Emma Grede: “The Parenting Rules I Refuse to Follow”

Ready for a career that fits who you are now? Join my 30-day Career Pivot Challenge, starting 21 October. Together, we’ll uncover your strengths, explore what’s possible and turn your next move into a practical plan. Join the waitlist for first access and 30% off. During August, the Motherkind team and I try to practise what we preach by slowing down, taking some time off and making the juggle just a little easier over the summer holidays. So, throughout the month, we're bringing you some of our most listened-to episodes of the year so far. Can you be an ambitious mother without feeling guilty? Emma Grede believes you can, and that our children actually benefit when they see us fully expressed, fulfilled and living in alignment with our own values. Emma is one of the world's most successful entrepreneurs, co-founder of SKIMS, CEO of Good American, founding partner of Safely, investor on Shark Tank and author of Start With Yourself. But this conversation isn't really about business. It's about the invisible pressure mothers carry, the impossible standards we set ourselves, and how to build a life that feels true to you. Together, Zoe and Emma explore why so many mothers feel depleted, how to let go of guilt, and why success looks different in different seasons of life. Emma shares the parenting philosophy that has helped her build multiple global businesses while raising four children and why she believes children don't need a perfect mother; they need one who is fulfilled. They also discuss work-life balance, career ambition after children, asking for help, letting go of control, sharing the parenting load, and why learning to say no is one of the most powerful leadership skills a mother can develop. 💡 What You’ll Learn in This Episode Why your children need a fulfilled mother, not a perfect one How to let go of mum guilt and make decisions with confidence Why success changes through different seasons of motherhood How to stop doing everything and start asking for help The boundaries that protect your time, energy and ambition Watch this episode on YouTube and subscribe. Loved this episode? Follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode of Motherkind. It helps more mothers find the show and keeps our community growing. If you enjoyed this episode, you might also enjoy Zoe’s conversation with Feeling like you’re carrying it all? Download your FREE Mental Load Cheat Sheet and learn how to start feeling lighter, even if nothing in your life changes. Zoe’s favourite Aspire episode with Emma Grede: “Don’t Let Anyone Control You With Money” with Reese Witherspoon Connect with Zoe: Follow Zoe on Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok Get Zoe’s Sunday Times bestselling book, 'Motherkind: A New Way to Thrive in a World of Endless Expectations’ This Motherkind episode is sponsored by: Headline sponsor Wild Nutrition, the brand raising the bar for women’s supplements. Want to feel the Food-Grown difference yourself? Get 50% off for three months at wildnutrition.com/motherkind. Ts and Cs apply. Jurassic Oceans Exhibition at The Natural History Museum. Kids go half price.