Aspire with Emma Grede

How does a doctor with zero beauty training build one of the most influential skincare brands in the world? In this episode of Aspire, Emma Grede sits down with Dr. Barbara Sturm — the founder behind a global, anti-inflammatory skincare empire — to reveal the true story you’ve never heard.

Dr. Sturm opens up about the bullets she dodged, the bets she made, and the risks that almost broke her. From being dismissed by the beauty industry to scaling a brand from €350 to a brand valued at over a billion dollars. Dr. Sturm shares the mindset, the science, and the steps it took to build something no one believed was possible.

You’ll learn:

-How she built a global brand without investors

-The mindset every ambitious woman needs to scale

-What she wishes every founder knew before starting

-Why she never used retinol,  and what she does instead

-The anti-inflammatory approach that changed the industry

-The moment she realized the world was finally listening

If you’re an entrepreneur, a skincare obsessive, or a woman building something big — this conversation will change the way you think about success, aging, and what’s actually possible.

How does building a strong network help propel you in your career and business life? This mini-episode of Aspire with Emma Grede, answers that very question. 

After listening, you’ll walk away with a clear understanding of what a network actually is, why it matters, and most importantly how you can create it for yourself, from where you are with what you have. We’ll also touch on the importance of being an active, valuable part of people’s networks. 

Because the truth is, it’s not just about how your network shows up for you, it’s also about how you show up for your network. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:

The distinction between networking and building a real network 

Why feedback is a gift and how to actively seek it

The importance of getting out of your own way and putting your ego to the side

How to actively be a part of someone else’s network. 

Why networks naturally evolve over time.

Emma sits down with bestselling author and entrepreneur Sahil Bloom to unpack the five types of wealth that actually determine whether your life feels meaningful or painfully empty.

Sahil opens up about the real turning point in his life: chasing external success, hitting every traditional milestone, and still feeling like something was deeply wrong. As he tells Emma, he was “winning the game”,  yet completely losing himself.  From that gut-punch wake-up call came a complete life reset  and the insights that became his New York Times bestseller The Five Types of Wealth. Sahil breaks down each type for Emma (Time, Social, Mental, Physical, and Financial) and explains why money is actually the least important of them all.

This episode is an invitation to pause, to question, and to finally reconsider the metrics that have been running your life. Because the path to a more meaningful future starts with the choices you make today.

Tell us which type of wealth you’re choosing to build next, and don’t forget to subscribe for more inspiring episodes of Aspire with Emma Grede.

In this solo episode, Emma Grede looks back on the conversations that shaped her most in the first year of Aspire. From billion-dollar founders to cultural icons to the people closest to her, Emma revisits the moments that shifted her thinking, changed her routine, and genuinely shook her this year. 

These five lessons span money, mindset, ambition, career, and emotional resilience. Together, they reveal a truth Emma returns to constantly: success is a lifelong practice of learning, unlearning, and returning to what matters. 

If you’ve been feeling stuck, rushed, overwhelmed, or unsure of your next step, this episode is a recalibration.

Which of the five lessons hit you the hardest? Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments below, and if this episode moved you, make sure you subscribe so you never miss the conversations that help you grow, thrive, and aspire.

You’re doing it all, the work, the family, the goals, but somehow, it still doesn’t feel like enough.

Psychiatrist Dr. Judith Joseph joins Emma to unpack high-functioning depression — the hidden burnout behind success. They break down why overachievers feel empty even when they’re thriving, how “pathological productivity” keeps us stuck, and the simple science of finding real joy again.

Watch to learn:

-What high-functioning depression really looks like

-Why ambition can become avoidance

-How to feel joy without giving up your drive

If this conversation resonates, tell us what part hit home for you in the comments — and make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

Have you recently become a new founder and find yourself asking the question: Where should I spend my money when I’m just starting out? What matters most in the beginning, and what can wait? This mini-episode of Aspire with Emma Grede, brought to you by Shopify, will help you answer those questions. On today’s pod, Emma will help you decide which areas of your new business need attention and which areas can wait. When you’re building a brand from scratch, every decision counts. The way you invest in the earliest days has a massive impact on what your business becomes. Luckily, Shopify is a platform that actually lets you put your time and money toward the things that matter. Stay focused on your customer and product while Shopify helps you streamline all the decisions only you can make as a founder. 

In this episode you’ll learn why:

-Getting early products or prototypes into the hands of potential customers is one of the most important things you can do as a startup.

-Social media, PR or a launch event alone will not create longevity or customer loyalty. 

-Investing in things your customer will actually feel has a lasting impact.

-There's a big difference between what looks valuable and what is valuable.

If you’ve been thinking about starting something of your own, Shopify can help you take that first step. It’s built to make turning an idea into a business simple—from setting up your store to handling payments, inventory, and shipping. That way, you can stay focused on what really matters: bringing your vision to life.

Explore what’s possible at shopify.com/aspire

What separates the entrepreneurs who start… from the ones who win?

Harley Finkelstein (President of Shopify and the man who has worked with millions of founders) sits down with Emma Grede to reveal the hard-earned truths behind building a business that lasts. From the real reason most people never act on their ideas, to why the “golden age of entrepreneurship” is happening right now, Harley breaks down the mindset, tools, and strategy that turn dreamers into doers.

In this conversation, Harley shares:

-Why execution matters more than ideas

-How to start a business with no money, no network, and no experience

-The habits shared by the most successful founders on Shopify

-Why the cost of failure has never been lower

-What it takes to scale a business in today’s creator economy

-The mindset shift every entrepreneur must make to succeed

Emma and Harley go deep on the courage, grit, and resourcefulness needed to build something from nothing — and why someone watching this right now could be the next billion-dollar founder.

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, a builder, or someone sitting on an idea you’ve been too afraid to start… this episode is your blueprint.

What does it take to turn obsession into a billion-dollar beauty empire?

In this episode of Aspire with Emma Grede, global makeup icon Charlotte Tilbury sits down with Emma to share how she went from a young girl with a dream to building one of the most powerful and influential beauty brands in the world.

Charlotte opens up about the mindset behind her success — how belief, obsession, and relentless innovation helped her disrupt an overcrowded industry and create products the world didn’t even know it needed. She reveals the lessons she’s learned about leadership, confidence, and self-worth, and the unshakable drive that made her unstoppable.

If you’ve ever doubted yourself, hit a wall, or wondered how to keep believing when no one else does — this conversation will change how you think about success.

Do you have a spark of an idea that feels like it has potential? This mini-episode of Aspire with Emma Grede, brought to you by Shopify, will help you realize if your spark has the potential to turn into a flame. On today’s pod, Emma offers solid steps to begin realizing your idea’s possibility. From identifying what problem your idea is solving to differentiating yourself from a crowded market, Emma guides you through the right questions to ask. Being an entrepreneur doesn’t mean changing your circumstances in a day...It’s a calculated journey that requires a step-by-step approach to test and learn. This is where a tool like Shopify starts to come in handy. Shopify isn’t just a place to sell things—it’s a platform that helps you test your idea.

In this episode you’ll learn how to:

-Name the problem your idea is solving to help people care about your product

-Identifying your audience and asking yourself how willing are you to dedicate the time and effort

-What can I bring to this solution that will set it above the rest? 

-What sets you apart from the competition, your difference is your power. 

If you’ve been thinking about starting something of your own, Shopify can help you take that first step. It’s built to make turning an idea into a business simple—from setting up your store to handling payments, inventory, and shipping. That way, you can stay focused on what really matters: bringing your vision to life.

Explore what’s possible at shopify.com/aspire

Reese Witherspoon may be known as America’s sweetheart — but behind the scenes, she’s built a billion-dollar empire that changed Hollywood for women everywhere.

In this episode of Aspire, Emma Grede sits down with Reese to talk about the moment she stopped waiting for permission, the lessons she learned about money and ownership, and what it really takes to pivot in your career when everything looks successful from the outside — but you know you’re meant for more.

From her first acting gig at 14 to founding Hello Sunshine and selling it for nearly a billion dollars, Reese opens up about:

-How to recognize when it’s time to make a change

-Why independence — not wealth — is real power

-The biggest money mistakes women make (and how to avoid them)

-What it means to truly bet on yourself

If you’ve ever felt stuck, under-valued, or ready for your next chapter, this conversation will remind you: you are your own best investment.