Ernesto Sirolli

Ernesto Sirolli (born 1950) is an Italian-born entrepreneur and development consultant known for advocating “enterprise facilitation,” an approach that emphasizes listening to local people and supporting their own business ideas. He founded the Sirolli Institute, an organization associated with training and advising communities on locally led economic development. Sirolli gained wider public attention through his TED Talk, “Want to help someone? Shut up and listen!,” which draws on his experiences in international development and argues against top‑down aid models. His work has been cited in discussions of entrepreneurship, community development, and practical methods for fostering small-business growth.