Podcast Summary: The Goop Podcast featuring Emma Grede on Unapologetic Ambition

Release Date: May 13, 2025
Host: Gwyneth Paltrow
Guest: Emma Grede, Founder of Good American, Co-Founder of Skims, Investor, and Entrepreneur

1. Introduction and Guest Background

Gwyneth Paltrow welcomes Emma Grede, celebrating her as a powerhouse investor and the driving force behind iconic brands like Good American, Skims, and Off Season. Emphasizing Emma's ability to build and scale companies that redefine fashion inclusivity, Gwyneth sets the stage for an insightful conversation about leadership, ambition, and personal growth.

2. Current Roles and Business Ventures

Emma Grede details her multifaceted career, highlighting her primary roles:

• Founder and CEO of Good American: "I have a pretty big investment portfolio, which is fun." ([06:00])
• Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer at Skims: Working alongside Jens Grede and Kim Kardashian, Emma oversees design, planning, merchandising, and production.
• Founder of Off Season: A luxury sports merch company in partnership with Christine Juszczyk and the NFL, focusing on premium, versatile sportswear.

Emma also mentions her experience as a Shark Tank investor and a mother of four, balancing her professional and personal life with remarkable efficiency.

3. Founding Skims and Good American

Gwyneth inquires about the origin story of Skims, to which Emma responds by acknowledging Kim Kardashian's pivotal role in the company's inception. Emma explains her expertise in bringing Kim's creative visions to life:

"Kim is the best at the best kind of treble a list creative director... Her vision is clear, and my job is to make sure we can create products that people will love." ([07:34])

Emma emphasizes the importance of understanding market needs and creating products that offer innovative solutions, such as the one-legged shapewear, which was a novel idea at the time.

4. Product Innovation and Trend Forecasting

Emma discusses her approach to trend forecasting and product development:

"My job is to connect what's happening in trend and to make those decisions, hopefully ahead or right on time with the curve." ([12:50])

She elaborates on how Good American developed the "Always Fits" jeans, utilizing 100% stretchable fabric to create a limited size range that accommodates a broader spectrum of body types, significantly reducing waste:

"All waste fits is... making 19 sizes in our range and making it in four sizes that fit everyone." ([16:52])

Emma highlights the strategic planning and risk-taking involved in launching innovative products, ensuring they align with cultural shifts and consumer demands.

5. Leadership Style and Company Culture

When discussing her leadership philosophy, Emma emphasizes clarity, immediate feedback, and hiring exceptionally talented individuals:

"I make it part of my mission to just get amazing people... the better the people are around me, the better I look." ([43:38])

She advocates for an enterprise mentality, focusing on the collective mission over personal relationships within the company:

"We are all here to drive this thing forward... I am very, very, very clear." ([52:25])

Emma believes in giving employees agency, articulating a clear vision, and avoiding micromanagement to foster a productive and innovative work environment.

6. Personal Background and Upbringing

Emma shares her upbringing in East London as the eldest of four girls in a single-parent household. Her mother instilled in her a strong sense of self-worth and the belief that she was capable of achieving anything through hard work:

"You are not better than anybody else, but nor is anyone better than you." ([23:12])

Despite her father's absence during her childhood, Emma credits her upbringing with fostering resilience, responsibility, and a relentless drive to succeed.

7. Balancing Personal Life and Work

Transitioning to her personal life, Emma discusses her marriage to Jens Grede and how they maintain professional and personal boundaries:

"We do very different things... we laugh because we go to work sometimes in two cars and we're like in comfort but we're separate." ([57:37])

She highlights the importance of mutual respect and complementary skill sets in their partnership, allowing them to thrive both as business partners and as a married couple.

8. The 15% Pledge Initiative

Emma introduces the 15% Pledge, an economic justice organization founded by her friend Aurora James. As chairwoman, Emma explains its mission to redirect 15% of annual corporate spending to Black-owned businesses, creating a $16 billion pipeline for these enterprises:

"We've created a $16 billion pipeline for Black-owned businesses... it's about creating better choice for the customer." ([61:39])

She underscores the immediate and tangible impact of the pledge on both small businesses and large retailers, fostering economic equity and enhancing consumer options.

9. New Podcast: Aspire with Emma Grede

Emma reveals her latest venture, "Aspire with Emma Grede," a podcast aimed at scaling mentorship and spreading valuable insights from successful women entrepreneurs. She emphasizes the need for honest conversations about money, challenges, and the realities of building a business:

"I want to talk about these things that somehow seem to evade us... it's called Aspire with Emma Grede." ([67:01])

The podcast seeks to inspire and empower women by sharing authentic stories and practical advice from those who have navigated the entrepreneurial landscape successfully.

10. Rapid Fire Segment

In a light-hearted conclusion, Emma participates in a rapid-fire question segment with Gwyneth, sharing personal preferences and anecdotes:

• First thing you do when you wake up: "Say thank you for the ceiling." ([69:18])
• Last thing you do before bed: "Kissy ends. Good night." ([69:25])
• One thing always in your makeup bag: "Eyebrow pencil." ([69:31])
• Favorite place to unwind: "In the front of my house on the beach in Malibu." ([69:40])
• Favorite meal in Los Angeles: "Anna Jack Thai." ([69:51])
• Favorite meal in London: "Scott's Scots Old fish restaurant." ([70:08])
• 48 hours off without travel time: "Paris." ([70:19])
• Favorite restaurant in Paris: "Cafe Flore." ([70:26])
• Favorite campaign worked on: "Gwyneth Paltrow for Hugo Boss." ([70:47])
• Favorite Shark Tank partner: "Mark Cuban." ([71:28])
• Biggest founder turn-off: "Someone who only talks about market size without addressing customer acquisition." ([71:42])
• Biggest founder turn-on: "Someone obsessed with what they do." ([72:00])
• Favorite of your kids: Emma playfully avoids naming a favorite to prevent favoritism. ([72:35])

Conclusion

Gwyneth Paltrow and Emma Grede conclude the episode by highlighting Emma's unique blend of vision, generosity, grit, and gratitude. Emma's ability to build successful brands while fostering inclusive and innovative cultures serves as an inspirational model for aspiring entrepreneurs and leaders.

Notable Quotes:

• Emma Grede on Leadership and Hiring:

  "The better the people are around me, the better I look." ([43:38])

• Emma Grede on Trend Forecasting:

  "My job is to connect what's happening in trend and to make those decisions, hopefully ahead or right on time with the curve." ([12:50])

• Emma Grede on the 15% Pledge:

  "It's about creating better choice for the customer and then bringing more customers into your business." ([61:39])

• Emma Grede on Personal Resilience:

  "You are not better than anybody else, but nor is anyone better than you." ([23:12])

This episode offers a compelling look into Emma Grede's entrepreneurial journey, her strategic approach to business, and her commitment to fostering economic equity. Listeners gain valuable insights into building inclusive brands, effective leadership, and balancing personal ambitions with societal impact.