In an era where artificial intelligence is reshaping industries at breathtaking speed, Skims founding partner Emma Grede refuses to rely on past success or intuition alone. Instead, she’s adopted a powerful routine that she believes will determine who thrives in the next decade—and who gets left behind.

Every six weeks, without exception, Grede schedules what she calls an “AI Day.”
No meetings. No travel. No distractions.
Just a full-day deep dive into the latest AI tools, business applications, and innovations transforming the way leaders work.

For Grede, this ritual isn’t optional—it’s survival.

“It’s like do or die,” she says.

And for anyone watching the rapid acceleration of AI across retail, marketing, operations, and leadership, her words feel less like hyperbole and more like a warning.

Why Emma Grede Created ‘AI Day’: The New Non-Negotiable for Leaders

Grede has built billion-dollar brands, from Skims to Good American. But she’s the first to admit that the next stage of business leadership requires new mental models — and new skills.

Her reasoning for an AI day is simple:

1. Things change too fast to learn passively

AI updates that took months now happen weekly. Waiting for industry reports or conferences is too slow.

2. Leaders can’t delegate understanding

She believes CEOs and founders must understand AI’s capabilities firsthand—not just rely on their teams to interpret it.

3. Early adopters gain exponential advantage

From supply chain forecasting to hyper-personalized marketing, AI creates competitive gaps that widen quickly.

4. Continuous learning is the new executive job requirement

“Standing still,” she argues, “is the fastest way to fall behind.”

What Happens During an ‘AI Day’? A CEO-Level Breakdown

Grede’s AI day is not a casual Google search or podcast binge. It’s structured, intense, and outcome-driven.

1. Hands-on tool testing

She experiments with:

Generative AI
AI-powered design tools
Marketing automation
Consumer insights platforms
Predictive analytics
Operations and logistics AI

She wants to experience how these tools reshape work.

2. Assessing impact on her business ecosystem

She analyzes:

How AI can accelerate product development
Cost savings in manufacturing and logistics
Improvements in inventory planning
Personalization in customer experience
Data-driven retail forecasting

Every insight must tie to a strategic decision.

3. Studying leaders at the forefront of AI

Grede reviews case studies, interviews, and reports about companies using AI to reshape:

Fashion
Beauty
DTC commerce
Retail
Global supply chains

She treats AI as not just a tool—but a competitive landscape.

4. Building a 90-day AI implementation plan

Each AI Day ends with practical commitments:

Which tools her teams should adopt
Which processes need automation
What skills must be trained
Where to reallocate resources
What experiments to run next quarter

She turns insights into action, not theory.

Why Her Approach Resonates With Fortune 500 Executives

Grede’s AI Day aligns with trends across the global executive landscape:

✔ CEO job descriptions now include “AI integration”

Boards expect leaders to understand how AI will affect cost structure, strategy, and workforce planning.

✔ Companies that adopt AI early are widening the profitability gap

According to major business research, AI-first companies grow faster, spend less, and innovate quicker.

✔ Talent is shifting toward organizations that embrace automation

Younger employees expect AI-powered workflows. Falling behind hurts recruitment.

✔ Consumer expectations are rising

From personalization to delivery speed, customers expect AI-level precision.

Grede’s stance reflects a bigger truth:
The future belongs to leaders who learn faster than the market changes.

The “AI or Die” Mindset: What Grede Believes Every Professional Needs to Understand

Grede’s tone around AI is urgent but honest. Her message is clear:
AI won’t replace everyone—but people who use AI will replace people who don’t.

Her philosophy includes three pillars:

1. Curiosity beats expertise

You don’t need to be a technologist.
You need to be interested.

2. Personal learning is mandatory

Relying on your team or waiting for training puts you at risk.

3. Reinvention must be continuous

The leaders of tomorrow will reinvent their workflows, decision-making, and productivity every few months—not every few years.

The Business Impact: How AI Day Shapes Skims and Good American

While the brands keep specifics quiet, insiders highlight several areas where AI has become integral:

• Smarter inventory and demand forecasting

AI models reduce stockouts and overproduction.

• Rapid product design iterations

Designers can test concepts faster than ever.

• Hyper-targeted marketing

AI tools refine campaigns by analyzing real-time behavioral data.

• Operational efficiency and cost reduction

Automation reduces manual overhead across teams.

• Customer insights at scale

AI helps interpret millions of data points from e-commerce and social media.

This isn’t just about future-proofing.
It’s about competing at a higher level today.

Why Every Professional Should Borrow Grede’s Strategy

You don’t need to be a founder to schedule an AI Day. Anyone—from a student to a manager to a freelancer—can apply her model.

How to create your own AI Day:

Block a full day every 6–8 weeks
Explore the newest AI tools in your field
Watch expert breakdowns and tutorials
Document what’s changing in your industry
Choose 2–3 AI tools to implement before the next cycle
Track your productivity or innovation improvements

The key is consistency.
Small learning cycles lead to big breakthroughs.

The Bigger Lesson: Reinvention Is the Real Competitive Advantage

Emma Grede’s AI day isn’t about technology.
It’s about identity.

She embodies the kind of leader who doesn’t cling to the past or fear the future. She adapts, evolves, and leans into discomfort—because she knows the next decade will reward those who have the courage to learn faster than the world changes.

And in her words, that mindset isn’t optional anymore.

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