Sara Vestin Rahmani Top Game

By ALEXANDER BURTON | NEW YORK

Published 30th November 2012

Intro: Sara Vestin Rahmani One of London’s finest entrepreneurs and self-made female heroes, Sara Vestin Rahmani, talks to me about her business and some things private.

Background Sara Vestin Rahmani

Sara Vestin Rahmani, born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden isn’t one for taking the easy route. As a graduate hopeful in the mid 1990s, she was forthcoming in literature and the arts and received various awards, scholarship proposals and the likes. Instead she decided to postpone her studies, spread her wings and commence work as a Nanny in the UK. A job that is a far cry from the glamorous life she leads today. “I didn’t want to be a nanny forever. However, it was a great opportunity for me who had no money, to see the world and work. I don’t regret it for a second. Furthermore it gave me the idea to start my first business”. Sara Vestin Rahmani says: “You really have to work hard. But if you embrace the work, the children and the family, like I did, it is such a rewarding gig.”

The story, step by step

Sara Vestin Rahmani top game – Sara who’d been an all-Swedish Author hopeful from a young age, stands only 5″ 5 tall. However, with her statuesque body and her trade mark high-heels, she looks every inch the amazon super woman she is. Sara is a beautiful, smiley and down to earth woman. Needless to say, it is truly remarkable what she has achieved at such a young age. She was once predicted to become a praised author as she showed early signs of being a unusually gifted young lady. With her creative mind, talent in writing and  driven persona she was set for the stars. But her teachers dreams were dashed when Sara left Sweden and her studies at the tender age of 18.

Sara Vestin Rahmani – The road to success

However, and as we now know, it wasn’t all for nothing. Today, Sara Vestin Rahmani credits her teachers support of her creativity for the fortitude that launched her career in London. Needless to say, her talent has led to worldwide success. She started her first business in 2003 from scratch in her living room in South East London. “I remember thinking that if I could just break even the first year, I’d be so happy”. I didn’t even own a lap top or a blackberry. Interestingly, I literally only had a stationary computer and a landline that I used for calls. “By the 50th cold call, the confidence started to build”. ” Failure was never an option for me. I genuinely always believed and still believe that I will succeed in whatever I lay my hands on. Call me crazy but it’s worked so far.”

Vestin Rahmani and her staff

Today, Vestin’s elite 10-person office team and her fleet of 50+ trainers has about 2500 clients, with a median account size of £17 millions. Impressively, Vestin ranks between 20th and 4th on various lists of The Top 100 most influential Women in Business across the world. She works alongside some of the best copyright, Intellectual property, franchise and lease lawyers in the world. Moreover, She is sharp as the sharpest of knives and I do believe that if you get on with her, she may become one of the best people you ever meet in your life. This woman has super connections all across the globe. She socialises with celebs, the HNW and V VIPs. Moreover, she is invited to all the top parties and premiers across town on a daily basis. Tough life? I don’t think so.

A day with Sara

Sara Vestin Rahmani wakes up with business and the market on her mind: “My dogs and I watch the business news between 5:30 and 6:00 a.m and determine what kind of a day we’re going to have.

By the time Vestin Rahmani arrives at her office, she’s usually handed numerous e-mails and calls from clients. However, she tells us that the vast majority of clients get handed to one of her impeccably motivated staff. This comes as a result of Sara having  less time on her hands than before. However, Sara still cares for a small number of HNW individuals whose needs she will always see to. She says: “I’ve looked after them for years and these people are directly or indirectly responsible for my success. Thanks to their networks and recommendations so I don’t charge them any fees. Some get my time and expertise for free, knowing that it will be worth it in the long run”. A pretty comfortable work position to be in, especially during the recession I say.

What about the economic downturn?

Sara Vestin Rahmani says the market’s latest turns “has not made me nervous,” “Especially given our clients are almost exclusively VIP, celebs and super rich as we are not that faced by the economic downturn. Having said that, due to the Olympics, we had an unpredicted summer and it was slow as everyone seemed otherwise occupied and didn’t want to spend any money. So we are making up for it now. ” Vestin is currently working on new contracts int he far east (mainly mainland China). The demand of late follows on from a stream of PR autumn 2012 in the News and TV.

Time Management

Most of the day to day business are run by account managers in the office. Needless to say, Sara spends the vast majority of her time signing new business and develops new areas of revenue streams. This is something she tells us with a smile that she does best. “The fantastic emerging-market business flow and international exposure of late will probably keep me busy for the next few years. Obviously, it is as exciting as it is rewarding for me. I get to use the creative left side of my brain and I love the feeling of taking on new ventures. Seeing where they end up later is always exciting.  I never quite know how it will turn out and I don’t follow and rules or guidelines so it’s always an enjoyable ride”.

Sara Vestin Rahmani-Private life

Meanwhile, Sara Vestin Rahmani is increasingly turning to an alternative lifestyle. She enjoys daily meditation practises, a great deal of yoga and plenty of “me time” with her dogs out in the woods. ” I find that the equilibrium between being in the city, working and playing hard (like I do) is mixed with time out for me works really well. Obviously, I enjoy my quite and peaceful times. Equally, I love going out to fine restaurants, staying in hotels and drinking champagne with my friends”. A habit she insist she is unlikely to kick anytime soon.

Sara Vestin Rahmani top game – Her own domestic staff

Like most business women today, and in line with her clients, Vestin has a team that help her manage her life. She has a dog nanny, PA, Housekeepers, Gardeners, Yoga teacher, Business consultant, acupuncturist, French teacher and also a massage therapist. Sounds excessive? Sara says: “Well, you know. I don’t have any children yet (other than my business and my dogs) to spoil. You can think of it as caring for an investment or something you love and care for that needs looking after for it to thrive. I need to be on top form and shape in order to perform. Of course, I also try and look as good as possible for media purposes, business relations and public affairs.

Charitable work

However, I must stress that we also give a lot of money and time to charity. I dread to think that people look at me as someone too flamboyant”. Sara’s business’ Charity of choice that she is deeply involved in is called operation smile.

Sara Vestin Rahmani sits on various exec boards across the world and supports a number of other business and charities as well. She has future plans of starting her own foundation but that is a later chapter.

Summary

SOME TEN YEARS AGO, Sara Vestin Rahmani joined an industry dominated by males. She remains the rare foreign female elite. The business “hasn’t changed that much in terms of foreign women being successful,” she says. “It’s probably gotten worse, at least in the UK and with the recession and little room for change.” Ultimately, Sara sees her gender as a benefit in relating to clients. “A lot of ice is broken once I’m sitting in a room,” she says. “People are very interested in who is this person in front of me. I am easy-going and smiley so that helps. But having said that, often people don’t think I do business. Moreover, they get surprised when they realise I am who I am”

And finally

There’s plenty to hear about it, but don’t expect Vestin to do all the talking, at least not at first. She says the best first meeting is one in which she doesn’t talk so much. Everyone has a story to tell, and Vestin wants to hear it. She loves business and personal travel where she gets to meet influential people from all across the world and get inspired.

Well thank you Miss Vestin, it has been a true pleasure to chat to you. She shakes my hand and wishes me well before she skips along to her next interview (filming with sky news)

Read more about Sara Vestin Rahmani top game and her businesses

Business Details