Emma Grede, a self-made billionaire and author of 'Start with Yourself,' discusses her journey from a challenging upbringing in East London to building multiple billion-dollar brands. She emphasizes the importance of mindset, resilience, managing emotions, and maintaining high standards in both business and personal life. Emma advocates for self-belief, community, and balancing ambition with love and presence.
Emma Grede, one of America's richest self-made women and author of Start with Yourself, offers a compelling narrative about ambition, success, and the mindset required to build a thriving life. From her early days in East London to becoming a powerhouse in business and family life, Emma's story is a testament to resilience, self-belief, and the power of starting with oneself.
Emma grew up in East London as the eldest of four girls, raised by a single mother. From a young age, she took on significant responsibilities, such as caring for her siblings and managing household tasks. Despite missing much school, Emma felt capable and proud of her ability to handle these duties, which instilled a strong sense of competence and superiority over her peers.
Her mother, a hardworking woman who balanced multiple roles, instilled in Emma a powerful message: "You're not better than anyone, but no one's better than you." This belief became a cornerstone of Emma's mindset.
Emma never felt disadvantaged despite her challenging environment. She worked various jobs from a young age, including paper routes, deli work, and selling clothes, embodying a hustler's spirit. This work ethic was driven by the desire for freedom and the belief that hard work would lead to success.
Emma's father left when she was five, but she did not internalize this as a reflection on herself. Instead, she was surrounded by strong female role models, including her grandmother and aunts, who demonstrated capability and resilience.
She learned early on that she was capable of thriving independently and that the absence of a male figure did not diminish her potential.
Emma has been married for 17 years and has four children. Her parents' separation taught her the importance of not compromising on the type of person and life she wanted. She was clear about her standards in relationships, seeking a partner who matched her ambition and accepted her fully.
Interestingly, Emma met her husband when she was 24, initially working for him and his business partner. She knew from the first moment that he was the one she would marry, despite the complexities of their initial relationships.
Emma emphasizes the importance of listening to one's intuition. She shares an experience where she avoided selling her company to a prolific buyer because her gut told her it was not right, a decision validated years later.
She also discusses her journey with anger, which was her default emotion growing up. At 19, she proactively sought anger management counseling, realizing that emotions are not the essence of who she is but tools to be managed.
Emma credits Oprah Winfrey for introducing her to concepts like mindfulness, meditation, and gratitude, which helped her develop emotional intelligence and a positive mindset.
Emma acknowledges that leaving her home environment was crucial to her success. She describes the United States, particularly America, as a land of opportunity where her ideas and hard work were valued without the baggage of her past.
She contrasts the hierarchical and class-conscious society of England with the more open and opportunity-rich environment in the U.S., which allowed her to think bigger and pursue her ambitions freely.
Managing a thriving business while raising four children has required Emma to make conscious trade-offs. She prioritizes being present for her children during important moments and maintains high standards for herself and those around her.
Emma rejects the notion of people-pleasing and focuses on her own goals and values, tuning out criticism that does not serve her.
She highlights the unrealistic expectations placed on modern parenting and advocates for a balanced approach where love, presence, and quality time matter more than perfection.
Emma challenges the limiting belief that one needs a lot of money to start a business. She warns against the dangerous mindset that only billion-dollar unicorns are valid businesses, emphasizing that many successful businesses are small, community-focused, and sustainable.
She encourages aspiring entrepreneurs to get out of their own way, take action, and understand that business evolves through seasons and learning from failures.
Emma is candid about the challenges of leadership and success. She describes her daily life as a series of problems to solve and stresses the importance of resilience — the ability to absorb setbacks and keep moving forward.
She also shares the importance of being kind to oneself, managing emotions constructively, and maintaining a strong relationship with oneself.
Despite her independence, Emma thrives in community. She values her husband, friends, family, and colleagues as parts of a supportive tapestry that enriches her life.
She believes that while one can be self-sufficient, meaningful relationships are essential for experiencing love and abundance.
Emma shares three core truths she would leave behind:
Her definition of greatness is self-fulfillment — living up to one’s highest potential.
Emma Grede’s journey from a challenging childhood to becoming a successful entrepreneur and author is a powerful example of how mindset, resilience, and self-belief can transform lives. Her insights on managing emotions, trusting intuition, balancing ambition with love, and redefining success offer valuable lessons for anyone striving to build a fulfilling life and career.
Her book, Start with Yourself, encapsulates these lessons and serves as a guide for those looking to create their own path to greatness.
This comprehensive interview with Emma Grede reveals the depth of her experience and the mindset shifts that have propelled her success. Her story encourages us all to start with ourselves, embrace resilience, and pursue our ambitions with clarity and heart.
