256 Yasir Hashim: Co-Founder & CEO of Lumen

Career Shift

Yasir Hashim transitioned from a promising medical career to entrepreneurship, driven by a combination of personal experiences and observations. He initially pursued medicine, inspired by his high school experiences in clinical rotations, but noticed the burnout and dissatisfaction among doctors he admired 1. Yasir's perspective shifted as he discovered the potential of entrepreneurship during his undergraduate studies, realizing that creating something new could be fulfilling 2. He explains,

I am unwilling to give up that I will start over from scratch as many times as it takes to get where I want to be.

--- Yasir Hashim

This determination led him to co-found Lumen, a hemp-based wellness company, marking a significant career shift 3.

   

Setbacks & Resilience

Yasir faced significant setbacks in his entrepreneurial journey, particularly with regulatory challenges that thwarted his initial business attempts. Despite investing heavily in a business that ultimately failed to secure necessary licenses, he remained resilient, returning investors' money and seeking new opportunities 4. This experience led to the creation of Lumen, where Yasir and his team innovated by juicing hemp plants instead of extracting CBD, a novel approach in the wellness industry 5.

We thought, that's how you start a juice company, you just juice it. We didn't even think about the customer time.

--- Yasir Hashim

His ability to pivot and embrace new ideas was crucial in overcoming these early challenges.

   

Networking Success

Building a strong network was pivotal for Yasir's success, as he actively sought mentors and advisors to guide his entrepreneurial journey. He learned the importance of humility and rapid learning from past failures, emphasizing the need to avoid repeating mistakes 6. Yasir's persistence in seeking advice and support paid off, as he connected with influential figures who eventually invested in Lumen 7.

Don't take no for an answer, I think is the biggest thing, right? They'll say no 4567 times, but you keep getting back up.

--- Yasir Hashim

This relentless pursuit of knowledge and support was instrumental in his entrepreneurial success 8.