Sahar Hashemi is a trailblazing entrepreneur who has built transformative businesses and sparked movements that redefine industries. From founding Coffee Republic to leading the Buy Women Built initiative, Sahar inspires organisations to rediscover their entrepreneurial energy. Book Sahar to ignite innovation, momentum, and bold action at your next corporate event.
Sahar Hashemi is a celebrated entrepreneur and thought leader who has consistently turned innovative ideas into successful brands that disrupt industries. Her journey began with Coffee Republic, the UK’s first US-style coffee chain, which revolutionised a tea-drinking nation into coffee enthusiasts. Later, she introduced Skinny Candy, a pioneering sugar-free confectionery brand that reshaped consumer habits. Today, she leads Buy Women Built (BWB), a groundbreaking movement transforming how consumers and retailers perceive women-built brands.
Through her ventures, Sahar has demonstrated that momentum—not waiting for certainty—is the key to creating meaningful change. Her ability to identify opportunities where others see obstacles has made her an authority on reigniting entrepreneurial energy within organisations.
In many organisations, entrepreneurial energy—the force behind innovation and growth—gets buried under layers of bureaucracy, fear, and outdated processes. As industries evolve and customer expectations shift, traditional structures often fail to keep pace with the speed of external change. This disconnect stifles creativity, slows decision-making, and diminishes customer connection.
Sahar understands these challenges deeply. She shows leaders how to break free from over-cautiousness and reignite the boldness needed to thrive in today’s fast-paced world. Her insights empower organisations to embrace momentum as a driver of innovation and impact.
Sahar’s latest venture, Buy Women Built (BWB), exemplifies her ability to build not just brands but movements that create lasting change. What began as a single tweet during the pandemic has grown into a commercial powerhouse with over 2,000 women-built businesses generating more than £2.5 billion in turnover.
BWB has redefined visibility for women entrepreneurs by launching initiatives like the world’s first women-built aisle on Ocado and partnerships with major retailers such as Whole Foods, QVC, Planet Organic, and TikTok Shop. These efforts have…
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