An insightful case study to cite or distribute in programme workshops or simply learn from an entrepreneur.
With a focus on sustainability and inclusion and a B-Corp certified brand within her business portfolio, Emma Grede credits her success to leveraging every work opportunity that came her way, from shop worker to fashion show producer to founding her own talent management and entertainment marketing business.
As chair of the Fifteen Percent Pledge, which encourages US retailers to dedicate 15% of shelf space to Black-owned businesses because Black communities comprise that proportion of the US population, she has seen the initiative direct $14bn of revenue to businesses including Sephora, Nordstrom and Macy's.
She also promotes wider impact, explaining why inclusivity is a reflection of what she considers important in business, whether that concerns the product, leadership team, or employees:
“If your leadership team doesn’t somehow represent the overall demographics of the customer you’re serving or the country you’re in . . . then you’re gonna have a really big problem over the long term.”
Worth reading and inspiring to participants who have not attended university or have dyslexia.
Recalling a recent visit to pupils at her East London secondary school Emma explains:
“Growing up, I didn’t even know what an investor was,” she had “no concept” of someone putting their own money into another person’s business. “And so I believe very, very strongly that [visibility] really matters, I’m trying to create a pathway for people like me, to be able to see what is possible and to be able to be in those rooms [where deals are done].”
#enterprise
#leadership
#inclusivity
#sustainability
#fashion
#branding
#inspiration
#representation
#casestudy
Marketing @ the Intersection of Culture & Social Impact | 2022 Forbes 50 Most Entrepreneurial CMOs | Black Dollar Index Founder | Do It For The Equity
2moThank you for sharing, Amber! Glad you found it insightful.