Zahra Khan, a British-Pakistani chef and entrepreneur, who launched cafes and retail shops in London, has been featured in Forbes magazine’s ‘30 under 30’ list.
The 29-year-old is among the honorees selected for the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe List in the retail and E-commerce category.
“Immigrant Zahra Khan defied Pakistani cultural stereotypes and launched a career in the U.K. focused on empowering women,” the prestigious magazine wrote in her profile.
“The chef and mother of two runs Feya cafes and shops. She employs 30 full-time staff, hires female illustrators to design packaging, and donates 10% of retail profits toward professional coaching for women,” it added.
Talking to media after she was featured by Forbes, Khan, who hailed from Lahore, said: “I was advised at the age 13 to study sciences as baking was not considered as worthy profession”.
Khan revealed that she established Feya café after she became a mother, adding that more than 100 people from different countries approached her to get a franchise.
Known for breaking stereotypes, she has launched a project to empower women amid COVID-19 pandemic that has badly affected the world since it started last year.
Aiming at expanding Feya’s retail network, the chef wants to create 400 jobs for women and promote women empowerment.
The graduate of iconic Gordon Ramsay’s Tante Marie Culinary Academy said that she is the first and only Pakistani-origin woman to go to this institution.
Forbes said the 30 people were selected after reviewing the thousands of nominations and recommendations from industry experts and former Under 30 alumni.
