Emma Grede becomes the first Black woman investor on popular entrepreneur pitch show ‘Shark Tank’

Emma Grede has become the first Black woman guest Shark on the popular entrepreneur pitch show on ABC, Shark Tank. She appears on the 13th season of the show alongside the regular cast of Sharks, Mark Cuban, Barbara Corcoran, Lori Greiner, Robert Herjavec, Daymond John, and Kevin O’Leary.

Grede is the CEO of fashion juggernaut Good American as well as a founding partner of SKIMS. She co-founded Good American with Khloe Kardashian and is a founding partner of SKIMS with Khloe’s sister, Kim Kardashian.

In a post on Instagram, Grede announced, “Mommy Shark Doo doo doo doo doo! I’m beyond thrilled to be a guest shark on Season 13 of #SharkTank! Tune in for the Season Premiere Friday, October 8 on ABC.”

Besides featuring Grede, the show will also feature other prominent guest sharks throughout the season, including Kevin Hart, Peter Jones, an original Dragon on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den; and Nextdoor co-founder Nirav Tolia, according to Deadline.

According to CNBC Make It, Grede launched her own marketing agency, ITB Worldwide at the age of 24, after working for a fashion show event production company. She attributes her ability to land clients like Kris Jenner and Natalie Portman to her confidence and courage.

“I think everything I didn’t know led me to a place where I had that naiveté,” Grede said. “I didn’t know what could go wrong. And so in a way, I just got on with things that, right now, just would seem scary or stupid.”

Discussing her role on the show, Grede told CNBC Make It she won’t necessarily be searching for entrepreneurs who “mirror” her own success story.

“It’s much more about supporting women, Black women, founders of colour,” she said. “We all know the stats. The investment and the fundraising is low on the ground for certain groups, especially women. And so for me, that was really my focus.”

Grede obtained a business degree at The London College of Fashion and has worked with brands like Alexander McQueen, Vivienne Westwood, Zac Posen, Christopher Kane, Chivas, Mercedes-Benz, and Sky.