Serena Williams Credits Humility for Her Remarkable Journey
Serena Williams, the tennis icon turned entrepreneur, recently opened up about the core value her parents instilled that propelled her to greatness in both sports and business: humility.
Reflecting on her upbringing, Williams emphasized that humility has remained central to her approach. "I think the main value that they instilled in me is just humility, and I think that goes way better than any championship or anything, because it keeps you grounded as an individual," she explained. She added, "It keeps you respectful, and it keeps you just like everybody else, because at the end of the day, we're all the same, right? It’s just some of us might be a little bit better, but we’re all really the same."
From Tennis Legend to Business Trailblazer
With an astounding 23 Grand Slam singles titles to her name, Williams solidified her place among the greatest tennis players in history before retiring from professional play in 2022. Since then, she has transitioned into entrepreneurship, focusing her energy on Serena Ventures, her venture capital fund.
When asked about the impact she has had on tennis, Williams remained modest: "I would never say that. I just had an opportunity to play a great sport, and I did the best I could. Is it better because of me? I don't know. I think it was great before me, and it's going to be great after me. I just had a fleeting moment that I will always cherish."
Expanding Influence Through Mentorship and Investment
Williams' next chapter involves shaping the future of women-led startups. She has taken on the role of entrepreneur in residence with Reckitt, a global consumer goods company, supporting its new initiative, Reckitt Catalyst. This program plans to invest in and nurture 200 startups founded by women in the health and hygiene sectors.
In this capacity, Williams will mentor founders, drawing from her own journey of relentless determination and discipline.
Discipline: The Backbone of Success
The 43-year-old mother of two credits discipline as the critical link between her achievements in tennis and business. "Tennis is played every day—you have to train every day. Business is the same. You have to be very disciplined," she remarked.
She continued, "You have to be determined through ups and downs, determined to keep going. That determination is something I’m excited to share with these entrepreneurs as they carve their own paths."
Nurturing Talent and Defining Success
Williams acknowledges that while some elements of success come naturally, much can be cultivated and developed. "A lot of things are nature, but a lot can be nurtured. I know this from experience," she said.
Her commitment to uplifting female founders is clear: "I look forward to nurturing these entrepreneurs and helping them achieve success on their own terms—because success means different things to different people."
