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 largest 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additionally a highschool dropout raised by a single mom in East London who started working a paper route at 12 years outdated to earn more money.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 marketing 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 and marketing agency Rogers & Cowen for an undisclosed sum.
Now, Grede is predicated in Los Angeles together 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 known as Aspire, which goals to teach and encourage enterprise leaders by means of 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 totally different from different enterprise podcasts?
I left college after I was 16 years outdated. So, I haven’t got a conventional 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 needed to provide 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 must 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 must actually wish to do it. It must be greater than only a single aim, like I have to earn cash, 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 talent that stands out?
I believe you must 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 determine 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.
If you happen to might begin a aspect hustle at this time, what would it not be?
I’d wish to be a florist. That is the one factor I’ve ever needed to do 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 will 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 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 method. 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 angle over expertise typically. That is not in all positions, however I believe particularly once you’re beginning an organization, having individuals who have the vitality, who’ve the eagerness, you possibly can’t put a value on that.
What retains you motivated?
I actually really feel that I’ve created the lifetime of my goals. I am grateful each 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 together 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 marketing and day-to-day operating of Skims whereas I deal with the product. So our roles are very outlined, and we do various things. Now we have totally different expertise, which makes us very appropriate as enterprise companions. We even have plenty of separation in our precise roles. But when I am sincere, we love what we accomplish that a lot. So does enterprise spill into dwelling 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 will have plenty of assist at dwelling?
I’ve twin three-year-olds, after which I’ve an 11-year-old and an 8-year-old. At dwelling, I haven’t got 4 children that I get to high school myself within the morning. I’ve plenty of assist round me, and I depend on all of that assist to get by means of the day. I believe it is essential to be sincere about that as a result of I do not need anybody to take 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 lady. I am making selections each day and making plenty of sacrifices each day.
This interview has been frivolously 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 largest 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 outdated 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 marketing 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 and marketing agency Rogers & Cowen for an undisclosed sum.
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