Keynote Speaker

Sahar Hashemi

Sahar Hashemi, OBE is an entrepreneur and speaker on innovation and entrepreneurial mind-set in corporations.  

A former lawyer, she is best known for building two famous brands; Coffee Republic, UK’s first coffee bar chain, which she and her brother grew to 110 stores and £30m turnover and exited in 2001, and Skinny Candy, the guilt free confectionery brand which she sold to Glisten Plc in 2007.  

She is a bestselling author. Her first book 'Anyone Can Do It- building Coffee Republic from our kitchen table’ is UK's highest selling book on entrepreneurship after Richard Branson's book and has been translated into 6 languages.  

Her latest book 'Switched On' published in May 2010 is based on her experience with innovation and employee engagement in large corporations and sets out 8 habits to infuse your organisation with a ‘can do’ entrepreneurial attitude.

Sahar was awarded an OBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2012 'for services to UK economy and to charity'.