Emma Grede, 42, is a founding associate and chief product officer at Skims, a shapewear model value $4 billion. She additionally serves because the co-founder and CEO of attire model Good American, which recorded $200 million in gross sales in 2022 (and $1 million on its first day stay on October 18, 2016, marking the most important denim launch in historical past). She’s value a reported $390 million.
She’s additionally a highschool dropout raised by a single mom in East London who started working a paper route at 12 years previous to earn more money. By 16, she had left college and began working at a vogue manufacturing firm. Whereas there, Grede got here up with the thought for her first enterprise, a advertising and leisure company referred to as Impartial Expertise Model (ITB) that matched vogue designers with funding. She based the corporate in 2008 at age 25 and grew the company earlier than promoting it 10 years later to advertising agency Rogers & Cowen for an undisclosed sum.
Now, Grede is predicated in Los Angeles along with her husband, Skims CEO Jens Grede, and their 4 kids. She additionally co-founded the sports activities attire model Off Season and the chemical-free cleansing firm, Safely. She appeared as a visitor investor on Shark Tank in seasons 13 and 14.
And now she will add podcast host to her resume. The serial entrepreneur simply launched a brand new podcast referred to as Aspire, which goals to coach and encourage enterprise leaders via in-depth conversations with main executives and celebrities.
Emma Grede. Photograph Credit score: Jamie Girdler
Grede sat down with Entrepreneur to speak about her new podcast, how she manages a number of companies, and what it takes to be a profitable entrepreneur.
Why did you begin your podcast, and the way is it completely different from different enterprise podcasts?
I left college after I was 16 years previous. So, I haven’t got a standard trajectory. I am making an attempt to unpack as a lot because the success that I’ve had, the errors that I’ve had. I wished to offer one thing that I assumed would have been helpful to me after I began my companies.
What sort of recommendation would have been helpful?
To begin, you need to love what you’re doing. I say that as a result of it is robust to begin one thing from scratch, and it will check each fiber of your being. So you need to actually wish to do it. It must be greater than only a single objective, like I have to generate profits, or I simply wish to depart the place the place I work. It must be one thing that fuels you.
What sort of mindset does it take to achieve success in entrepreneurship? Is there a trait or ability that stands out?
I feel you need to have unwavering self-belief. There’s part of this that’s actually a couple of mindset that will not take no for a solution and may see round and thru issues and adversity. That works each time.
How did you resolve on entrepreneurship?
It is one thing I fell into. Like so many people, I labored a company job for a few years. I left that job as a result of I did not assume I used to be being remunerated nicely sufficient for what I did. So I fell into entrepreneurship. And that is why I began my very own factor.
When you might begin a facet hustle right now, what wouldn’t it be?
I might wish to be a florist. That is the one factor I’ve ever wished to try this I’ve by no means touched. I might like to have a job that’s simply in regards to the magnificence, and is artistically fulfilling. That might be my little dream facet hustle. A flower store someplace in a stunning place.
What’s your management type?
At [Good American], there are over 150 individuals. I am the chief product officer in one other firm [Skims] the place there are most likely 400 individuals. So, it is lots of people, however I have a tendency to rent the most effective individuals and get out of their approach. One of many issues that I do nicely is rent. I am significantly good at placing groups collectively.
What do you search for in new hires?
I rent for perspective over expertise usually. That is not in all positions, however I feel particularly once you’re beginning an organization, having individuals who have the power, who’ve the fervour, you possibly can’t put a worth on that.
What retains you motivated?
I actually really feel that I’ve created the lifetime of my desires. I am grateful day-after-day that I get to do what I do. I feel that retains me motivated, that I’ve made this life for myself, and it is of my selecting.
What’s it like working along with your husband on the identical C-suite management group? Do you retain a separation between the household and work dynamics?
I’ve labored with Jens for a really very long time, and we had a stable skilled relationship earlier than we had been a pair. He handles the advertising and day-to-day operating of Skims whereas I concentrate on the product. So our roles are very outlined, and we do various things. We’ve completely different expertise, which makes us very appropriate as enterprise companions. We even have quite a lot of separation in our precise roles. But when I am trustworthy, we love what we achieve this a lot. So does enterprise spill into residence time, and can we speak about what we do on a regular basis? Completely. Sure. There’s part of that that is inevitable.
Do you may have quite a lot of assist at residence?
I’ve twin three-year-olds, after which I’ve an 11-year-old and an 8-year-old. At residence, I haven’t got 4 children that I get to high school myself within the morning. I’ve quite a lot of assist round me, and I depend on all of that assist to get via the day. I feel it is essential to be trustworthy about that as a result of I do not need anybody to take a look at me and assume, Oh, wow. She’s some sort of superwoman. It is like, No, I am not superwoman. I am only a lady. I am making selections day-after-day and making a lot of sacrifices day-after-day.
This interview has been evenly edited and minimize for readability.
Emma Grede, 42, is a founding associate and chief product officer at Skims, a shapewear model value $4 billion. She additionally serves because the co-founder and CEO of attire model Good American, which recorded $200 million in gross sales in 2022 (and $1 million on its first day stay on October 18, 2016, marking the most important denim launch in historical past). She’s value a reported $390 million.
She’s additionally a highschool dropout raised by a single mom in East London who started working a paper route at 12 years previous to earn more money. By 16, she had left college and began working at a vogue manufacturing firm. Whereas there, Grede got here up with the thought for her first enterprise, a advertising and leisure company referred to as Impartial Expertise Model (ITB) that matched vogue designers with funding. She based the corporate in 2008 at age 25 and grew the company earlier than promoting it 10 years later to advertising agency Rogers & Cowen for an undisclosed sum.
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