Brenden Durell appears on Secure The Insecure podcast
2 years ago
United Kingdom Sahar Hashemi, a successful entrepreneur and author, co-founded Coffee Republic and Skinny Candy, and now shares her insights on innovation and entrepreneurial spirit with global audiences.
Sahar Hashemi is a former lawyer who founded Coffee Republic, the UK's first US-style coffee bar. She is actively involved with BUY WOMEN BUILT and has published her experience and knowledge on building enterprises.
Sahar Hashemi was heavily involved with Change Please Coffee, a coffee brand that recruits staff from local homeless shelters, and trains and hires them as baristas.
Sahar's speaking engagements have inspired audiences at companies like Goldman Sachs, L’Oreal, GSK, and Best Western Hotels. She is praised for her inspirational, approachable, and passionate demeanor.
Sahar's speaking engagements have inspired audiences at companies like Goldman Sachs, L’Oreal, GSK, and Best Western Hotels. She is praised for her inspirational, approachable, and passionate demeanor.
Sahar's speaking engagements have inspired audiences at companies like Goldman Sachs, L’Oreal, GSK, and Best Western Hotels. She is praised for her inspirational, approachable, and passionate demeanor.
Sahar's speaking engagements have inspired audiences at companies like Goldman Sachs, L’Oreal, GSK, and Best Western Hotels. She is praised for her inspirational, approachable, and passionate demeanor.
Sahar Hashemi was born in 1967. She pursued a law degree at Bristol University and subsequently qualified as a corporate lawyer at Frere Cholmeley in London. After several years in the legal field, Hashemi transitioned from law to entrepreneurship. In 1995, she co-founded Coffee Republic with her brother, Bobby Hashemi. This venture established the United Kingdom’s first US-style coffee bar chain, with its initial outlet opening on South Molton Street. By 2001, Coffee Republic had expanded to 108 stores and achieved an annual turnover of £30 million. Hashemi departed from Coffee Republic management in 2001.
Following her exit from Coffee Republic, Hashemi co-authored “Anyone Can Do It: Building Coffee Republic from our Kitchen Table,” a book recognized for its insights into entrepreneurship, which was later translated into six languages. In 2005, she introduced Skinny Candy, a confectionery brand focusing on low-fat sweets and chocolates. Skinny Candy products were distributed through retailers such as Coffee Republic, Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, Top Shop, Julian Graves, and Waitrose. In 2007, Hashemi sold 50% of Skinny Candy to Glisten Plc. Her entrepreneurial achievements were recognized with an OBE in the Queen’s 2012 birthday honours list for services to the UK economy and to charity.
Hashemi continues to contribute to the business community through her work and insights. She co-chaired the UK government’s Scale Up Taskforce and now serves on the board of the Scale Up Institute and the advisory board of the ECB Hundred Cricket Competition. Her recent initiatives include launching Buy Women Built, a campaign promoting consumer recognition for women-built brands in the UK. Hashemi is also involved with Change Please Coffee, a social enterprise that trains and employs homeless individuals as baristas. Her book, “Switched On,” focuses on fostering entrepreneurial behavior within established companies, and “Start Up Forever,” published in 2019, explores actionable steps for cultivating an entrepreneurial mindset.
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