Emma Grede, 42, is a founding associate and chief product officer at Skims, a shapewear model price $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 reside on October 18, 2016, marking the largest denim launch in historical past). She’s price 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 style manufacturing firm. Whereas there, Grede got here up with the thought for her first enterprise, a advertising and leisure company known as Unbiased Expertise Model (ITB) that matched style 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 relies in Los Angeles along with her husband, Skims CEO Jens Grede, and their 4 youngsters. 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 be able to add podcast host to her resume. The serial entrepreneur simply launched a brand new podcast known as Aspire, which goals to coach and encourage enterprise leaders via in-depth conversations with main executives and celebrities.
Emma Grede. Picture 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 once I was 16 years previous. So, I haven’t got a standard trajectory. I am attempting to unpack as a lot because the success that I’ve had, the errors that I’ve had. I wished to present one thing that I believed would have been helpful to me once I began my companies.
What sort of recommendation would have been helpful?
To begin, it’s important to love what you’re doing. I say that as a result of it is powerful to start out one thing from scratch, and it will take a look at each fiber of your being. So it’s important to actually need to do it. It must be greater than only a single purpose, like I must earn a living, or I simply need 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 believe it’s important 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 might 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 suppose I used to be being remunerated effectively sufficient for what I did. So I fell into entrepreneurship. And that is why I began my very own factor.
Should you might begin a aspect hustle as we speak, what would it not be?
I’d need to be a florist. That is the one factor I’ve ever wished to try this I’ve by no means touched. I’d like to have a job that’s simply concerning the magnificence, and is artistically fulfilling. That might be my little dream aspect hustle. A flower store someplace in a stunning place.
What’s your management fashion?
At [Good American], there are over 150 individuals. I am the chief product officer in one other firm [Skims] the place there are in all probability 400 individuals. So, it is lots of people, however I have a tendency to rent the most effective individuals and get out of their manner. One of many issues that I do effectively is rent. I am notably 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 believe particularly whenever you’re beginning an organization, having individuals who have the power, who’ve the eagerness, you’ll be able to’t put a worth on that.
What retains you motivated?
I truthfully 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 believe 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 strong 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 abilities, which makes us very appropriate as enterprise companions. We even have a whole lot of separation in our precise roles. But when I am sincere, we love what we achieve this a lot. So does enterprise spill into house 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 might have a whole lot of assist at house?
I’ve twin three-year-olds, after which I’ve an 11-year-old and an 8-year-old. At house, I haven’t got 4 youngsters that I get to high school myself within the morning. I’ve a whole lot of assist round me, and I depend on all of that assist to get via the day. I believe it is essential to be sincere about that as a result of I do not need anybody to have a look at me and suppose, Oh, wow. She’s some sort of superwoman. It is like, No, I am not superwoman. I am only a girl. I am making selections day-after-day and making a number 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 price $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 reside on October 18, 2016, marking the largest denim launch in historical past). She’s price 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 style manufacturing firm. Whereas there, Grede got here up with the thought for her first enterprise, a advertising and leisure company known as Unbiased Expertise Model (ITB) that matched style 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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