Karlie Kloss’s Rulebook: How to Build a Brand with Purpose

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Published May 21, 2025 8:22 AM PDT

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Karlie Kloss’s Rulebook: How to Build a Brand with Purpose

Karlie Kloss may have made her name on the runway, but she's building her legacy in boardrooms. The 31-year-old model, entrepreneur, and advocate has quietly grown a powerful business empire, from her tech education initiative Kode With Klossy to strategic investments in wellness, fashion, and digital startups.

In a recent episode of Aspire, the popular entrepreneurship podcast hosted by Good American co-founder Emma Grede — Kloss opened up about what it really takes to pivot from public figure to powerhouse entrepreneur. With thoughtful candor, she shared the guiding principles that help her turn ambition into meaningful impact.

Who Is Karlie Kloss?

Before she became a business powerhouse, Karlie Kloss was best known for her runway dominance and Victoria’s Secret Angel wings. But today, she’s just as comfortable behind a boardroom table as she is on a fashion shoot.

  • Full Name: Karlie Elizabeth Kloss

  • Age: 32 (born August 3, 1992)

  • Net Worth: Estimated at $40 million

  • Business Ventures: Kode with Klossy, fashion collaborations, tech investing

  • Married to: Joshua Kushner (venture capitalist, brother of Jared Kushner)

  • Children: 1 (son, Levi Joseph)

Kloss isn’t just playing in the business world—she’s building it. And on a recent episode of Emma Grede’s podcast, "Aspire", she laid out her philosophy for building a brand with meaning. The conversation was nothing short of masterclass material.

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Karlie Kloss

The Power of Purpose: Kode With Klossy

Karlie Kloss launched Kode with Klossy in 2015 to offer free coding camps for teenage girls. It wasn’t just a side project—it was a mission. On Aspire, she explained that she wanted to break the stereotype of women in tech and empower young girls with real tools to change the world.

Her advice?
“Start with your principles, then build up. If your foundation is strong, your business will reflect that strength.”

She emphasized that too many people chase success before purpose, when in fact, purpose attracts success.

Related: Emma Grede Says Work-Life Balance Is Your Problem

Related: Emma Grede and the Fifteen Percent Pledge: Driving Retail Diversity

Lessons from the Aspire Podcast

During her conversation with Emma Grede (the business mogul behind Good American and SKIMS), Kloss opened up about the pressures of public life and how she’s transitioned into the private power of entrepreneurship.

Here are the most impactful takeaways:

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Karlie Kloss

1. Principles First, Profits Later

Kloss is crystal clear on this: Your “why” should drive your “how.” Whether it's ethics, equity, or education, aligning your values with your business practices makes your brand more authentic—and more sustainable.

“The best business decisions I’ve made came from what felt right, not just what looked profitable.”

2. Invest in Skills, Not Just Strategy

Karlie Kloss might be a model, but she’s no mannequin. She’s learned to code, invested in startups, and pushed for hands-on learning in every venture.

She says:

“You don’t have to be an expert to start something. But you do need to be obsessed with learning.”

Related: Emma Grede: The Self-Made Powerhouse Behind Skims and Good American

3. Normalize Asking for Help

Even supermodels need support. Kloss discussed building a trusted circle of advisors, mentors, and even critics.

“You can’t scale alone. You need people who challenge you and people who cheer you on.”

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Emma Grede

The Kloss Playbook: Turning Values Into Value

Kloss didn’t just turn fame into fortune—she turned principles into a power play. Her brand is her voice. Her business is her advocacy. And every project she touches carries her personal stamp: feminism, education, and forward-thinking.

So how does she keep it all aligned? Kloss told Grede:

“I say no more than I say yes. That’s how I protect what I stand for.”

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Conclusion

Karlie Kloss represents a new kind of entrepreneur: one that leads with heart, stays curious, and makes space for others. Her conversation with Emma Grede wasn’t just inspiring—it was a strategic wake-up call for anyone looking to lead with intention.

In an age of fast trends and fake brands, Kloss is building something real. And if you’re paying attention, she’s teaching you how to do it too.

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