Founder, CEO and Creative Director

Silje had a dream and started designing clothing at the age of 14. She was steered towards an academic career and after her Undergrad in Economics from the University of Toulouse and a Masters in Management and Finance from ESCP, Paris-Oxford-Berlin, she worked in investment banking at JP Morgan then various roles in hedgefunds and directorships in investment funds and industry ensued.

She kept her dream alive by attending evening classes in fashion design at St Martins Lane in London as well as numerous yoga retreats and yoga teacher-training courses.

Her last corporate role she was the Chairwoman and CEO of Norwegian Energy Company ASA, (Noreco) an oil company going through a restructuring in Norway, Denmark and London.

After the successful turnaround of Noreco, she was finally ready to pursue her dream. Esperance was formally founded in August 2017 and a new journey began.

Having already done a lot of research into sustainable production and materials – and not least designing, she started forming the vision and the beginning of Esperance.

SIlje is on the Board of Vital Voices Europe, the non profit organization founded by Hillary Clinton, to invest in emerging women leaders.

Silje resides in the picturesque village of Sarreyer, near the village of Verbier, and spends as much time as possible outside going on long hikes with her dog, Gaia. She gets her inspiration from this quiet time as well as spending time in other places and with people that she loves.