Emma Grede

Literally just before we went in, he said, you know what, I really, I know why you are suffering here, Emma. You have an employee mentality. And I, I mean, I was 26 or 27 years old. I couldn't think about anything else in the whole meeting because I was like, he's completely right. I have an employee mentality. Well, why? Because I'd only ever been an employee up until that point.

Literally just before we went in, he said, you know what, I really, I know why you are suffering here, Emma. You have an employee mentality. And I, I mean, I was 26 or 27 years old. I couldn't think about anything else in the whole meeting because I was like, he's completely right. I have an employee mentality. Well, why? Because I'd only ever been an employee up until that point.

But I was looking, instead of, you know... Being there as the CEO to guide the board into a decision, I was looking for everybody else to tell me what to do. And so I was seeking their approval instead of going in and saying, here's the direction. This is what we're doing. Everybody come with me. And these are the reasons. And so it was such an interesting insight.

But I was looking, instead of, you know... Being there as the CEO to guide the board into a decision, I was looking for everybody else to tell me what to do. And so I was seeking their approval instead of going in and saying, here's the direction. This is what we're doing. Everybody come with me. And these are the reasons. And so it was such an interesting insight.

And I think that you could only or I could have only heard that from somebody so close to me.

And I think that you could only or I could have only heard that from somebody so close to me.

That was the mentorship.

That was the mentorship.

Listen, you know, from my own experience, I don't think I had any mentors. You know, I started work... Let's talk about real work, right? So it's like I've had a job since I was 12 years old. I've worked a paper round and then I worked in the delis and then I worked in clothes shops. And when I got my first real job in an office in a fashion show production company, I was 18 years old. So...

Listen, you know, from my own experience, I don't think I had any mentors. You know, I started work... Let's talk about real work, right? So it's like I've had a job since I was 12 years old. I've worked a paper round and then I worked in the delis and then I worked in clothes shops. And when I got my first real job in an office in a fashion show production company, I was 18 years old. So...

I've had a salaried job in a place that was working towards something that I felt was interesting and in the kind of direction of where I wanted to go since I was 18. At that point, you make whoever is around you. If you're smart, you make whoever is around you your mentor.

I've had a salaried job in a place that was working towards something that I felt was interesting and in the kind of direction of where I wanted to go since I was 18. At that point, you make whoever is around you. If you're smart, you make whoever is around you your mentor.

I used to sit in front of my boss, and everybody thought that was so unfortunate because she could see my screen, and that was like the beginnings of online shopping. Net-a-Porter was our client, and we all had a discount, so everyone would sit on Net-a-Porter all day except me because my boss sat behind me, What a nightmare. And I was like, no, not a nightmare at all.

I used to sit in front of my boss, and everybody thought that was so unfortunate because she could see my screen, and that was like the beginnings of online shopping. Net-a-Porter was our client, and we all had a discount, so everyone would sit on Net-a-Porter all day except me because my boss sat behind me, What a nightmare. And I was like, no, not a nightmare at all.

Whatever she says when she's on her sales calls, I would write down and I would use them later on on my sales calls. Now, was she my mentor? No, she was my boss. But I used her as such because I would learn from her. I'd take, you know, I even copied her outfits, you know, I would do the whole thing. And so for me, she was really formative.

Whatever she says when she's on her sales calls, I would write down and I would use them later on on my sales calls. Now, was she my mentor? No, she was my boss. But I used her as such because I would learn from her. I'd take, you know, I even copied her outfits, you know, I would do the whole thing. And so for me, she was really formative.

But I don't think that you should walk around looking for a mentor. I think you have to walk around asking questions. Because anyone who's going to be a good mentor probably doesn't have time to mentor you first. Secondly, like depending who you are and what your exposure is, you're not going to have the right people around you to get mentored. So you've just got to be super inquisitive.

But I don't think that you should walk around looking for a mentor. I think you have to walk around asking questions. Because anyone who's going to be a good mentor probably doesn't have time to mentor you first. Secondly, like depending who you are and what your exposure is, you're not going to have the right people around you to get mentored. So you've just got to be super inquisitive.

And I think it's really important to take where you are and figure out like who is around you and where can you get that type of mentorship from. For me in the beginning, I would just take whatever client I had. Like if I come into contact with the CMO or the CEO, I'd just ask him a question. I'd be in the meeting, I'd be like, I have two other questions for you.

And I think it's really important to take where you are and figure out like who is around you and where can you get that type of mentorship from. For me in the beginning, I would just take whatever client I had. Like if I come into contact with the CMO or the CEO, I'd just ask him a question. I'd be in the meeting, I'd be like, I have two other questions for you.