Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn

Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn (August 20, 1943) is an American businesswoman. She is the former owner and Vice Chairman of the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, a privately held corporation and the fourth largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. She is a serial Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, having started, owned, operated and sold seven different companies from 1972 to 2018. She continues to be involved with various ventures and projects as well as maintaining her philanthropic activities and interests through the S. Ahmad-Llewellyn Family Foundation.

Early life[edit]

Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn was born in Harlem in Manhattan, the daughter of immigrants from the country of Jamaica. His parents came to the United States in 1921. After two years the family moved to Westchester County, settling in White Plains, in a predominantly white middle-class environment, though Llewellyn went to integrated schools. Llewellyn worked in his father's bar and restaurant and sold magazines and Fuller Brush products. In 1943, Llewellyn joined the US Army, where he served as a first lieutenant.^[1]

Family[edit]

Her husband of 30 years, J. Bruce Llewellyn, was a prominent American businessman. His personal wealth has been estimated to exceed $160 million. In 1963, he joined others to found 100 Black Men of America, a social and philanthropic organization. In 1985, he and a group of business partners, among them Julius Erving, Bill Cosby, and Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn, bought a majority share of the Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Company, the first of the company's bottling plants to be acquired by a black person or persons. Her youngest daughter, Jaylaan Ahmad-Llewellyn, is a Harvard graduate and founder of Bluhammock Music and Bluhorse Clothing. Ahmad-Llewellyn was the sister of Sharifa Alkhateeb. Ahmad-Llewellyn's mother passed away when she was just 15 years-old and being the eldest girl, she was responsible for taking care of her four siblings.

Education[edit]

City University of New York, BS

Career[edit]

Prior to the soft drink bottling business, Ahmad-Llewellyn owned and operated a home health 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. In 2017, she launched Emmy Co., a mobile optimized platform that provided vetted and trusted individuals to accompany NYC patients door-to-door service when family and friends were not available. Shahara Ahmad-Llewellyn serves as founder and vice chair of Jazz at Lincoln Center, and was appointed by Michael Bloomberg to the NYC Commission on Women's issues. She also serves as Co-Vice Chairman of the New 42nd Street/New Victory Theater for Children. She is an active member of the Northside Center for Child Development's Council of Advisors, after serving as Vice Chairman for over 20 years. 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. Michael Bloomberg appointed her as a Commissioner to the NYC Commission to the NYC Commission on Women's Issues, where she served three, 4-year terms. In 2018, Mayor Michael Bloomberg reappointed her Commissioner to his Commission on Gender Equity.

Co-Vice Chairman | The New 42nd Street/New Victory Theater for Children
Vice Chair of the Board of Directors | National Constitution Center
Owner and Vice Chairman | Philadelphia Coca-Cola Bottling Co.
Founding Member and Vice Chairman | Jazz at Lincoln Center
Co-Founder, Member of Executive Board | Platform.org
Commissioner | NYC Commission on Women’s Issues
Presidential Appointment | President Bill Clinton
Commissioner | NYC Commission on Gender Equity
Presidential Appointment | President Jimmy Carter
President | S. Ahmad-Llewellyn Family Foundation
Co-Chairman and Vice Chairman | Northside
Vice Chairman | America’s Promise
Founder | Home Care

Awards[edit]

Among Black Enterprise magazine's top black business owners, 2001^{[citation needed]}
Inducted into the Black Entrepreneurs Hall of Fame, 2004;^[2]^{[better source needed]}

Ahmad-Llewellyn received Presidential appointments from both President Carter and President Clinton. When Colin Powell started and chaired America's Promise, he appointed her as his first Vice Chairman. She has received numerous awards and honors.

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