Neri Karra Sillaman
Neri Karra Sillaman is an entrepreneur, author, and academic, recognised for her work at the intersection of business resilience, longevity, and impact. She is the founder of the luxury leather goods brand Neri Karra, which has been in business for 25 years and partners with leadingluxury brands. As a former child refugee, she brings a unique perspective to her work.
She is also an entrepreneurship expert and adjunct professor at the University of Oxford, where she guides students and executives in business transformation, focusing on resilience and ethical growth. Neri has lectured at institutions such as theUniversity of Cambridge, NYU Stern, Regent’s University, and IESEG School of Management. She was the founding director of the MA in Luxury Brand Management at Regent’s University.
Neri’s contributions extend to publishing articles for platforms like Harvard Business Review and Fast Company, covering topics like entrepreneurship, leadership, sustainability, and workplace dynamics. She has also delivered TEDx talks, sharing her journey from refugee to entrepreneur and advocating for sustainability in fashion.
Her upcoming book,Pioneers: 8 Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs, will be released by Wiley in 2025. The book explores the insights immigrant founders bring to building businesses that last.
In 2024, Neri was recognised as a member of the Thinkers50 Radar, naming her among the top 30 management thinkers globally. She was also awarded the British Council Alumni Award in Entrepreneurship in 2017. Neri is passionate about helping entrepreneurs navigate today’s complex business environment, encouraging the creation of businesses that are not only successful but impactful. She lives in Paris with her husband and son.
Neri holds a PhD in Management Studies from the University of Cambridge, a Diploma in Econometric Analysis from LSE, and an MBA from Sabanci University. She also completed her undergraduate studies in Business Management and Marketing at the University of Miami, graduating summa cum laude.
