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...dy, the guilt-free confectionery brand labelled ‘hip’ by Vogue magazine, which she sold to Glisten Plc in 2008
In 1995 Sahar Hashemi together with her brother Bobby founded Coffee Republic, and built it into one of the UK’s most recognised high-street brands with a turnover of £30m. Giving up highly professional jobs, she, a lawyer in London and he an investment banker in New York, they 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’.
Neither had any previous knowledge about retail or indeed coffee. But Sahar had developed a passion for the skinny lattes and fat free muffins she had seen in New York. How they came to build a nationwide coffee chain is a fascinating and inspirational tale of the ups and downs of following your dream. From the first conversation when the seed of the idea was planted, to getting a DTI Small Firms Loan Guarantee, finding a name and opening the first store, it is a personal story about two people who stopped ‘thinking about it’ and ‘did it’.
Sahar left the day-to-day management of Coffee Republic in 2001 and has written a book called ‘Anyone Can Do It - Building Coffee Republic from our Kitchen table’ which tackles some of the fears and answers some of the elusive questions about what it really takes to become an entrepreneur.
Published in January 2003, ‘Anyone Can Do It’ has reached #1 on the Amazon business chart. 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. The book has also been endorsed by the DTI, Prince’s Trust and IoD and has received wide press coverage.
Sahar 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.
She is a speaker ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and has spoken as keynote speaker at various high profile events including the IoD Women’s 2002 Summit, Wall Street Journal Europe Women In Business Summit and Enterprise 100.
Sahar lectures at the London Business School Entrepreneurship summer school.
Sahar is currently working on developing a brand of ‘Anyone Can Do It’ books and a possible ‘Anyone Can Do It’ television series.
Her most recent book ‘Switched On’ is about adopting 8 habits in your every day working life which enable you to combine the security and resources of your organisation with freedom and creativity of entrepreneurs.
In February 2011 Sahar was listed in THE DIRECTOR’s Top 10 list of Original Thinkers. The 10 original thinkers have varying backgrounds and fields of interest, but they are all British, and they are all connected by a single ambition: to redesign an established concept so that it fits the demands of the future, whether for the good of business, or society.
Topics
- The Switched On mindset- igniting creativity and innovation in organizations
- 8 Habits for a Switched On mindset
- Anyone Can Do it- awakening the entrepreneur within
- Life outside the comfort zone
- An entrepreneur’s journey
- Entrepreneurial Leadership
- Standing in the Customer’s shoes
- Anyone Can Do it- The journey of turning an idea into a business
Testimonials
‘Months later audience are still talking about the night they heard Sahar speak. 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.’…Aurora Conference at Pricewaterhouse Coopers
… ‘outstanding presentation by Sahar and Bobby. Very inspirational and motivating. A great choice of speakers and an example to us all’...Institute of Directors - How to write a winning business plan conference’
‘I came away with a spring in my step and a smile on my face.’ Research in motion — Blackberry
‘You were mindblowingly marvellous — highest score of all 13 speakers — 3.93 of the possible high of 4!’ Innotown Norway
‘Your presentation was simple but relevant and also inspirational. You are both outstanding examples of the entrepreneurial spirit, which is now becoming very much part of the UK business environment….LBS Enterprise 100
‘We have had many motivational speakers address our audience of business owners — but the feedback after your story was exceptional’ IBS/Amway
‘Sahar was a great success at our workshop in Stockholm. The result was fantastic and hit all the right notes. IKEA
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- Achieving Your Dreams
- More topics, please see profile
- Entrepreneurship
- Anyone Can Do It
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