ANAHITA KAR

Associate – Sustainable RE & Business Development

Born in Iran, and raised in Germany and the USA, Anahita Kar currently lives in Switzerland, regularly commuting to the USA for professional and personal agendas. She studied Business Administration at Western Washington University, and holds an MBA in Hotel Development from New York University (NYU), as well as an additional Masters’ Degree in International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law from the Graduate Institute of International Development in Geneva.

For the last thirteen years, Anahita Kar has worked as Head of Communications and Spokesperson for several international humanitarian organizations that delivered assistance and protection to conflict ridden countries in sub -Saharan Africa, increasing her network across the globe.

Prior to switching to the humanitarian work, Anahita started her initial thirteen year career in the business sector, as a Financial Consultant and providing financial advice and portfolio management to various clients, subsequently moving to the hospitality field to manage, market and reposition boutique hotels in New York City. As a “Hospitality Developer” as she likes to define herself, Anahita covered all aspects from the hospitality business, by working every operational level, from the Front Desk to General Management, in properties stretching from the Westin in Seattle Washington, to resorts in the Caribbean, and then at the Parker Meridien, the Gershwin Hotel and other properties in New York City. Subsequently she opened her New York-based consultancy firm called Key Hospitality, which offered a full-service, à la carte vertical and horizontal consulting to various properties, located in New York City. From designing and converting available space and apartment buildings into short or long term stay properties, to marketing, training, staffing, and making them fully operational and revenue producing, Anahita has covered the full range of the hospitality sector and boasts a thorough understanding of the industry.

A multinational and multicultural businesswoman with an impressive network in governmental, non-governmental and corporate circles, Anahita speaks four languages fluently and two additional languages at a medium level. She enjoys long bike rides in the Swiss countryside, travelling, books, theatre and music festivals.