An entrepreneur, speaker and award-winning business founder, Anil Qasemi is also a refugee.
Anil arrived in the UK from Afghanistan in 2021, but it didn’t take him long to find his feet in this country. Soon after arriving, he took himself off to see the Life of Pi at the theatre, and noticed how many audience members were wearing hats.
His eureka moment led to him setting up Hatopia which, five years on, is a thriving business with customers in more than 35 countries.
Anil will share his literal and metaphorical journey: from his life in Afghanistan to his arrival in the UK and the unexpected path that led to him setting up his business.
He’ll talk about how important it is to take chances, build confidence and be open to opportunities that may not seem obvious at first. He’ll also reflect on the support, encouragement and kindness he received along the way, and the role that community can play in helping people achieve more than they thought possible. To Anil, thinking differently is not just about having unusual ideas. It’s about having the vision to consider them rather than dismissing them, and seeing the possibilities rather than the obstacles. Most of all, it’s about having the courage to take the first step.
