There’s a version of you that already knows she’s capable of more. She may be buried under self-doubt or distracted by life’s noise, but she’s there – quietly persistent, deeply ambitious and aching to move. If you’ve ever felt her tap your shoulder, whispering “What if you just went for it?” – then you already know what it means to aspire to something bigger.
But in a world where confidence in women is often mistaken for arrogance and ambition is treated like a risk instead of a right, it can be hard to know where to begin. What does it even look like to take up space without apologizing? How do you move forward boldly, when part of you still wonders if you’re enough?
That’s where Emma Grede comes in. Not as some distant icon with an untouchable resume, but as proof that you don’t have to be born into power to own your place in the world. As the co-founder and CEO of Good American, founding partner and CPO of SKIMS amongst her involvement in other successful ventures, she is also the host of Aspire With Emma Grede. Emma is not just a force in business – she’s a blueprint for how to show up in life with presence, purpose and an unapologetic drive.
And no, you don’t have to want to build a billion-dollar brand to want to channel or aspire to be like Emma. You just have to want more – more truth, more courage, more alignment with who you really are.
Here’s how to bring a little bit of that Emma Grede energy into your own life, wherever you are and wherever you’re heading.
Lead With Intention, Not Just Action
It’s easy to get caught in the trap of doing for the sake of doing – ticking off to-do lists, chasing goals that looked good on paper, saying yes to things that don’t really move us. But what makes Emma stand out is her intention. Every project, every brand, every conversation – there’s a purpose behind it.
Whether you’re launching a new venture, navigating a career change or simply striving for personal growth, start by asking yourself why. What matters to you? What kind of impact do you want to have? Emma’s work resonates because it’s deeply rooted in values. Her approach is driven by purpose, not ego, by clarity, not chaos.
Take Up Space – Even Before You Feel Ready
Some people have an undeniable magnetism that comes from confidently owning their presence. Emma is one of those people, but what’s even more powerful is recognizing that she didn’t always feel like she belonged in every room. Instead, she decided to take up space anyway.
Whether you’re stepping into a boardroom, preparing for an open mic or pitching yourself for a new opportunity, remember that confidence doesn’t come from perfection – it comes from showing up. Personally, the saying “fake it till you make it” has been life-changing for me. If you don’t feel confident, channel someone who is or at least appears to be. It can be Emma, it can be someone else you admire or aspire to be like.
Taking a page from her playbook means not waiting for an invitation. You go. You speak. You own your ideas, even if your voice trembles. Being early matters more than being liked. You don’t need to feel fully prepared; you just need the willingness to take action.
Know Your Standards – and Live by Them
It’s evident that Emma didn’t just co-create brands; she set new standards for inclusivity, representation, and what it truly means to build something that reflects the world. Playing by the old rules might have been easier, but Emma understands that change doesn’t happen when we take the easy route.
When she builds teams, integrity, passion and a strong work ethic are what she values most – far more than on-paper experience or formal degrees. People are hired for who they are, not just what they’ve done. Her values speak volumes and are a reminder that we should hold our own standards to the same high level. To quote Emma: “I hire for attitude not experience”
Whether you’re leading a team or just leading yourself, ask yourself: What do I stand for? What am I no longer available for? Boundaries aren’t barriers; they’re blueprints. Build your foundation from them.
Let Ambition Be Your Anchor, Not Your Apology
Emma is open about her ambition – and she’s proud of it. This is exactly the kind of energy we need more of. For far too long, women have been taught to minimize their hunger, to soften their goals, to prove they’re “humble enough” before they can dare to want more.
Ambition is not something to downplay. It’s a powerful force. Whether your vision is global or deeply personal, it deserves space to grow.
And don’t confuse ambition with burnout. Emma teaches us that it’s about knowing where to channel your energy. You can be driven and still rest. You can be powerful and still present. It’s not about doing everything; it’s about doing the right things with your full intention behind them.
While Emma is aware of her strengths and what she excels at, she also knows where she falls short and when it’s time to hire someone with the right expertise. And she is not ashamed to admit it, I mean why would she be?
Lead With Heart, But Stay Sharp
A unique balance of emotional intelligence and strategic fearlessness defines Emma’s leadership style. She leads from the heart but makes decisions with her head. She knows the numbers, does the research and enters every room prepared – because being underestimated is one thing, but being unprepared is another.
She encourages us to be direct, to speak up, to challenge with confidence and to never mistake kindness for weakness. That blend of empathy and decisiveness is key to her success and influence.
Create Space While You Climb
Looking at Emma’s journey, you can see that it isn’t just about her success – it’s about creating opportunities for others as she rises. The true measure of her impact isn’t just how far she’s come, but how many doors she’s opened for others along the way.
Deeply committed to mentorship and representation, she’s passionate about making sure people are included in spaces they’ve historically been excluded from. Legacy, in her view, isn’t just about what you build – it’s about who you empower while doing it.
When you have reached a position of power and great influence, don’t just settle for thriving in it yourself, but create seats at the table for anyone who is eager and determined enough to make a difference the same way you have. Anyone who has become successful and doesn’t use their position and platform to be a part of greater and long overdue change, may be missing an important opportunity to contribute to something bigger than themselves. If you don’t wanna make a positive impact, then you’re not making the most of the opportunity you’ve been given. Emma most certainly has made the absolute most of it in more ways than one.
Now, with the launch of her new podcast Aspire With Emma Grede, we’re getting even more of her boss babe energy – more advice, more perspective, more access to her brilliant mind. She’s always been generous with what she knows, but now she’s letting us even further into her world. And while the podcast is still new, it’s already clear that it’s another platform through which Emma reminds us that the kind of power she holds isn’t meant to be rare – it’s meant to be shared. If you are a true fan of Emma’s work but an even bigger admirer of the exceptional woman she is, the podcast will become your guide to a bigger and better future.
In the end, to channel Emma Grede is not to imitate her every move – it’s to embody the spirit behind them. It’s to move through life with purpose, to speak your truth with clarity and to make your choices with courage. It’s to believe in the life you want, even if no one else sees it yet – and to keep building anyway. She reminds us that there’s nothing small about showing up fully and that success, in its most meaningful form, is about leaving the door open behind you – so others can walk through it, too.
So if you find yourself needing a spark – a reminder that you are allowed to want more, to take up space, to stretch into your next level – this is your permission slip. Not from her, but from yourself. You don’t have to become someone else to get there. You just have to step into who you already are and trust that that’s powerful enough. Because it is.
And in case you needed to hear it today: You already belong in the room and if no one lets you in, you go next door and create an even bigger room with a table of your own.
When I stepped into the world of journalism and had the idea for this magazine and its bigger purpose, I asked myself: Why wait to see change when you can be a part of making it happen? If you want to see something be done, take a leap of faith and go for it. You got the power to change a narrative, create something new and to fulfil that purpose of yours that has been boiling inside of you all along, ready to be brought to the surface.
ROARA Magazine 