Start with Yourself: A New Vision for Work & Life

Emma Grede—businesswoman, founder of Good American, and co-founder of Skims—has published a new book outlining her uncompromising views on career advancement, financial ambition, and the sacrifices required for success.

From East London to a £300 Million Net Worth

Grede, 43, grew up in east London and left school at 16 to attend the London College of Fashion, which she left after a few terms. She later worked in retail and marketing, co-founding Good American with Khloé Kardashian in 2016 and becoming a founding partner in Skims with Kim Kardashian in 2019.

She is also chairwoman of the Fifteen Percent Pledge, a charity advocating for retail shelf space for Black-owned brands. Grede estimates her net worth at approximately £300 million ($567 million). She and her husband, Jens Grede, have four children and employ multiple nannies and household staff.

Key Statements from Grede

"To work from home is career suicide."

"You cannot be a people pleaser and a leader."

"I unashamedly put money at the centre of my plans."

On work-life balance, Grede is blunt:

"Don't feed women lies. Don't say, 'Don't worry. Think about it later. Freeze your eggs.' ... Work is a trade-off; family is also a trade-off."

Reflecting on her upbringing, she took on household responsibilities from age 12 and said:

"There was no room to feel sorry for yourself."

Despite her wealth, she describes herself as a "tight-arse" and once fished mouldy cheese out of the bin to avoid waste.

Background: A Childhood Forged in Fire

Grede's parents separated when she was five. Her mother worked at Morgan Stanley. Diagnosed with dyslexia, Grede struggled academically and began working at age 12 with a paper round.

Her career in fashion included roles at Saturday Group, where she met her husband. She moved to the United States in 2017 and has no plans to return to the UK, citing Brexit as a complicating factor for business.

Grede has also spoken openly about personal challenges, including multiple miscarriages and using a surrogate for her third child. She stated:

"I was forged in fire. Nothing can touch me."