Neri Karra Sillaman

Neri Karra Sillaman – Entrepreneurship Expert at Oxford Said Business School & Founder of Neri Karra

Neri Karra Sillaman is a globally recognised entrepreneurship expert, business educator and keynote speaker whose work is shaping the future of business leadership. Named on the Thinkers50 Radar list of management thinkers to watch, she is known for translating real-world entrepreneurial experience into impactful academic and advisory roles. As an entrepreneur who built her own international luxury brand from the ground up, she has become a respected voice on resilience, creativity and sustainable success in business. Today, she supports leaders and innovators worldwide through her teaching, speaking and strategic guidance.

Speaking Topics:

• Business and Life Lessons from Immigrant Entrepreneurs
• The Secret of Entrepreneurial Success – Reading Cultural Change
• “Fry in Your Own Oil” – Why Sustainability is the Key to a Brighter Future
• The Real Meaning of Resilience
• The Myths and Realities of Business Longevity

Credentials and Impact

Neri has spent her career advancing understanding of entrepreneurship, strategy and sustainability across global industries. After achieving a PhD in Management Science from the University of Cambridge, she embarked on a distinguished academic path, contributing to leading institutions including the London School of Economics, London College of Fashion and Imperial College London. She later shaped the curriculum of the MA in Luxury Brand Management at Regent’s University London and went on to teach at NYU Stern School of Business and IÉSEG School of Management, consistently earning top teaching evaluations.

Her influence continues at Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, where she coaches and guides innovative ventures as an Entrepreneurship Expert. Alongside academia, she founded a luxury leather goods company that became B-Corp certified and a manufacturer for leading Italian fashion houses. Through her consultancy Moda Métiers, she advises prominent clients in the luxury sector on brand strategy and sustainability while contributing thought-leadership to the future of responsible business. Her unique insight combines rigorous research with lived entrepreneurial experience, making her a trusted voice for organisations seeking transformation.

Publications and Media

Neri is the bestselling author of Pioneers: 8 Principles of Business Longevity from Immigrant Entrepreneurs, widely acclaimed by major business media. She is a regular contributor to the Harvard Business Review and Fast Company, where she writes on entrepreneurship, leadership and sustainability. Her ideas also reach broad audiences through features with major outlets including the BBC, Fortune and the Financial Times.

Why Book Neri?

Neri is booked as a business and entrepreneurship speaker for her compelling ability to inspire leaders navigating change and competitive markets. Her three TEDx talks explore resilience, education and sustainable innovation, each drawing on her powerful personal journey from refugee to global business leader. With Thinkers50 recognition and invitations to headline international industry events, she brings a rare combination of academic credibility, business success and human storytelling. Neri equips audiences with actionable strategies for thriving in uncertainty, fostering inclusion and building organisations that endure. Her presentations leave attendees motivated to redefine what is possible for their business and themselves.

To book Neri to speak at your event, call SpeakOut on +44 (0) 20 8914 8966. Alternatively, complete our contact form to begin your enquiry.

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