Ahmed Rahim is the co-founder, CEO and alchemist behind Numi Organic Tea, the largest premium organic, fair trade tea company in North America. Ahmed is responsible for all of the unique Numi blends and products that the company launches every year. Before launching NUMI in 1999 in Oakland, California with his sister, Reem, Ahmed studied Theater & Psychology in NYC, and then spent a decade living, working and traveling throughout Europe as a professional filmmaker and photographer. Ahmed focused on fashion photography and abstract art through the visual mystery of light and nature. He also made short films and documentaries. 

At NUMI, Ahmed travels to remote regions of the world seeking unique herbs and teas unknown in the US. He travels to China, India, Africa, South America and other herb and tea-growing countries building partnerships with the farmers, and learning about their cultures and needs. Numi has been involved in sponsoring schools, hospitals, community centers, roads and other needs to improve the farming and agriculture community living standards. 

Since 2009, they have been evolving their vision through the NUMI Foundation. The Numi Foundations currently consists of 2 local, 1 National and 1 International program. The 2 local programs focus on awakening and supporting the challenges within inner city of Oakland; from education to justice and nutrition. With the support of committed local bay area community members, Ahmed and Reem are focused on a key initiative called ACTION (A Creative Transformation in our Community). ACTION leverages the work of hundreds of organizations around the bay area to lift up Oakland through O’Days; taking action with positive and nurturing themed project days. Ahmed helped launch the nation’s first Waldorf-inspired multi-lingual, multi-cultural K-6 charter school, in Oakland: Community School for Creative Education. The NUMI Foundation developed curriculums for the school of 200 children, infusing art and nature with experiential learning.