Thought Sparks Celebrating Immigrant Entrepreneurs with Rita McGrath and Neri Karra Sillaman
In this week’s Thought Sparks Podcast episode, Rita McGrath, a Columbia University Business School Professor, C-Suite strategist, business founder and best-selling author, speaks with Neri Karra Sillaman, founder of Moda Métiers, expert in sustainable fashion, strategy, and entrepreneurship, and winner of the Thinkers50 2025 Radar Award. She’s also the author of Pioneers: 8 Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs.
1:32: Introductions, and Why Study Immigrant Entrepreneurship
3:23: Neri’s Journey: From a Refugee Camp to Luxury Entrepreneurship
10:19: Starting a Family Leather Goods Business
15:04: The 8 Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs
15:28: Being a Bridge Across Cultures
15:47: Vision: Believing in Your Crazy Idea, and Yourself
17:45: Homophilic Ties: Forging Connections Based on Your Identity
20:46: The Chobani Story, and the Power of Co-Building A Business
22:00: What Immigrant Entrepreneurs Understand About Instability and Unequal Access
25:08: “Frying In Your Own Oil”: Lessons in Self-Sufficiency from Neri’s Grandfather
26:56: What American Entrepreneurship Curricula Leave Out
28:19: “What Have You Done With Your One Precious Life?”: Rethinking Business Longevity
32:09: Immigrant Entrepreneurship: Borne out of Necessity
34:34: The Role of Luck: Recognizing It and Turning it into an Advantage
39:05: Chobani’s IPO, and What Hamdi Ulukaya Got Right
40:13: What We Lose When We Demonize Immigrants
44:35: Immigrants’ Role in Creating New Wealth
50:36: How We Misunderstand Failure: Lessons from Amy Edmondson
Thought Sparks are the brainchild of Rita McGrath. They are insightful actions, strategic ideas, actionable suggestions and innovative approaches that help organizations and leaders master the future with less fear and more confidence.
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