the main players in the ‘coffee revolution’ that transformed a nation of tea drinkers into one obsessed with ‘triple decaf half-caf lattes.

biography

Sahar Hashemi founded Coffee Republic, the UK’s first US style coffee bar chain with her brother and built it into one of the UK’s most recognised high street brands with a turnover of £30m.  Giving up her career as a lawyer in London, she staked everything on a dream – and made Coffee Republic one of the main players in the ‘coffee revolution’ that transformed a nation of tea drinkers into one obsessed with ‘triple decaf half-caf lattes.

Sahar left the day to day management of Coffee Republic in 2001 and published a book called ‘Anyone Can Do It’ which tackles some of the fears and answers some of the elusive questions about what it really takes to become an entrepreneur. It is ‘suggested reading’ for the London Business School entrepreneurship course and Chapter 1 has been included as part of the syllabus of the Entrepreneurship summer school.

Sahar Hashemi has been named one of the 100 Most Influential Women in Britain 2003 by the Daily Mail. Sahar has made the cover of Management Today, Director and Business 550 magazines. Her media appearances include CNN Business Breakfast, BBC2, Radio 4, LBC, Radio 5 and BBC London amongst many others.

In 2005 Sahar Hashemi launched Skinny Candy, a high profile brand of sugar free sweets. It has already received wide press coverage and is available across big department store chains throughout the UK. In 2007 she announced the formation of a joint venture between Skinny Candy and Glisten plc.  She recently became Director of Corporates for Crisis, which offers a new innovative and sustainable approach to corporate responsibility by making step changes in the world of community development and humanitarian aid.

Topics that Sahar talks on include;

Leadership

Entrepreneurship Innovation

Customer Service

Marketing

photos

Testimonials

‘She took her audience on a 30-minute ride-taking them through a heart-tugging and sincere tale of how she made it big in business… Her story was a little like the Alchemist, and the audience wouldn’t stop clapping even after Hashemi stepped down from the stage’
Exchange4Media

‘ I came away with a spring in my step and a smile on my face.’
Research in motion — Blackberry

‘ Speakers included Former Prime Minister of Spain but the young woman, Sahar Hashemi, stole the show’
Advertising Age

‘ Sahar’s passion for encouraging innovation energises room. It’s the verbal equivalent of a double espresso from the Coffee Republic chain she co-founded’
London innovation Conference 2004

‘ You were amazing. You scored 97% on evaluation forms — highest score ever’
IBM

‘ She connected with the audience at an emotional level and made a lasting impression…8/8”
Microsoft
‘ You were mindblowingly marvellous — highest score of all 13 speakers — 3.93 of the possible high of 4!’
Innotown Norway

‘Your presentation was the highlight- wit, insight and passion! Thanks for making my day!’ Proctor & Gamble ‘her energy and “just do it” attitude go down very well at conferences’
RICS England & Wales

‘Sahar is a first class speaker’
Institute of Business Advisers, Northern Ireland

‘It is always inspirational to hear the story from someone who has really pursued their dream and made it come true, particularly in such a down to earth fashion’
Glaxo Smithkline Beecham
‘Sahar’s presentation is excellent. It’s from the heart, very passionate and truthful. Very entertaining! She proved to be extremely popular with the audience’
Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce
‘ You really gave us a taste of the fun and the hard work involved in running and growing your own business’
ZPR network

‘She is totally inspirational, has laser sharp focus and provides real life strategies for success’
Aurora Conference.

‘Outstanding presentation. Very inspirational and motivating. A great choice of speakers and an example to us all’
Institute of Directors

‘It is always inspirational to hear the story from someone who has really pursued their dream and mae it come true, particularly in such a down to earth fashion’
Glaxo Smithkline Beecham

‘She is totally inspirational, has laser sharp focus and provides real life strategies for success. We had a waiting list of over 100! Sahar is a top speaker and audiences just adore her’…
Pricewaterhouse Coopers