Emma Grede on Owning Your Ambition

Emma Grede started working at 12 and never looked back. Raised by a single mom, she now has four kids and has built billion-dollar businesses with Kim Kardashian at SKIMS and Khloé Kardashian at Good American. When she talks about ambition, she’s lived it. She shares real-world wisdom on creating a big career and a life you love, from her “1% better” philosophy to why discipline beats perfection. Emma offers candid advice for women navigating when to have kids, chasing goals, and redefining work-life balance, encouraging everyone to think bigger in her new book, Start With Yourself. 00:00 Meet Emma Grede 06:48 Being starstruck by Oprah 09:10 Raising her sisters 16:05 Education vs. real experience 26:03 Fashion for all women 28:21 Building Good American & SKIMS with the Kardashians 36:33 Access for next generation 39:16 Remote work reality check 42:40 Advice on ambition & having kids 50:33 Supporting Black-owned businesses 56:52 Tips on self-leadership, new book 59:41 Game: Hired or Fired Watch More Baby, this is Keke Palmer episodes:    • Baby, this is Keke Palmer   Follow Baby, this is Keke Palmer on social:   / kekepalmerpodcast     / kekepalmerpodcast   Follow Keke on social:   / keke     / kekepalmer     / kekepalmer     / kekepalmer   Connect with Wondery: https://wondery.com/shows/baby-this-i...   / wonderymedia     / wonderymedia     / wonderymedia     / wonderymedia   About the Show: Keke Palmer has questions, and she’s not afraid to ask them. On ‘Baby, this is Keke Palmer,’ Keke sits down with artists, actors, entrepreneurs, experts, and creators shaping culture. These aren’t just promo stops or viral moments. They’re honest, layered conversations about identity, relationships, reinvention, success, and growth. Pop culture moves fast. Opinions move faster. But nuance takes time, and that’s what Keke makes space for. Because culture is more than a headline. It’s a reflection of who we are. And baby… this show holds up the mirror. New episodes every Tuesday. #kekepalmer #podcast #wondery