Emma Grede (best of) - the goop podcast Recap

Podcast: the goop podcast

Published: 2026-03-03

Duration: 4334

Guests: Emma Grede

What Happened

Emma Grede discusses her journey from growing up in East London with limited financial resources to becoming a successful entrepreneur. She dropped out of school at 16 and entered the workforce, leveraging her experiences to build her empire. Grede emphasizes the importance of betting on oneself and the power of self-worth instilled by her upbringing.

Emma Grede explains her role as the founder and CEO of Good American, co-founder of Skims, and co-founder of Offseason. She details her approach to creating inclusive fashion, offering clothing in 19 sizes and pioneering innovative products like one-legged shapewear. Grede's businesses are distinct entities, each with unique teams and investor bases.

Emma Grede highlights the importance of in-person work and the relationships it fosters, rejecting the notion of work as a negative experience. She requires her employees to work in the office and believes in a contract of trust and results. Her hiring strategy focuses on attitude over experience and values T-shaped leaders who understand various business aspects.

The 15% Pledge, an economic justice initiative chaired by Emma Grede, encourages brands to redirect 15% of their annual spend toward black-owned businesses. This initiative, started by Aurora James, has created a $16 billion pipeline for black-owned businesses, positively impacting founders and communities. Grede underscores the immediate and tangible benefits the pledge has brought to participating businesses.

Emma Grede is working on a new podcast, 'Aspire with Emma Grede,' to scale mentorship and provide access to successful figures and information. She is candid about the need for women to discuss money openly as a means of empowerment. Grede is also critical of toxic positivity and values authenticity in business discussions.

Emma Grede shares personal insights, such as her gratitude practice influenced by Oprah, and her favorite places to unwind, including the beach in Malibu. She also mentions her dining preferences, favoring Anna Jack Thai in Los Angeles and Scott's in London. Grede's work-life balance is maintained through a clear separation of roles with her husband, Jens Grede, and a focus on family values.

Key Insights

• Emma Grede's upbringing in London by a single mother instilled a strong sense of self-worth and belief in self-reliance, which she credits as foundational to her success.
• Good American's success is attributed to its inclusivity, offering clothing in 19 sizes and addressing gaps in the market with innovative products like one-legged shapewear.
• The 15% Pledge, chaired by Emma Grede, has mobilized brands to create a $16 billion pipeline for black-owned businesses, fostering economic justice and community impact.
• Emma Grede's hiring strategy prioritizes attitude and a broad understanding of business over specific experience, aiming to build a team of T-shaped leaders.