Emma Grede, 42, is a founding accomplice 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 sales in 2022 (and $1 million on its first day dwell on October 18, 2016, marking the biggest 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 school and started working at a trend manufacturing firm. Whereas there, Grede got here up with the concept for her first enterprise, a advertising and leisure company known as Unbiased Expertise Model (ITB) that matched trend designers with funding. She based the corporate in 2008 at age 25 and grew the company earlier than selling it 10 years later to advertising 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 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 by means of 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 totally 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 needed to present 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 might be doing. I say that as a result of it is powerful to begin one thing from scratch, and it will take a look at each fiber of your being. So you must actually need to do it. It needs to be greater than only a single objective, like I have to earn cash, or I simply need to go away the place the place I work. It needs to 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 you must have unwavering self-belief. There’s part of this that’s actually a few 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 nicely sufficient for what I did. So I fell into entrepreneurship. And that is why I began my very own factor.
Should you may begin a facet hustle in the present day, what wouldn’t it be?
I’d need 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 may 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 folks. I am the chief product officer in one other firm [Skims] the place there are in all probability 400 folks. So, it is lots of people, however I have a tendency to rent the perfect folks and get out of their method. One of many issues that I do nicely is rent. I am notably good at placing groups collectively.
What do you search for in new hires?
I rent for perspective over expertise typically. That is not in all positions, however I believe particularly if you’re beginning an organization, having individuals who have the power, who’ve the fervour, you possibly can’t put a value on that.
What retains you motivated?
I truthfully really feel that I’ve created the lifetime of my goals. I am grateful daily 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 workforce? 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 deal with the product. So our roles are very outlined, and we do various things. We’ve got totally different expertise, which makes us very appropriate as enterprise companions. We even have lots of separation in our precise roles. But when I am trustworthy, we love what we achieve this a lot. So does enterprise spill into dwelling time, and will we speak about what we do on a regular basis? Completely. Sure. There’s part of that that is inevitable.
Do you’ve lots 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 youngsters that I get to high school myself within the morning. I’ve lots 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 trustworthy about that as a result of I do not need anybody to have a look at me and suppose, Oh, wow. She’s some form of superwoman. It is like, No, I am not superwoman. I am only a girl. I am making selections daily and making a number of sacrifices daily.
This interview has been calmly edited and reduce for readability.
Emma Grede, 42, is a founding accomplice 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 sales in 2022 (and $1 million on its first day dwell on October 18, 2016, marking the biggest 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 school and started working at a trend manufacturing firm. Whereas there, Grede got here up with the concept for her first enterprise, a advertising and leisure company known as Unbiased Expertise Model (ITB) that matched trend designers with funding. She based the corporate in 2008 at age 25 and grew the company earlier than selling it 10 years later to advertising agency Rogers & Cowen for an undisclosed sum.
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