HBR IdeaCast How Immigrant Entrepreneurs Build Lasting Businesses
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Apr 22, 2025 
Neri Karra Sillaman, an entrepreneurship expert at Oxford University and founder of Neri Karra luxury leather goods, delves into how immigrant entrepreneurs achieve lasting success. She highlights resilience as a crucial trait, emphasizing how rejection fuels growth. Sillaman shares compelling stories, including one from a Bulgarian immigrant who navigated cultural challenges. Additionally, the importance of kindness and community ties is discussed as essential strategies for thriving in a new business landscape, especially amidst rising anti-immigrant sentiment.
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Neri's Immigration Journey
- Neri Karra Sillaman's family fled Bulgaria in 1989 with only two suitcases due to ethnic persecution.
- This experience of forced migration shaped her commitment to education and entrepreneurship.
Focus on Longevity, Not Just Startups
- Research often asks why immigrants start businesses but rarely why their businesses last longer.
- Longevity is a distinct and crucial measure of immigrant entrepreneurial success.
Fry In Your Own Oil
- Grow your business gradually to match profitability —“fry in your own oil.”
- Avoid fast growth fueled by excessive outside funding that can threaten sustainability.
