Author of “Start Up Forever” & “Anyone Can Do It”, Entrepreneur & Co-Founder of BUY WOMEN BUILT
Sahar Hashemi’s Biography:
Sahar Hashemi is a renowned entrepreneur, author, and speaker celebrated for her warmth, energy, and down-to-earth approach to business inspiration. As a speaker, Sahar captivates audiences with her engaging storytelling, humour, and honesty. She has an exceptional gift for making complex business ideas relatable, translating her entrepreneurial experiences into clear, practical lessons for individuals and organisations. Her talks inspire audiences to embrace creativity, courage, and a “can-do” mindset, empowering people at every level to think like entrepreneurs and drive meaningful change.
Sahar began her career as a solicitor before discovering her true passion for entrepreneurship. In 1995, she co-founded Coffee Republic with her brother, transforming a simple idea into one of the UK’s first and most successful coffee bar chains. This experience became the foundation of her belief that anyone can build something extraordinary with determination and vision. Her journey from the legal world to entrepreneurship gave her first-hand insight into the power of innovation, persistence, and customer-centred thinking, which continue to define her career today.
Now an established thought leader, Sahar continues to shape the conversation around business innovation and female entrepreneurship. She co-founded Buy Women Built in 2022, a movement celebrating UK brands founded by women, and serves as a Co-Chair of the Scale Up Taskforce for the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy. In 2023, she joined the Board of Advisors at Curaden Global, further extending her influence across international business communities. Beyond her corporate work, Sahar actively supports charitable causes, including The Prince’s Trust and Child Bereavement UK, demonstrating her deep commitment to social impact and mentoring the next generation.
Sahar’s achievements have earned her widespread recognition. She was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, appointed OBE in 2012 for Services to the UK Economy and Charity, served as a judge at the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and has been featured among the UK’s most powerful women in business by Management Today and the Independent on Sunday. Her bestselling books, ‘Anyone Can Do It’, ‘Switched On’, and ‘Start Up Forever’, have inspired countless readers to embrace entrepreneurial thinking and unlock their potential. Through every stage of her career, Sahar has embodied the belief that innovation starts with mindset – and that anyone can do it.
Why Hire Sahar Hashemi?
Sahar is an in-demand keynote speaker recognised for her ability to spark entrepreneurial thinking within any organisation. One of her most notable appearances was at TEDxYouth@Bath, where she delivered her talk “What Makes an Entrepreneur?”. In it, she shared her personal journey of building Coffee Republic and challenged traditional ideas about who can be an entrepreneur. Her storytelling style, humour, and warmth make her instantly relatable, while her practical insights resonate with audiences ranging from global executives to aspiring business owners. Sahar’s speaking presence is both energising and thought-provoking, encouraging people to see opportunity in uncertainty and to act with courage and creativity.
Event organisers choose Sahar for her rare blend of credibility and humanity. She speaks not just about business success, but about the mindset and resilience needed to create lasting change. Whether addressing corporate teams, leadership summits, or innovation conferences, she empowers individuals to take ownership of their ideas and drive progress from within. Her sessions inspire confidence and self-belief, leaving audiences motivated to “switch on” their potential and embrace entrepreneurial values in every area of their work. With Sahar, the message is clear: anyone can innovate, and everyone can make a difference.
Sahar Hashemi’s Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key milestones that define Sahar Hashemi’s incredible career:
- 2025 – Listed as one of the Top 10 Retail Speakers Trending in the UK for 2025, recognising her influence as a keynote speaker on retail innovation and entrepreneurial culture.
- 2023 – Member of the Board of Advisors, Curaden Global, providing strategic guidance on innovation and international business growth
- 2022 – Co-Founder of Buy Women Built, a movement promoting and supporting UK brands founded by women
- 2020 – Judge at the Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, recognising and celebrating outstanding business talent
- 2019 – Published ‘Start Up Forever’, offering insights into how established companies can maintain a start-up mindset
- 2018 – Appointed Non-Executive Director at the ScaleUp Institute, supporting high-growth businesses across the UK
- 2017 – Co-Chair of the Scale Up Taskforce for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), shaping national entrepreneurship policy
- 2012 – Appointed OBE for Services to the UK Economy and to Charity, acknowledging her contributions to business and social causes
- 2010 – Published ‘Switched On: You Have It In You, You Just Have To Switch It On’, inspiring readers to find motivation and self-belief
- 2005 – Named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum and founded Skinny Candy, a pioneering healthier confectionery brand
- 1995 – Co-Founder of Coffee Republic, transforming a single idea into one of the UK’s first and most successful coffee bar chains
Videos
Sahar Hashemi’s Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“I still remember the impact of Sahar’s speech at the LinkedIn Talent Connect London a few years ago – her story on creating an entrepreneurial mindset in large companies resonated with our audience and I am glad those tips are now turned into a book.” – Carole Zibi, Marketing Director, LinkedIn
“This is a wonderful book, full of ideas and practical tips on how to make the big established firm more entrepreneurial and innovative. It belongs on the shelf of all managers working in big firms.” – Costas, Professor of Strategy and Entrepreneurship, London Business School
“Sahar is a powerful catalyst to drive entrepreneurship within big corporations. This is not an easy topic, the risk of staying at theory level is high. The reason why I am actively endorsing Sahar is because she provided me and my organization with tangible tools to start making changes immediately. Her personal story is genuine, down to earth, super inspiring and extremely interesting to follow. She talks to people’s heart in a way that awakens the entrepreneur inside. She sells a mindset and she equips you to go make it happen. Her deep experience with corporations makes her suggestions and her collection for do’s and dont’s very actionable. She does not provide theory and that’s it. She is a change agent, a catalyst of change to drive entrepreneurship with a tangible and ready to use approach.” – Stefano, Vice President, Proctor & Gamble
“Sahar Hashemi has a gift for storytelling. These pages radiate the warmth and humour with which she has passionately spoken so many times about her own experiences as an entrepreneur and subsequent conversations with ‘big business’. There’s an oversupply of frameworks and tools at the disposal of the 21st century ‘intrapreneur’, but this commonsense canter through 10 habits and no less than 34 small but significant ‘shifts’ is a well-crafted wakeup call to the dormant entrepreneur in all of us. Inspiring, human, humble. Just like the author.” – Carl, Jacobs Dowe Egberts
“This book is about how big companies learn more from smaller ones than vice versa; the biggest learning should be how to be big but entrepreneurial, in other words create an organisation that is driven by its own form of “intrepreneurship” … these are the companies that will win!!!” – Allan, Chairman of The Co-operative Group, Former CEO of Asda, Chairman of Royal Mail
“A must read book to help managers reflect upon and leverage their state of mind. Sahar Hashemi succeeds in reconciling the brain with the heart through common sense, thereby providing a toolkit to foster, build and maintain the entrepreneurial culture which established big companies need to survive in today’s world.” – Bob, CEO of Campari Group
Topics
Sahar Hashemi OBE’s Official Keynote Topics:
- Igniting Creativity & Innovation
- Entrepreneurial Leadership – Encouraging Entrepreneurial Behaviour in a Corporate Environment
- Customer Service – Stepping into the Customer’s Shoes
- Embracing Change – Working Outside Your Comfort Zone
- Persistence & Resilience
How Much Does Sahar Hashemi Cost To Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Sahar Hashemi?
The cost of hiring Sahar Hashemi depends on factors such as your event requirements, whether it’s in-person or virtual, and any travel or accommodation needs. To receive an accurate quote, contact a London Keynote Speakers Agency booking agent for expert guidance.