What Happened to Emma Grede?
Emma Grede is a British businesswoman and serial entrepreneur, widely recognized for co-founding successful, inclusive fashion brands like Good American and SKIMS, and co-founding the cleaning product line Safely. As of 2026, she continues to expand her business empire, serves as Chairwoman of The Fifteen Percent Pledge, and has recently released her first book, "Start With Yourself: A New Vision for Work & Life," while also appearing as a prominent investor on television and a speaker at major conferences.
Quick Answer
Emma Grede is a highly successful British serial entrepreneur, known for co-founding Good American with Khloé Kardashian and being a founding partner and Chief Product Officer of SKIMS with Kim Kardashian. She also co-founded Safely with Kris Jenner and, in 2025, launched the sports apparel brand Off Season. As of April 2026, Grede released her first book, "Start With Yourself: A New Vision for Work & Life," and continues her roles as a recurring guest investor on "Shark Tank" and "Dragons' Den," and as Chairwoman of The Fifteen Percent Pledge.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline15 events
Born in London, England
Emma Findlay Grede was born and raised in the Plaistow neighborhood of East London.
Co-founded ITB Worldwide
At age 26, Grede co-founded and became CEO of Independent Talent Brand (ITB) Worldwide, a London-based talent management and entertainment marketing agency.
Launched Good American with Khloé Kardashian
Grede and Khloé Kardashian launched Good American, a size-inclusive women's clothing company, which achieved $1 million in sales on its opening day.
ITB Worldwide acquired
ITB Worldwide was acquired by Rogers & Cowan, and Grede exited the company.
Co-founded SKIMS with Kim Kardashian
Grede became a founding partner and Chief Product Officer of SKIMS, a shapewear brand co-founded with Kim Kardashian and Jens Grede.
Became Chairwoman of The Fifteen Percent Pledge
Grede took on the role of Chairwoman for The Fifteen Percent Pledge, an initiative advocating for 15% shelf space for Black-owned businesses in major retailers.
Co-founded Safely with Kris Jenner and Chrissy Teigen
Grede co-founded Safely, a brand offering plant-based cleaning and self-care products.
First Black Woman Guest Shark on 'Shark Tank'
Grede made history as the first Black woman to appear as a guest investor on ABC's reality television series 'Shark Tank'.
Guest Dragon on BBC's 'Dragons' Den'
Grede joined the 21st series of BBC's 'Dragons' Den' as a guest Dragon.
Co-founded Off Season with Kristin Juszczyk
Grede partnered with fashion designer Kristin Juszczyk, the NFL, and Fanatics to launch the sports apparel brand Off Season.
Joined Obama Foundation Board of Directors
Grede joined the board of the Obama Foundation, contributing to marketing, communications, and fundraising efforts.
Launched 'Aspire with Emma Grede' podcast
Grede launched her weekly podcast, 'Aspire with Emma Grede,' featuring insights from globally recognized leaders on professional development and business strategy.
Named to TIME's 2026 'Closers' List
Grede was included in TIME Magazine's third annual 'Closers' list, recognizing 18 Black leaders advancing greater equality.
Released debut book 'Start With Yourself'
Grede's first book, "Start With Yourself: A New Vision for Work & Life," a hybrid memoir and self-help guide, was released.
Headlining OOH Media Conference
Grede is scheduled to be the featured fireside chat speaker at the 2026 OOH Media Conference in Dallas, discussing modern brand building.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Emma Grede, born in London in 1982, has established herself as a formidable force in the business world, particularly within the fashion and consumer goods sectors. Her journey began after leaving the London College of Fashion, working in fashion show production before co-founding Independent Talent Brand (ITB) Worldwide in 2008, a talent management and entertainment marketing agency which she later exited after its acquisition in 2018.
A pivotal turning point in Grede's career came in 2015 when she pitched the idea for a size-inclusive denim company to Kris Jenner, leading to the launch of Good American with Khloé Kardashian in 2016. The brand made history with over $1 million in sales on its opening day, emphasizing body positivity and inclusivity, and has since expanded beyond denim into a full fashion line. Following this success, Grede became a founding partner and Chief Product Officer of SKIMS, the shapewear brand co-founded with Kim Kardashian and her husband Jens Grede in 2019, which has grown into a multi-billion-dollar enterprise.
Grede further diversified her portfolio by co-founding Safely, a plant-based cleaning and self-care brand, with Kris Jenner and Chrissy Teigen in March 2021. Her entrepreneurial spirit also led her to become a recurring guest investor on ABC's "Shark Tank" (the first Black woman to do so) and BBC's "Dragons' Den" in 2024, where she actively invests in and mentors new businesses. In 2025, she expanded into sports apparel by co-founding Off Season with designer Kristin Juszczyk, in collaboration with the NFL and Fanatics.
Beyond her commercial ventures, Grede is a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion. She serves as Chairwoman of The Fifteen Percent Pledge, an initiative encouraging retailers to dedicate 15% of their shelf space to Black-owned businesses, and is a board member of the Obama Foundation and Baby2Baby. Her influence and success have been recognized by Forbes, which named her one of America's Richest Self-Made Women from 2022-2025.
As of April 2026, Emma Grede continues to be highly active. She released her first book, "Start With Yourself: A New Vision for Work & Life," on April 14, 2026, a hybrid memoir and self-help guide. She also launched the "Aspire with Emma Grede" podcast in May 2025, featuring interviews with global leaders. Grede is slated to headline the 2026 OOH Media Conference in May 2026, discussing modern brand building. Her estimated net worth was around $390 million as of 2025, with stakes in SKIMS, Good American, and Safely, and she was included in TIME Magazine's 2026 "Closers" list.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Emma Grede made different choices?