Sahar Hashemi co-founded Coffee Republic, one of the United Kingdom's leading coffee chains, in 1995. She also started Skinny Candy, a guilt-free confectionery brand, which was sold to Glisten in 2007. Hashemi left Coffee Republic in 2001 and co-wrote the best-selling book, Anyone Can Do It: Building Coffee Republic from our Kitchen Table, which has been translated into six languages and is the second highest selling book on entrepreneurship in the United Kingdom. Her latest book, Switched On, is about entrepreneurial behaviour in established companies. Hashemi lectures around the world on how to use entrepreneurial habits to promote innovation and creativity in the corporate world. She was awarded an OBE for services to the United Kingdom's economy and to charity in the Queen's 2012 birthday honours list. Hashemi studied Law at Bristol University and qualified as a corporate lawyer at Frere Cholmeley in London.