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I Wouldn’t Work For The Cofounder of Skims
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I Wouldn’t Work For The Cofounder of Skims

Would you?

Brian Watkins's avatar
Brian Watkins
May 16, 2025
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I Wouldn’t Work For The Cofounder of Skims
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Emma Grede, co-founder of Skims and CEO of Good American, recently sparked controversy by stating that "work-life balance is your problem. It isn't your employer's responsibility" during an appearance on the podcast "Diary of a CEO" with Steven Bartlett. As I read the article, one thought popped into my head - “I would never work for her”.

brown and beige weighing scale
Photo by Piret Ilver on Unsplash

I do not know much about Ms. Grede outside this article. I am not making a judgement on her as a person or even as a professional.

Grede's assertion that "work-life balance is your problem" and "not your employer's responsibility" ignores the evolution of the employer-employee relationship over the past decade. This outdated view treats employees as mere cogs in a machine rather than whole human beings with lives outside of work. It's particularly ironic coming from someone who has built brands centered around inclusivity and empowerment.

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