Emma Grede

I was like, how do I get out of here?

And the only way that I knew that people left is when they were successful.

Because they'd either be a footballer or a DJ.

It felt like there were all of these routes out for the boys and not as many options for the girls.

And so for me, I equated the idea of success and ambition as like being able to leave where I was from and imagine this bigger life for myself.

And it's really funny because I feel like East London is in my veins.

It's who I am.

But by the same token, I knew that that wasn't the extent of my life.

I wanted a big life.

I wanted to travel and do things and experience things.

And I knew that that wouldn't be possible unless I got my butt up and worked for it.

And so in my head, it was just a way of creating opportunity for myself.

I was like, you know, in the beginning, it was like, can I make 20 quid from a paper round so I can buy the magazines?

And the magazines for me were like this...

window into a world of like fashion and opportunity and glamorousness and all the things that I aspire to.

And you know, that's somewhat how I think about money now.

Money is a tool.

It's a means to an end, a way of getting the things that I need.

And so I always have thought about ambition as something that I am entitled to as long as I work for it.

I actually remember.