From corporate law to Coffee Republic to Buy Women Built, Sahar Hashemi has spent her career proving one thing: leap and the net will appear. Here's what she had to say about successes, challenges, and inspirations she encountered on her journey.

What is your biggest success to date as a female leader? Conversely, what has been the greatest challenge?

it has been building Buy Women Built into something far bigger than I ever imagined. It started as a simple idea sparked by a tweet during lockdown and has grown into a community of more than 2,000 female-founded brands and a mark now recognised by major retailers and consumers across the UK. What makes me most proud is that it’s shifting the narrative from what women lack to the incredible brands women have already built.

The greatest challenge has been that things always take much longer than you think. Many people didn’t initially see the value in making women-built brands visible. When you’re building something new, you often hear “no” long before you hear “yes.” But I’ve learned that change always feels unlikely until suddenly it becomes inevitable.

How, if at all, has your career path been shaped by gender and what advice would you give young women starting out in business today?

Early in my career I didn’t really think about gender. I simply followed ideas that came to me and took action. But as I’ve gone on, I’ve become more aware that many women hesitate before taking that first step because they feel they need to be fully ready.

My advice would be simple: don’t wait for certainty. Entrepreneurship isn’t about having all the answers -it’s about taking the first step and learning as you go. Confidence rarely comes before action; it comes because of it. That’s why my motto is Leap and the Net will appear

The theme of International Women’s Day 2026 is ‘Give to Gain,’ emphasising the power of reciprocity and support. How does this theme resonate for you?

This idea sits at the heart of Buy Women Built. The movement is built on a simple principle: when we support women who build businesses, we all gain. Consumers gain incredible products. The economy gains innovation and growth. And future generations gain role models they can see themselves in.

One of the most powerful things about the Buy Women Built community is the sharing that happens. They give to each other so much support.

This International Women’s Day, Wolf & Badger activations are focused on the phrase ‘Every icon has an icon,’ prompted by the women who inspire us. Tell us about the women who inspired you throughout your career and how.

The women who inspire me most are founders. Women who see a problem in their everyday lives and decide to solve it. Through Buy Women Built I’ve met thousands of them - women building businesses from kitchens, spare rooms and small factories. Their determination, creativity and resilience is extraordinary.

They remind me that entrepreneurship is truly the New Women's Movement.

Over 80% of the independent brands on Wolf & Badger are female-founded. In a dream world, which pieces from their collections would you most like to add to your basket?

One of the joys of platforms like Wolf & Badger is discovering brands you can’t find elsewhere. They really spark your creativity I love obviously the Buy Women Built brands on there !