Ernesto Sirolli

In 1985 Dr. Ernesto Sirolli pioneered Enterprise Facilitation® in a remote community in Western Australia, demonstrating that when people are treated with respect—and supported by caring, competent, and dedicated facilitation—entrepreneurial energy flourishes .The success of his method, built around the Trinity of Management® (Product, Marketing, and Financial Intelligence), has inspired more than 450 communities worldwide to build their own capacity for development. Enterprise Facilitation® embodies a philosophy: if you truly wish to help someone, first, shut up and listen.

Dr. Sirolli holds a Doctorate in Political Sciences from the University of Rome and a Ph.D. in the Philosophy of Local Enterprise Facilitation from Murdoch University. He serves as an Industry Fellow at the Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining (University of Queensland) and as an Adjunct Professor of Sustainable Development at Curtin University. He is Innovation Lead for Cross-ING Switzerland.

He is the author of two acclaimed books and witing another

• Ripples from the Zambezi: Passion, Entrepreneurship, and the Rebirth of Local Economies

• How to Start a Business and Ignite Your Life: A Simple Guide to Combining Business Wisdom with Passion

• Boundary Riders  , Innovation inside Companies  (to be published 2026)

In 2012, his TED Talk “If you really want to help someone , Shut up and Listen!” went viral, reaching more than 4 million views and translated into 31 languages. His work continues to inspire leaders and communities to rediscover the dignity of listening, and the transformative power of local intelligence.