When you speak with Sahar Hashemi it's obvious passion is one of the most powerful drivers in her life. You also get the impression she won't accept second best. Energy and determination ooze from her voice. "I am what I do," she explains. "Generally for me my work is my hobby. It enriches my life." And her life had been blessed with not only success at work but a loving supportive family. "My father gave me a lot of advice. My mum has been my mentor throughout."

In fact it was the shock of her father's death that caused her to review her law career. That was the tipping point that pushed her in the direction of running her own business, a family business with her brother. Now there's a new family member. Sahar has just recently married and says, "I have wonderful love and support from my husband. It's very new. It gives you more strength. You're slightly out there, on your own."

When it comes to her business life the facts speak for themselves. Track Sahar's career to date and yes, there's a successful business woman. She may not be a high street name but the company she founded with her brother Bobby is. Coffee Republic, which she left in 2001, was born from a love of coffee, New York style. She was a city London lawyer, he an investment banker in the Big Apple. Sahar had the passion and then she says, "In a Thai restaurant my brother got the light-bulb moment." She researched the idea, they opened their first shop on London's fashionable South Moulton Street, and the result was a company with a £30 million turnover. Not bad going for two people who'd never set up a business before. Once the business bug had bitten Sahar went on to set up her own company, Skinny Candy selling sugar free sweets. Again it was her love for the product that propelled her. "You have to be really passionate, absolutely love it and believe in it," she says.

When Sahar moved on from Coffee Republic she wrote a book based on her experience. In 'Anyone can do it – Building Coffee Republic from our Kitchen Table' Sahar tells the tale of creating the coffee empire from a very personal perspective, addressing the fears and challenges that many fledgling entrepreneurs might face. It's an inspirational story and one that translates well into her public speaking. "I did one speech and really enjoyed it," she says. "Often people hear, 'I got lucky'. People need the whole story, to hear about the downs."

"I am my work," she comments. "It's a part of me. Work's got to be a continuum of myself."

Sahar's motivational public speaking taps into her own personal ethos as she shares her thoughts. "I am my work," she comments. "It's a part of me. Work's got to be a continuum of myself." The balance in life is being connected to the things that matter to her. She recognises that fear paralyses people, that it's important to be open to opportunity. "My advice would be if you get offered something, you don't want to say no, there's a reason why it's being offered to you. Everything in life should be relatively easy. You get the idea and you follow the idea." Her character is she admits 'a big contradiction' in many ways. "I have a lot of nervous energy but am completely able to relax." She wonders if it's something to do with her Gemini personality, that zodiac sign with its twin sides. "Creativity comes from being in the zone, removing the obstacles. If I Iet go, sometimes things come to me," she says.

One thing she's unlikely to have anticipated is her latest challenge. When the offer came she admits she hesitated, because it was so unlike anything she'd done before. It was her mentoring mother who said, 'give it a go'. And the decision was a good one because Sahar says, "I feel rejuvenated, doing something new. I'm learning about a new world. I enjoy the challenge, the start-up, the journey." What's she talking about is a million miles away from coffee and candy. It has its roots in Afghanistan.

At first glance you might wonder what connection Sahar would have with Brigadier Ed Butler. He was a recent commander of the British forces in southern Afghanistan and chief of the UK's Joint Force Operations, before stepping down to become managing director of Corporates for Crisis. Butler is one of three directors brought on board by founder Christopher James, a former military man himself. The other two are Sahar and Dr Hugo Slim, an international humanitarian with over twenty years experience in his field. One can perhaps understand Sahar's hesitation. "A mutual friend, a high powered individual said you might like this. They're looking for a business mind. I looked at it and could see we could make a difference."

"My father gave me a lot of advice. My mum has been my mentor throughout."

Six months ago Sahar started working with the company. Corporates for Crisis 'helps companies design and implement social strategies around their business' in areas of the world in crisis, or regions where there's been conflict. It enables companies to work at a humanitarian level that benefits both them and the local community. It's a long way from the kitchen table that propelled her into business. But she has 'a strong feeling things will work'.

In many ways it's surprising Sahar had to think twice about her latest endeavor because she has a 'belief in the power of every individual'. Life as she says is 'about empowering people, removing the obstacles.' For Sahar, "Every single person has a star within." Some may say she has found hers.

www.anyonecandoit.co.uk

www.corporatesforcrisis.com 

By Michele Nevard