Neri Karra Sillaman: What immigrant entrepreneurs can teach us

Immigrant entrepreneurs have an outsized impact in business and society.

80% of billion dollar startups have founders or senior executives who are first or second generation immigrants. So, what can we learn from them?

In this episode I am joined by Neri Karra Sillaman, author of Pioneers: 8 Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs. Neri’s research shows that immigrant entrepreneurs have a unique ability to reframe failure. Something she has done herself as a refugee turned entrepreneur.

Neri shares how constraints can be turned into an advantage for entrepreneurs as they look to blend their home and new cultures in the services and products they create.

She underscores the importance of quality, community, and a focus on impact rather than personal gain. Lessons many leaders could learn to improve their organisations.

“Immigrant entrepreneurs don’t hear “no” the way that you do” – Neri Karra Sillaman

You'll hear about:

• How immigrant entrepreneurs reframe failure as fuel for growth.

• The role of community in building resilience and drive.

• Why a clear, long-term vision sustains entrepreneurial momentum.

• Why integrity and quality matter more than rapid scale.

• The personal sacrifices behind building a meaningful business.

• How cross-cultural identity becomes a strategic advantage.

• The mindset shifts needed for true business longevity.

About Neri Karra Sillaman:

Neri Karra Sillaman is an author, advisor, and entrepreneur whose work focuses on business longevity, innovation, and impact. She is the author of Pioneers: 8 Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs, recognized as one of Thinkers50’s Top 10 Best New Management Books in 2025. Neri was also named to the Thinkers50 Radar List as one of the 30 management thinkers shaping the future of work.

As the founder of her luxury leather goods brand, a company established more than 25 years ago, she combines entrepreneurial experience with research-driven insight. Neri is an Entrepreneurship Expert at the University of Oxford and holds a PhD from the University of Cambridge.

As a child refugee, she draws on her journey of resilience and adaptation to advise leaders on purpose, culture, and long-term success.

Resources:

Website: www.nerispeaks.com

Book: https://amzn.to/45T5p4C

Profile: https://tinyurl.com/34rf2rrx

Instagram: https://tinyurl.com/3dupup2m

My resources:

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Subscribe to my YouTube channel (http://bit.ly/3cFGk1k) where you can watch the conversation.

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