Latest news with #SerenaVentures
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Serena Williams says talent alone only gets you so far: For career success, like tennis, you have to grind ‘every day'
Tennis icon Serena Williams says people need to grind 'every day' and be 'determined' to make it big, whether it's in sports or business. The 43-year-old, who is now leading her own VC firm Serena Ventures, is investing in and mentoring underrepresented founders, with her principal piece of advice being to 'show up 28 hours out of 24' hours in a day. Other successful leaders like Brian Niccol, Steve Jobs, and Mark Cuban have previously echoed her sweat-equity work ethic. It's an old adage that practice makes perfect—something tennis star Serena Williams knows all too well. She echoes the sentiment that the grind never stops on the path to success, in both her athletic and business endeavors. Persistence and determination are two winning traits for sweeping a match—or leading an entrepreneurial venture. 'Tennis is [played] every day, you have to do it every day. You have to train, and business is the same,' Williams told CNBC Make It in a recent interview. 'It is exactly the same. You have to be very disciplined.' 'You also have to be determined through ups and downs, be determined to keep going.' Williams won 23 Grand Slam titles throughout her 27-year stint as the darling of tennis; in 2022, the Olympic athlete decided to step away from the sport to focus on her business work. She started a capital fund called Serena Ventures in 2014, where she uplifted diverse entrepreneurs, boasting that its Fund 1 investments were 79% underrepresented founders, 54% women founders, 47% Black founders, and 11% Latino founders. Serena Ventures raised $111 million during its early-stage fundraising—now, she says, her portfolio includes more than 14 billion-dollar companies and several decacorns. Williams's new career with Serena Ventures is budding as she helps uplift startup leaders and small businesses, like wig-customization platform Parfait, independent publication Wonderland, and relationship-wellness company Ours, to reach new heights. 'That's one thing that I'm excited to do, is to talk to these mentors about that determination that I've shown so much in my past career and just bring it out to this new career,' Williams said. Fortune reached out to Williams for comment. Williams tells Fortune she's drawn to founders who have a personal connection to the problem their company is trying to solve. And when it comes to advising them on leading a successful business, the decorated tennis champion says people need to go above and beyond. 'When I mentor founders one thing that I find myself giving over and over again is to just dust yourself off and don't stop,' Williams told Fortune in a recent interview. 'VC is interesting—it's a tough business, and then as a founder starting a new company, you have to show up 28 hours out of 24.' 'You win a few, you lose a few. You get knocked down, and you get right back up.' Williams displayed that same grit in her career, setting tennis records that may never be broken. With 367 career wins, 319 consecutive weeks as the number one tennis player, and nearly $95 million in total prize money, the 43-year-old legend should feel on top of the world. But even in the heights of her success, she has stuck to a philosophy that brings her down to earth. '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,' Williams told CNBC. 'It keeps you respectful, and it keeps you just like everybody else, because at the end of the day, we're all the same.' Williams isn't the only successful person espousing the idea of grinding all hours of the day. As a huge proponent of 'sweat equity,' serial investor Mark Cuban has recommended to 'work like there is someone working 24 hours a day to take it all away from you.' And the late Apple cofounder Steve Jobs, who started working at Hewlett-Packard at the age of 13, said the determining factor between successful and unsuccessful entrepreneurs is 'pure perseverance.' Brian Niccol—the CEO of Starbucks, who formerly held prominent roles at Chipotle, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell—also stays grounded by being curious. Despite being at the helm of a $111 billion coffee giant, Niccol doesn't see himself as having all the answers. Employees of all rankings still have something to teach him. 'The best business advice I ever received was: 'Don't be afraid to ask questions,'' Niccol told Fortune last year. 'Regardless of what position you're in, even as the CEO, there are moments where somebody's talking about something, [and] I don't totally get what they're talking about.' This story was originally featured on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CNBC
26-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Serena Williams shares the No.1 value her parents taught her that led to her success
Tennis legend Serena Williams shared the most important value her parents imparted that fostered her success both as a tennis pro and as a businesswoman. In an interview with CNBC Meets' Tania Bryer, Williams divulged that one of the values she has sustained through her career is staying humble. "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," Williams said. "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 [that] some of us might be a little bit better, but we're all really the same," she added. Williams has won 23 "Grand Slam" singles titles, making her one of the most decorated tennis players in history. After stepping away from the sport in 2022, she pivoted into entrepreneurship to focus on her venture capital fund Serena Ventures. Asked about her impact on tennis and whether she's improved the sport, Williams admitted: "I would never say that. I just had an opportunity to play a great sport, and I did the best I could, and is it better because of me? I don't know. I think that it was great before me, and it's gonna be great after me, and I just had a fleeting moment that I will always relish and cherish." Williams is now taking on a new role as entrepreneur in residence for consumer goods conglomerate Reckitt, which unveiled a new program called "Reckitt Catalyst" last week that aims to invest in and support 200 health and hygiene startups founded by women. Williams will play a key role in mentoring these founders and entrepreneurs. The 43-year-old mother of two said that discipline is "the number one thing" she's taken from her tennis career into business, which has been crucial to her success. "Tennis is [played] every day, you have to do it every day. You have to train, and business is the same. It is exactly the same. You have to be very disciplined," she said. "You also have to be determined through ups and downs, be determined to keep going. And that's one thing that I'm excited to do, is to talk to these mentors about that determination that I've shown so much in my past career and just bring it out to this new career." Williams added that some of her success and skill is part of her nature, but the other part had to be nurtured. "I think a lot of things are nature, but a lot of things can be nurtured, and I know that from experience, that a lot of things can be nurtured. I look forward to nurturing them [founders] and getting them to a place of being very successful at whatever they define success, because the success is defined in many different ways," she said.
CNBC
24-06-2025
- Business
- CNBC
Serena Williams on greatness in tennis, motherhood and investing in change
With 23 "Grand Slam" titles, Serena Williams is one of the most decorated tennis players in history. Since stepping away from the sport in 2022, she's been channeling her champion mindset into business—through leading her venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, which she founded in 2017, and taking on a new role as Entrepreneur in Residence at consumer goods conglomerate, Reckitt. In this edition of "CNBC Meets," Tania Bryer travels to Cannes, France to speak with Williams about her decision to leave professional tennis, the secrets behind her success and her mission to invest in the video above for the full interview. CNBC Meets' Tania Bryer travels to Cannes, France to speak with Serena Williams about her decision to leave professional tennis, the secrets behind her success and her mission to invest in diversity.
Time of India
18-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
From centre court to centrestage
Serena Williams , the 23-time Grand Slam champion and founder of Serena Ventures , is stepping onto a new kind of court – the world of venture capitalism and social impact – with a significant presence at Cannes Lions 2025 . Addressing an audience on the French Riviera, Williams articulated her vision for long-term investment, describing venture capitalism as a 'waiting game' – a commitment spanning a decade to witness the development of investments. Williams announced a significant USD 12 million investment from Serena Ventures into a new program designed to support entrepreneurs. This initiative aims to narrow the access gap in health and hygiene services globally. The strategic ambition behind such endeavors focuses on opening markets, transforming industries, and creating new innovations. The long-term goal of this collaborative effort is to reach five million people with "lifesaving solutions" by backing up to 200 entrepreneurs and small startups worldwide. This goal, with a target check-in around 2030, is hoped to be achievable with the right partners. The urgency of the mission was underscored by reflections on the stark realities many face. It was acknowledged that those in developed regions often "live in a bubble," taking basic health and hygiene for granted. The question was posed: "Is it shocking to you that so many people suffer from lack of basic health care in this day and age? Yes." It was further observed that when one steps "a little bit outside of that bubble and you see what sadly majority of the world lives don't have these easy access that we just don't even think twice about." This disparity was linked to a lack of investment. Williams herself conveyed her anticipation for the long-term outcomes of this partnership. "I feel like the most thing I'm looking forward to is 2030 and to see what the results are," she said. Her focus, she reiterated, is on "how many lives are these companies affecting and changing for the better." A key element of this new program is empowering women entrepreneurs. The discussion highlighted a "powerful shift where women entrepreneurs are not just included, they're not just backed funded, but they are empowered to lead the change." Catherine Casey of Acumen echoed this sentiment, stating, "When you invest in extraordinary women founders and with the right capital and support, they'll create thriving businesses that make their communities healthier." The call to action for aspiring healthcare entrepreneurs is clear. Williams concluded with a powerful message, urging the audience to "look at the change you can make when you invest in diversity." This initiative, launched from the global stage of Cannes Lions 2025, represents a fusion of strategic investment and social responsibility, aiming to leverage entrepreneurial spirit to address critical global health and hygiene challenges, with a keen eye on the long-term impact.
Forbes
16-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
2025 Forbes Iconoclast Summit: Global Venture Capital Signals and Sectors: Who's Investing Where And Why?
| Jun 16, 2025, 03:53PM EDT What are the trends and market signals driving venture and strategic corporate investments in today's fragmented startup landscape? VC and CVC investors are identifying exciting opportunities in consumer goods and beyond. What significant shifts do they see coming down the pike, and how are they thinking differently about today's investment landscape? Forbes Senior Writer Jabari Young is joined by Serena Ventures Managing Partner Beth Ferreira, CAVU Consumer Partners Cofounder & Managing Partner Brett Thomas, Philip Morris International Chief Strategy Officer and PM Equity President & Partner Waynn Wu at the 2025 Forbes Iconoclast Summit in New York City.
