Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn is a former owner and Vice Chairman of the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Co., Inc., a privately held corporation and the fourth largest Coke bottler in the United States. Prior to the bottling business, she owned and operated a home care company and had a long, groundbreaking and successful career in the home health-care field, having helped pioneer the creation of home care in New York City. She is a serial entrepreneur having started, owned, operated and sold six different companies from 1972 to 2012.

In September 2012 she sold her interest in the last company she owned to Samsung.

She received Presidential appointments from both President Carter and President Clinton. General Colin Powell appointed her his first Vice Chairman of America’s Promise. In addition, she has received numerous awards and honors.

She is a founding member and serves as Vice Chairman of Jazz at Lincoln Center, is a founding member and serves as Vice Chairman of The New 42nd Street/New Victory Theater. She serves on the Board of Advisors of the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership. She is an active member of the Northside Center for Child Development’s Council of Advisors. She previously served for over 20 years as Northside’s Co-Chairman and as a Vice Chairman. She stepped down as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of The National Constitution Center where she chaired the Center’s Opening in July of 2003.

She is a member of McKissick and McKissick’s Advisory Board.

Mayor Bloomberg appointed her a Commissioner to the NYC Commission on Women’s Issues, where she served three 4 year terms. She was appointed a Commissioner by Mayor Bill de Blasio to his new Commission on Gender Equity and served both of the Mayor’s four-year terms. Mayor Eric Adams appointed her to his new Commission on Gender Equity upon taking office on January 1, 2022.

She remains involved with various ventures and projects as well as her philanthropic activities and interests through the S. Ahmad-Llewellyn Family Foundation.

Questions for mentors can be directed to wealfund@gmail.com.