Female entrepreneurs have continued to scale new heights, break boundaries, and climb the ladder of success in all industries. This is also the case for Shark Tank’s Emma Grede, the show’s newest female investor and also the first woman of color to be on the panel of judges.
So who is Emma Grede, why is she successful and how was she able to amass her millions at such a relatively young age?
Who is Emma Grede?
Emma Grede is a self-made millionaire who started her own business from scratch. Her story is one of hard work and determination.
Born in 1982 in East London, England to immigrant parents, Emma grew up in a working-class neighborhood. As the oldest of four sisters and raised by a single mother, she had to start working at the young age of 13. She delivered newspapers, sliced meat and made sandwiches, and worked behind a deli counter.
She also developed a passion for fashion, collecting magazines like Elle and Vogue while idolizing models, like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell.
At 16, She studied business at the London College of Fashion. However, she had to drop out as she was having a hard time with her dyslexia, a disorder that she was diagnosed with in later years.
She went to work at a concierge company, then she moved on to Inca Productions where she began to produce fashion shows.
Perseverance and diligence are some traits that she got from her mother who was a banker for 18 years. Growing up watching her mom go to work every day cemented that idea of what it means to do something for yourself and create something out of yourself.
At the age of 25, Emma founded ITB Worldwide, a talent agency in London with offices in New York and Los Angeles. What put the company on the map was a partnership between Dior and Natalie Portman that she made happen in 2009. She sold the company to Rogers and Cowan in 2018 as she continued to focus on other ventures.
Good American is a clothing brand that specializes in denim. The company’s mission is to provide stylish and affordable clothing for women of all shapes and sizes. The brand has become a major success, thanks to Emma’s hard work and dedication.
Emma Grede and Good American
Emma Grede started her company, Good American, with Keeping Up with the Kardashians star Khloe Kardashian in 2016 with a capital of $250,000. Today, the company is valued at USD 1.6 billion.
Good American is a clothing company that specializes in denim apparel. It was able to compete in the saturated market because of Emma’s unique understanding of the customers’ needs, her business savviness, and her deep connection to her roots. She did say in an interview that she grew up in a family with super curvy women, so when it comes to clothing, she wants to be inclusive and cater to women of all shapes and sizes.
Who is Emma Grede in Kim Kardashian’s Skims?
Emma has a knack for multitasking; she’s not only the CEO of Good American but also the founding partner and part of the board of directors for Skims, Kim Kardashian’s clothing line.
Her business with the Kardashians doesn’t stop there. In 2021, she entered a partnership with Kris Jenner to release a line of cleaning products called Safely.
A Good Eye for Fashion and Business
Grede has always been interested in fashion and design. She started her career working in public relations for some of the biggest names in the industry including Calvin Klein, Oscar de la Renta, and Donna Karan.
She has a good eye for fashion and for business as well. When she teamed up with Khloe Kardashian to launch Good American, they sold out the entire collection in just a day. In 2018, they expanded their Good American empire with the launch of Good American Beauty, a makeup line designed for women of all skin tones.
Aside from Good American, Skims, and Safely, Grede is also an active philanthropist. She sits on the board of directors for Baby2Baby, a non-profit organization that provides essential items to children living in poverty.
Emma Grede: Qualities That Made Her a Successful Entrepreneur
Emma Grede is a successful businesswoman who has built her career with pure grit. Here are some of the characteristics she possesses that made her the success she is today.
Goal-Oriented. Emma is very good at prioritizing and she knows how to set objectives for herself to meet the goals that she has.
Being goal-oriented is important because it gives you a sense of direction and purpose. Without goals, it’s easy to become bogged down in the day-to-day grind and lose sight of what you’re working towards.
Here are some tips:
- Set realistic goals. It is important to set goals that are achievable in order to stay motivated and on track.
- Make a plan. Once you have set your goals, it is important to make a plan of action in order to achieve them.
- Stay focused. It is easy to get sidetracked when pursuing goals. It is important to stay focused in order to achieve success.
- Be persistent. Pursuing goals can be difficult at times. It is important to be persistent in order to achieve success.
The Ability to Say No. Emma has a clear vision of her goals, she knows when to say no and how to say no when something’s not helping her get close to it.
It can be difficult to say no in business. You may feel like you’re missing out on opportunities or that you’re not being assertive enough.
But learning to say no is an important skill for any business owner as it will help you focus on what matters most, cut back unnecessary costs, help manage your time and resources more effectively, and it can also protect you from making poor decisions.
For starters, you have to know your goals and your limits. This way you can focus on what’s important for your business and take on what you can realistically handle.
Hard Work. Emma has always been a hard worker. She has never been afraid to put in the extra hours to get the job done.
Dedication. Emma is dedicated to her work. She is always looking for new ways to improve her skills and grow her business.
Determination. Emma is determined to succeed. She has never let anything stand in her way of achieving her goals.
Be Relentless. Emma described herself as being relentless even at a young age and way before she knew that it was an entrepreneurial trait. Find ways to make your dreams happen and achieve your goals.
Emma Grede: Leadership Style
Emma confessed that she was a micromanager in the past until she found that this type of leadership isn’t productive and working out for her. Since then, she made it a point to surround herself with the right people who have skills that complement each other.
For her, she wants to work with people who know what she doesn’t know and who can go out and do their best job.
Like she does for herself, she has extremely high expectations from the people around her. She no longer micromanages but expects a high level of accountability from the members of her team.
Shark Tank’s Emma Grede
Emma Grede is a good mentor on Shark Tank because she has a lot of experience not just in the fashion industry but in business and entrepreneurship.
She knows what it takes to be successful in business and can help budding entrepreneurs who are looking to start businesses of their own. Having the experience to back it up, she knows what it takes to make a good investment.
Shark Tank is a way for her to branch out and look for new and innovative businesses to invest in. She’s an excellent mentor for entrepreneurs who are looking to start their own businesses in the fashion industry.
It’s Not What You Have But What You Give
Today, Emma is a millionaire many times over but she is also a philanthropist. One thing you’ll notice with success stories in business is that the people always give back.
Emma’s a board member and ambassador for “Women for Women International,” a non-profit organization that provides women survivors from war-torn areas with the necessary skills that will equip them to lead better lives.
She’s also a board member of “15 Percent Pledge,” an organization that encourages brands to give 15% of their shelf space to businesses owned by people of color.
She’s an inspiration to women all over the world who dream of starting their own businesses. Thanks to her determination and drive, Emma has achieved the impossible. She is living proof that anything is possible if you set your mind to it.
