Emma Grede, the co-CEO of Skims, said a cold call to Kris Jenner launched her partnership with the Kardashian-family brand.

The story highlights the intersection of celebrity influence and strategic business management, illustrating how a single connection can scale a startup into a global powerhouse.

Grede credits this specific outreach for the personal wealth she has accumulated as a multimillionaire entrepreneur. According to reporting from The Age, her choices in business have led to personal earnings of $567 million [1]. She said the call opened the door to the partnership that allowed her to implement the operational side of the Skims empire.

Estimates of the company's total valuation vary across reports. MSN reports the Skims empire is valued at $5 billion [3], while Yahoo Finance places the valuation at $4 billion [2]. Despite the difference in figures, both sources emphasize the massive scale of the brand's growth under Grede's leadership.

Grede has been vocal about the grit required to maintain such a position in the competitive fashion and shapewear industry. "The difference between me and someone else is, I made it happen," Grede said [3]. She also reflected on the difficulties women face in balancing professional and personal expectations, saying that "women can’t have it all" [1].

Throughout her career, Grede has focused on the practicalities of scaling a brand. "I have no delusions of who gets to run a business," Grede said [2]. Her approach combines the visibility of the Kardashian family with a rigorous business structure to ensure the company's long-term viability.

“"The difference between me and someone else is, I made it happen."”

The success of Skims demonstrates a modern business model where celebrity equity is paired with professional executive management. While the Kardashian brand provides the initial market reach and consumer trust, Grede's role as co-CEO represents the operational infrastructure necessary to convert social media fame into a multi-billion dollar corporate entity.