The ultimate modern mogul.
Emma Grede is building empires.
Start With Yourself, the first book by Emma Grede—one of America’s richest self-made women—will be published on April 14, 2026.
Start With Yourself – A New Vision for Work and Life
A game changing, no BS guide for anyone seeking meaningful success on their own terms.
Start With Yourself is a game-changing, no-BS guide for anyone seeking meaningful success on their own terms. It’s an essential framework that will give you the tools and mindset to unlock your full potential in life and business—straight from a woman who defied all the odds to become a serial entrepreneur, a cofounder of culture-defining global businesses, a nonprofit champion, and the host of the Aspire with Emma Grede podcast. All while raising a family of four children.
Start With Yourself is a game-changing, no-BS guide for anyone seeking meaningful success on their own terms. It’s an essential framework that will give you the tools and mindset to unlock your full potential in life and business—straight from a woman who defied all the odds to become a serial entrepreneur, a cofounder of culture-defining global businesses, a nonprofit champion, and the host of the Aspire with Emma Grede podcast. All while raising a family of four children.
Meet Emma Grede
British-born visionary. Serial entrepreneur. Mother of Four.
Emma Grede is the ultimate modern mogul, turning big ideas into some of today’s most influential consumer brands. She’s the co-founder and CEO of Good American, the founding partner of SKIMS, the co-founder of Safely and Off Season, and now the voice behind the Aspire with Emma Grede podcast.
A leader with purpose, Emma also lends her time and expertise to global impact organizations, serving on the board of directors for the Obama Foundation and Baby2Baby, and has recently become a King’s Trust Ambassador. Her journey proves that success and substance go hand in hand. Grede lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jens, and their four children.
Emma Grede is the ultimate modern mogul, turning big ideas into some of today’s most influential consumer brands. She’s the co-founder and CEO of Good American, the founding partner of SKIMS, the co-founder of Safely and Off Season, and now the voice behind the Aspire with Emma Grede podcast.
A leader with purpose, Emma also lends her time and expertise to global impact organizations, serving on the board of directors for the Obama Foundation and Baby2Baby, and has recently become a King’s Trust Ambassador. Her journey proves that success and substance go hand in hand. Grede lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Jens, and their four children.
"The title Start With Yourself is my personal philosophy: success begins with how you think.
I believe in taking accountability, building personal resilience, and developing self-forgiveness. I have learned how to gather myself after failure and move forward stronger.
It’s about pushing hard for the wins, never apologizing for your ambition, and never expecting short cuts to get there."
— Emma Grede
Emma has been featured in a number of publications including
Aspire with Emma Grede
Fuel your hustle. Feed your purpose. Build the life of your dreams.
Aspire with Emma Grede is more than a podcast—it’s a masterclass in ambition, heart, and high performance. Hosted by one of America’s most powerful self-made women, Emma dives into unfiltered conversations with visionaries, disruptors, and next-level thinkers—unpacking their habits, philosophies, and strategies.
From career advice to mental wellness, business strategy to personal growth, every episode delivers data-driven insights and real-world tools to help you turn your dreams into reality. This is where purpose meets power. And it all starts with you.
Aspire with Emma Grede is more than a podcast—it’s a masterclass in ambition, heart, and high performance. Hosted by one of America’s most powerful self-made women, Emma dives into unfiltered conversations with visionaries, disruptors, and next-level thinkers—unpacking their habits, philosophies, and strategies.
From career advice to mental wellness, business strategy to personal growth, every episode delivers data-driven insights and real-world tools to help you turn your dreams into reality. This is where purpose meets power. And it all starts with you.
Latest Episodes
Become the CEO of Your Own Life: Tracee Ellis Ross on Scaling with Soul
Tracee Ellis Ross shares how the words you choose can shape the life you want. In this conversation with Aspire host Emma Grede, she opens up about using language, therapy, and intention to fuel success in business, creativity, and life — from getting clear on what you want, to speaking with confidence, letting ideas grow, and defining success your own way. If you’re ready to level up your mindset and rewrite your story, this episode is a must-listen.
Start with Yourself: Change Your Mindset, Change Your Life
Doing everything right but still not breaking through? Success isn’t just hard work—it’s mindset. In this solo episode, Emma Grede shares how shifting your thinking, shutting down self-doubt, and celebrating small wins creates real momentum. She covers growth vs. fixed mindset, why gratitude and visualization work, and how to handle fear and criticism. Plus, she announces her new book, START WITH YOURSELF, coming in 2026. If you’re ready to think like a winner, this episode is your sign.
The Power of Personal Branding with Paris Hilton
If you’ve ever wondered how to turn your personal brand into a thriving business, this episode is for you. Paris Hilton joins Emma to share how she turned her image into an empire—long before “influencer” was a thing. From consistency and authenticity to purpose-driven leadership, Paris reveals the blueprint for building a brand that lasts—and the mindset it takes to stay relevant for decades.
Love, Family and Business: How To Work With a Partner with Jens Grede
What’s it really like to be married to your business partner? Emma Grede sits down with her husband, Jens Grede—co-founder of Skims, Frame, and Good American—to share the real highs and lows of building brands while raising a family. They open up about turning love into partnership, the rule that keeps everything running, and why risk and reinvention fuel their success. A must-listen for anyone curious how to build—and sustain—great partnerships in both business and life.
Unlock Your Brain’s Full Potential
What if the key to success and resilience is already in your head? Neuroscientist and MIT lecturer Dr. Tara Swart joins Emma to share how to rewire your brain for clarity, intuition, and peak performance. From stress management to daily habits that boost creativity, focus, and resilience, this episode is a practical guide to making your brain work for you—in work, relationships, and life. It’s proof that you can train your mind to unlock the future you want.
Roadmap Your Goals: A Business Plan for Your Life
On her birthday, Emma shares the system she uses to turn dreams into reality—and how you can too. In this solo episode, she breaks down the 5 questions she asks herself each year, the power of small consistent actions, and how to plan for setbacks so you can build habits that last. If you’ve ever struggled to stick with your goals, this is your roadmap to creating a life you truly love.
Safe Is the Surest Way to Lose: Lessons from Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos
What does it take to reinvent an industry—and yourself? Emma sits down with Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos, who went from a video rental store to leading one of the world’s most powerful entertainment companies. He shares the risks that defined his career, the tough calls that shaped Netflix, and why storytelling is fueled by passion, not algorithms—offering lessons on risk-taking, leadership, and resilience for anyone chasing big dreams.
“Losing” Taught Me Everything: What You Can Learn From This Founder’s Failure
What really happens when your dream doesn’t go as planned? Emma sits down with Diarrha N’Diaye, founder of Ami Colé, to talk about the courage to build, the heartbreak of closing a beloved brand, and the lessons every entrepreneur needs. From the hard truths of the beauty industry to the power of resilience and community, this episode is a must-listen for anyone chasing big dreams.
How to Stop Letting Fear Run Your Life with Dr. Thema
What’s really holding you back from the life you want? Emma Grede sits down with Dr. Thema Bryant to unpack the hidden stories, trauma, and fears that keep us stuck—and how to break free. They explore why we sabotage ourselves, how women are conditioned to shrink, the scars left by the pandemic, and practical tools to set boundaries, rewrite old narratives, and move from surviving to thriving.
How Donna Langley Became the Most Powerful Woman in Entertainment
If you’ve ever felt out of place, doubted your instincts, or wondered how to build a career on your own terms, this episode is for you. Donna Langley shares how she rose from a small-town childhood in England to become one of Hollywood’s most powerful leaders—championing underdog stories, making bold calls on films like Oppenheimer and Fast & Furious, and proving that resilience, decency, and gut instinct can build both a career and a life you love.
Why Your Biggest Gambles Must Always Be On Yourself with Kandi Burruss
If you’ve ever been underestimated, told your ideas were too big, or wondered how to turn life’s next chapter into a win, this episode is for you. Grammy winner and entrepreneur Kandi Burruss shares how she turned setbacks into cultural anthems, balanced motherhood with ambition, and used everything—from hit records to Housewives drama—to build a fearless blueprint for betting on yourself.
Jessica Alba: Why It’s Time to Break Up with Perfection
If you’ve ever felt underestimated, battled mom-guilt, or questioned if balance is possible, this episode is for you. Jessica Alba opens up about the costs of overachievement, building The Honest Company as a mother of three, and stepping away from the brand she built—sharing how childhood health struggles and a fierce drive to protect families shaped her journey and kept her true to herself.
How Lucy Guo Became the World’s Youngest Self-Made Female Billionaire
Emma sits down with Lucy Guo, the world’s youngest self-made female billionaire, to explore her bold journey from teen hacker to co-founder of Scale AI. Lucy shares raw insights on monetizing your passions, securing your worth, and staying authentic—even after being pushed out of her own company. This is your playbook from Silicon Valley’s most unapologetic entrepreneur.
Bozoma Saint John: How to Stop Sabotaging Your Success
In this episode, Bozoma Saint John tells Emma how trusting her gut and refusing to play small took her from assistant to C-suite to founder of Eve by Boz. She shares the mantra her Ghanaian parents drilled into her, how she boldly claimed her wins, and why ditching the five-year plan led to major opportunities. From building a factory in Ghana to centering Black women in beauty, Boz breaks down the power of storytelling, self-belief, and audacious moves.
How Allison Ellsworth Built Poppi Into a Billion-Dollar Brand
What does it really take to turn a kitchen idea into a billion-dollar brand? Emma sits down with Poppi founder Allison Ellsworth to unpack her bold leap from homebrewed soda to a $2B PepsiCo deal. Allison gets real about risking it all, building a social-first brand, and why she ultimately walked away. This episode is a crash course in courage, branding, and knowing when to go all in. If you're sitting on an idea—this is your sign to start.
Mark Cuban’s Blueprint for Startup Success
On this episode of Aspire, Mark Cuban shares what most founders get wrong, the key Day 1 moves every entrepreneur must make, and why understanding AI is now non-negotiable. He also opens up about his own journey—from starting Broadcast.com to making his first billion—and offers real talk on sales, money, mindset, and when it’s actually time to quit your day job.
Charlamagne Tha God: From Broke at 30 to Millionaire Mogul
In this powerful and honest conversation, Charlamagne Tha God joins Emma Grede to reflect on his journey from a troubled past in South Carolina to becoming a major force in media. He opens up about the turning points that changed his life, the mindset behind his success, and the healing he's found through therapy and plant-based medicine. With raw insight, he shares lessons on purpose, peace, masculinity, and why putting his family first is his proudest achievement.
How to Speak So People Will Listen (with Communication Expert Jefferson Fisher)
Emma Grede sits down with trial-lawyer-turned–viral communication coach Jefferson Fisher—author of the New York Times bestseller The Next Conversation—to unpack the single skill that drives every success: how you speak. Together they explore why social-media overload is eroding real dialogue, then trade real-world fixes that work from the boardroom to the dinner table.
Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson: The Power of Knowing Your "Why"
Emma sits down for an intimate, inspiring conversation with former First Lady Michelle Obama and her big brother, Craig Robinson. In this special episode, Michelle and Craig open up about family, leadership, and the values that shaped them, from their early years sharing on Chicago’s South Side to the White House.
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex: Why Ambition Is Her Jam
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, isn’t just launching a brand—she’s rewriting what it means to build one under relentless public scrutiny. In her first wide-ranging interview about her new company As Ever, Meghan joins Emma for a candid conversation about the pressure, the pivots, and the power of betting on yourself when the world is watching.
Financial Habits For Success with Nicole Lapin
In this episode of Aspire, Emma dives deep into one of her favorite topics: money! She sits down with bestselling author and financial expert Nicole Lapin to break down why we so often avoid money talk—and how that silence holds us back. Nicole reveals how she conquered her own debt using the “avalanche” method (tackling high-interest balances first) and how to master simple money lingo—ROI, APY, EBITDA—so you never feel lost in a finance convo again.
Emma’s Blueprint: 10 Principles That Can Change Your Life.
In this deeply personal solo episode of Aspire, Emma Grede gets real and shares the ten foundational principles that have shaped her journey as an entrepreneur, leader, and mother. Drawing from over two decades of experience, Emma opens up about the power of embracing vulnerability, leveraging your unique strengths, and facing your past head-on.
Aspire with Jay Shetty: How to Succeed in Business Without Losing Your Soul.
Emma sits down with Jay Shetty—a global media force, a spiritual leader, bestselling author, entrepreneur, and someone who's building a career with no blueprint — all while staying rooted in purpose and inner peace.
Karlie Kloss: How To Turn Principles Into Power Plays.
Model, entrepreneur and media mogul Karlie Kloss sits down with Emma for a rare, wide-ranging conversation about the bold pivots, personal principles, and hard-won lessons that have shaped her journey from the runway to the boardroom. With baby number three on the way, Karlie opens up about the balancing act of motherhood and mogulhood, the trade-offs she makes, and the guilt she’s learned to manage.
The Founder Playbook: How Michael Rubin Built Fanatics by Betting on Obsession.
Emma is joined by the relentless entrepreneur Michael Rubin, founder and CEO of Fanatics for a deep dive into his extraordinary journey from a self-described "god-awful athlete" to one of the most successful business minds in the sports industry. Michael pulls back the curtain on the mindset and drive that fuels his success, revealing how outworking the competition has been a cornerstone of his career.
