1 00:00:02,240 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: This is Masters in Business with Barry Ridholts on Bloomberg Radio. 2 00:00:09,720 --> 00:00:13,200 Speaker 1: This week on Masters in Business, we have an extra 3 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:18,840 Speaker 1: extra special guest. She is perhaps the greatest tennis player 4 00:00:18,880 --> 00:00:22,119 Speaker 1: of all times. Her name is Serena Williams, and I 5 00:00:22,160 --> 00:00:26,239 Speaker 1: was fortunate enough to be able to interview her at 6 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:31,400 Speaker 1: an event recently down in Florida, where we discussed not 7 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:37,519 Speaker 1: only tennis, but business philanthropy, what it's like to be 8 00:00:37,680 --> 00:00:44,479 Speaker 1: so singularly focused on one single area for most of 9 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: your life. She was absolutely delightful. I found this to 10 00:00:48,479 --> 00:00:54,319 Speaker 1: be really a wonderful, uh conversation. It was actually at 11 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:58,240 Speaker 1: the Inside et F conference in Hollywood, Florida. There were 12 00:00:58,240 --> 00:01:02,360 Speaker 1: about people in the audience, and when she was introduced, 13 00:01:03,200 --> 00:01:07,000 Speaker 1: she came out to a standing ovation. It was actually 14 00:01:07,040 --> 00:01:11,080 Speaker 1: kind of funny because she's on stage waving to the 15 00:01:11,080 --> 00:01:13,480 Speaker 1: crowd and I'm kind of just waiting by the stairs, 16 00:01:13,560 --> 00:01:16,800 Speaker 1: not wanting to, you know, step on her applause line. 17 00:01:17,240 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 1: She kind of looked at me and Jess, come on, 18 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:21,720 Speaker 1: what are you doing. Let's go get out here. It was. 19 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:24,000 Speaker 1: It was pretty hilarious. I had a lot of fun 20 00:01:24,680 --> 00:01:27,760 Speaker 1: with her. Anytime I could could make her crack up. 21 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:32,040 Speaker 1: Was was um just charming. She she really was was 22 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: not only very thoughtful and savvy when it comes to business, 23 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: but just delightful and charming. It's amazing that someone who 24 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:45,600 Speaker 1: is as fierce a competitor as she is could be 25 00:01:45,760 --> 00:01:50,200 Speaker 1: so just, you know, lovely off court. Um. We did 26 00:01:50,240 --> 00:01:54,320 Speaker 1: play a couple of sets of tennis and she won 27 00:01:54,480 --> 00:01:57,200 Speaker 1: six three and seven six, so I have to give 28 00:01:57,200 --> 00:02:01,600 Speaker 1: her that. But all told, this was really a wonderful experience, 29 00:02:01,600 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: and I think you will find it every bit as 30 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: fascinating as I did. With no further ado, my conversation 31 00:02:08,200 --> 00:02:14,000 Speaker 1: with Serena Williams, which took place on January at the 32 00:02:14,120 --> 00:02:22,720 Speaker 1: Inside et f S conference in Hollywood, Florida. I said 33 00:02:22,760 --> 00:02:26,560 Speaker 1: earlier that I have the easiest job at this conference. 34 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: The whole weekend. I just get to sit out here 35 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,920 Speaker 1: and chat with Serena Williams for a few minutes. Serena, 36 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:33,920 Speaker 1: thank you so much for doing this. We've been looking 37 00:02:33,960 --> 00:02:38,600 Speaker 1: forward to it for a while. Um, let's start chatting 38 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:41,800 Speaker 1: a little bit about what's going on right now. It's 39 00:02:41,840 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 1: the Australian Open, potentially your four major title. How difficult 40 00:02:48,560 --> 00:02:53,480 Speaker 1: was it to make the decision not to compete in Melbourne. Um, 41 00:02:53,520 --> 00:02:57,360 Speaker 1: it wasn't that difficult actually to decide not to compete. 42 00:02:57,400 --> 00:03:01,480 Speaker 1: I I really when I was there, well, I wasn't there, 43 00:03:01,600 --> 00:03:04,440 Speaker 1: but when I was making the decision, UM, I didn't 44 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:08,040 Speaker 1: want to go to Australia just to compete. I wanted 45 00:03:08,080 --> 00:03:10,359 Speaker 1: to go or to any tournament just to compete. I 46 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:13,280 Speaker 1: want to go with the mindset, in the mind frame 47 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:15,800 Speaker 1: that I'm here to win. I'm not here just to 48 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:17,920 Speaker 1: show up and you know, just kind of take a 49 00:03:17,960 --> 00:03:21,160 Speaker 1: space in the room. Uh So for me, that was 50 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:23,520 Speaker 1: really important. And when I realized that if I went 51 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: to Australia, I would be just filling a seat, I 52 00:03:26,720 --> 00:03:30,560 Speaker 1: knew that that's not how I've traditionally done my career. 53 00:03:30,600 --> 00:03:34,519 Speaker 1: I've always entered with the mindset, frankly, to win. And yeah, 54 00:03:34,560 --> 00:03:36,640 Speaker 1: I don't want them all, but at least my mental 55 00:03:36,800 --> 00:03:40,600 Speaker 1: was there. So, um I I didn't make it, and 56 00:03:40,640 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: I'm okay with it. Have you been watching any of 57 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:47,000 Speaker 1: the Open I am a little bit not so much. Um. 58 00:03:47,000 --> 00:03:52,200 Speaker 1: I don't allow my daughter Olympia to watch too much TV. 59 00:03:53,160 --> 00:03:57,760 Speaker 1: So um so whenever she's like nap time or something 60 00:03:57,840 --> 00:04:00,480 Speaker 1: and I'm home, I turn it on. Really fast on, 61 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:02,520 Speaker 1: but when she comes down, I kind of turn it off. 62 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:07,760 Speaker 1: So you started playing tennis as a kid, what was 63 00:04:07,840 --> 00:04:11,000 Speaker 1: that like? Was that fun or did that become a chore? 64 00:04:11,160 --> 00:04:14,560 Speaker 1: Did that become a job? Um? It definitely was super 65 00:04:14,600 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: super fun in the beginning, but as like a nine 66 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:22,240 Speaker 1: eight year old kid, you definitely sometimes I want to 67 00:04:22,240 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: go out and play with other kids and do different things. 68 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: So then it became a little bit of a chore. 69 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:30,919 Speaker 1: Especially as a teenager, it was like more or less 70 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:35,160 Speaker 1: goal oriented oriented because you think of you see these players, 71 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:38,599 Speaker 1: you see these teenagers that are actually professional, and it's like, 72 00:04:38,640 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: oh my god, I want to do that too, And 73 00:04:40,839 --> 00:04:44,640 Speaker 1: you realize that all the time that before that you 74 00:04:44,760 --> 00:04:48,159 Speaker 1: wanted to, um go out there and just be a 75 00:04:48,240 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: kid and just to kind of play with everyone else. 76 00:04:49,960 --> 00:04:52,360 Speaker 1: You're you're really great purple those moments that you spent 77 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:56,080 Speaker 1: that few extra little bit of a time, you know, 78 00:04:56,200 --> 00:04:59,160 Speaker 1: just working on your craft. So you're a kid, you're 79 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,880 Speaker 1: playing some and as did you ever stop and think, 80 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:03,960 Speaker 1: I know I'm going to turn this into a career 81 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: and I can't even guess where this is going to 82 00:05:06,360 --> 00:05:08,840 Speaker 1: take me. There was there ever a moment like that 83 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:12,000 Speaker 1: where let's see where tennis could go. Well, my um 84 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:16,840 Speaker 1: my dad he was always super super positive with both 85 00:05:16,960 --> 00:05:19,440 Speaker 1: myself and my sister who you may or may not know, 86 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:26,800 Speaker 1: famous famous tennis where. Um So she My dad's was 87 00:05:26,839 --> 00:05:29,160 Speaker 1: always so positive and he always taught us to think 88 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:33,080 Speaker 1: incredibly positive. He said, you know, you are what you think. 89 00:05:33,160 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: If you think you're the best, you're going to be 90 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:37,560 Speaker 1: the best. If you think you're mediocre, you're gonna be mediocre. 91 00:05:38,160 --> 00:05:40,679 Speaker 1: So that's kind of followed me throughout my whole life. 92 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: Um So, I always thought I would be number one. 93 00:05:43,360 --> 00:05:45,240 Speaker 1: I always thought I would win a Grand Slam. I 94 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:49,400 Speaker 1: never thought I would have so many Grand slams. Um 95 00:05:50,320 --> 00:05:53,760 Speaker 1: but I always thought, you know, at some point that 96 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 1: I would have an opportunity to hold, in particular the 97 00:05:58,920 --> 00:06:03,719 Speaker 1: US Open trophy. So you're you've always been an excellent 98 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 1: physical condition as a competitor. How difficult is it to 99 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:13,440 Speaker 1: maintain that peak physical condition as well as the mental condition, 100 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:15,760 Speaker 1: because that's clearly a big part of your game. Yeah, 101 00:06:15,880 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 1: mental aspect is a huge part of my game. Um, 102 00:06:19,160 --> 00:06:23,200 Speaker 1: physical is tough as well. Uh, it's a part of 103 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:25,200 Speaker 1: the job. You know. One day a few years ago, 104 00:06:25,279 --> 00:06:28,039 Speaker 1: I described and I realized that for the first time, 105 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:31,840 Speaker 1: I realized that my job is to stay fit and uh, 106 00:06:32,080 --> 00:06:34,200 Speaker 1: simply put so, I was like, Okay, you have to 107 00:06:35,040 --> 00:06:37,359 Speaker 1: have a better diet, you have to do this is 108 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:40,560 Speaker 1: that's my job. Literally, that's my job. So that's not 109 00:06:40,600 --> 00:06:47,680 Speaker 1: my job. But no, but I was like, you know 110 00:06:47,720 --> 00:06:51,080 Speaker 1: at Serena, and that gave me the motivation to just 111 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:54,719 Speaker 1: to work harder on that. So sometimes breaking things down 112 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:59,120 Speaker 1: like simple, so simple like that just can also help. Um. 113 00:06:59,160 --> 00:07:02,160 Speaker 1: But mental has It's always been something innate for me. 114 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:05,479 Speaker 1: Like mentally, I've always just it always clicked. I've always 115 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:09,640 Speaker 1: wanted to be on top, to be holding the trophies too. 116 00:07:10,480 --> 00:07:13,920 Speaker 1: I've always wanted that. So mentally I knew what it 117 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:18,239 Speaker 1: took to get there. And physically, um, even today, I'm 118 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:23,440 Speaker 1: just like because trying to get back and trying to 119 00:07:23,480 --> 00:07:26,040 Speaker 1: get that physical back. I got the mental but I'm 120 00:07:26,080 --> 00:07:29,360 Speaker 1: just trying to get that physical back. So as we 121 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:32,440 Speaker 1: all get a little older, our body changes a little bit. 122 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:36,360 Speaker 1: You just had a baby, How does the physical training evolve? 123 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:39,560 Speaker 1: How do you adjust over time as your routine the 124 00:07:39,600 --> 00:07:41,600 Speaker 1: same as it was a couple of years ago. What 125 00:07:41,720 --> 00:07:44,920 Speaker 1: sort of adjustments have you made. Um. You know, throughout 126 00:07:44,960 --> 00:07:47,160 Speaker 1: the years, I make a lot of adjustments because I've 127 00:07:47,200 --> 00:07:52,560 Speaker 1: been playing professional for like for almost twenty years, so 128 00:07:52,640 --> 00:07:56,400 Speaker 1: it's a really long time. Um So throughout that time, 129 00:07:56,480 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: I just you know, make adjustments because if I were 130 00:07:59,160 --> 00:08:01,320 Speaker 1: doing the same thing twenty years later, I think I 131 00:08:01,320 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 1: would be a little bit tired and it just I 132 00:08:04,400 --> 00:08:07,880 Speaker 1: wouldn't want to do it anymore. So every few years, 133 00:08:07,920 --> 00:08:11,280 Speaker 1: I reinvent myself. I try to reinvent exercise. And also 134 00:08:11,360 --> 00:08:15,360 Speaker 1: technology has really changed a lot in terms of helping 135 00:08:15,480 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: athletes perform better, perform longer. To see lots of athletes 136 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:22,400 Speaker 1: and all sports, um that are playing deeper and playing 137 00:08:22,400 --> 00:08:26,200 Speaker 1: and when they're a lot older. Um, So that's been 138 00:08:26,240 --> 00:08:28,800 Speaker 1: super helpful for me. And also lots of new studies 139 00:08:28,880 --> 00:08:33,040 Speaker 1: came out that was able to help performance peak of athletes. 140 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 1: So um, it's been really interesting so that those that 141 00:08:36,800 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: type of stuff wasn't available you know, ten, fifteen, twenty 142 00:08:41,120 --> 00:08:43,800 Speaker 1: years ago, and it just started becoming more available in 143 00:08:43,800 --> 00:08:48,600 Speaker 1: the past you know, seven years or so, and that's 144 00:08:48,600 --> 00:08:51,319 Speaker 1: really been helped with me to be able to continue 145 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:55,920 Speaker 1: to evolve, which raises the next question, how much longer 146 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:58,679 Speaker 1: do you want to play for professionally. Yeah, I don't know. 147 00:08:58,920 --> 00:09:00,600 Speaker 1: I don't know. I feel like there's one day I'm 148 00:09:00,600 --> 00:09:03,640 Speaker 1: gonna wake up and I'm gonna say I'm done. Um, 149 00:09:03,760 --> 00:09:07,319 Speaker 1: And I know that when that will be, and I'll 150 00:09:07,320 --> 00:09:09,960 Speaker 1: know the feeling. And I don't have that feeling yet. 151 00:09:10,000 --> 00:09:13,679 Speaker 1: I didn't have it, um, you know in the last 152 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 1: year with everything that happened, and you know, so when 153 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:20,240 Speaker 1: it comes, I don't know. So you're at twenty three, 154 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 1: Margaret Court is a twenty four? Is it safe to 155 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:28,560 Speaker 1: say you want to go to well, you know, it's 156 00:09:28,800 --> 00:09:33,600 Speaker 1: it's no secret anymore that, um, Margaret Court. I mean 157 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:36,319 Speaker 1: that I would love to catch up with Margaret Court. Um. 158 00:09:36,400 --> 00:09:38,600 Speaker 1: She played in a different era, so her twenty four 159 00:09:38,640 --> 00:09:43,000 Speaker 1: Grand Slams were a little bit different than the open 160 00:09:43,080 --> 00:09:47,800 Speaker 1: air tennis. Long story, but arguably what you did was 161 00:09:47,920 --> 00:09:50,600 Speaker 1: harder than what she did. Yeah, it was, yes, because 162 00:09:50,640 --> 00:09:53,400 Speaker 1: it was a different draw and it was their different elements. 163 00:09:53,480 --> 00:09:56,680 Speaker 1: So they changed it and I think the sixties or 164 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:59,880 Speaker 1: to open air tennis, and so that's when it will 165 00:09:59,920 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: be came people like me playing. She also incidentally played 166 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:06,480 Speaker 1: an open air and tennis and won several Grand Slams 167 00:10:06,480 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 1: an open air, so that was really awesome for her too. 168 00:10:09,800 --> 00:10:18,240 Speaker 1: Um but um wait, what was your question? How far? 169 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: How high do you want to set the bar for 170 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:25,199 Speaker 1: whoever comes after you? All right? Um, I think it's 171 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:28,560 Speaker 1: interesting when I there was eighteen was my first goal 172 00:10:29,760 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 1: because Chris Everard and Martin Avratlova they both had eighteen 173 00:10:33,320 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: Grand Slams each, and um, that was the thing. I 174 00:10:37,679 --> 00:10:39,360 Speaker 1: was like, I got it and I had seventeen. At 175 00:10:39,360 --> 00:10:40,880 Speaker 1: the time, I was like, I gotta get to eighteen. 176 00:10:40,920 --> 00:10:42,480 Speaker 1: I've got to get to eighteen. I've got to get 177 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:45,760 Speaker 1: to eighteen. And then I put so much pressure on 178 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,400 Speaker 1: myself that I lost three in a row. I lost 179 00:10:48,400 --> 00:10:50,560 Speaker 1: three Grand Slams in a row, really really bad, and 180 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:53,280 Speaker 1: I couldn't play. It was just way too much pressure. 181 00:10:53,400 --> 00:10:56,160 Speaker 1: And I talked to my coach and he sat me 182 00:10:56,200 --> 00:10:59,440 Speaker 1: down and he said, why are you trying to get 183 00:10:59,480 --> 00:11:02,600 Speaker 1: to eighteen? And this makes no sense, Like everyone puts 184 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:06,640 Speaker 1: all this pressure on you. Um, your goal should be 185 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:10,360 Speaker 1: thirty or forty. Eighteen is such a logal Yeah, no 186 00:11:10,440 --> 00:11:14,440 Speaker 1: pressure there so, but to me it made sense because 187 00:11:14,600 --> 00:11:18,160 Speaker 1: I set my goal for just what was in sight, 188 00:11:18,440 --> 00:11:22,720 Speaker 1: and I think subconsciously a lot of people set their 189 00:11:22,720 --> 00:11:25,360 Speaker 1: goal on what's already there, why not reach for a 190 00:11:25,440 --> 00:11:29,520 Speaker 1: higher goal. And so I really learned from that that, Yeah, 191 00:11:29,600 --> 00:11:32,920 Speaker 1: Margaret Court has twenty four, but why would I want 192 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 1: to reach for that when there's more? And so, um, 193 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:40,040 Speaker 1: that conversation really helped me ended up winning. I think 194 00:11:40,080 --> 00:11:43,400 Speaker 1: it was the US Open after that, um, and I 195 00:11:43,480 --> 00:11:46,040 Speaker 1: just was able to relax. And so to answer your question, 196 00:11:46,480 --> 00:11:49,280 Speaker 1: I don't know. I'll just whatever I'm able to get, 197 00:11:49,360 --> 00:11:51,920 Speaker 1: if any Um, that's what I'll be going for. You 198 00:11:52,000 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: did a recent Vanity Fair cover and in the article 199 00:11:55,559 --> 00:11:59,200 Speaker 1: you discuss how once you stopped focusing on the short 200 00:11:59,320 --> 00:12:02,440 Speaker 1: term and relax it really just changed the game for 201 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 1: you and it became more fun to discuss that a 202 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:08,880 Speaker 1: little bit. Yeah, it's on, don't you stop. Once I 203 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:12,120 Speaker 1: stopped looking at the short term, I was just able 204 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 1: like something released. It was like this something chemically released 205 00:12:15,840 --> 00:12:18,200 Speaker 1: in me, and I totally relaxed. I think I went 206 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:21,520 Speaker 1: four in a row at that point, and um, it 207 00:12:21,679 --> 00:12:24,600 Speaker 1: was just it was a lot easier. You know, sometimes 208 00:12:24,679 --> 00:12:27,320 Speaker 1: I think I know I and I think we a 209 00:12:27,320 --> 00:12:29,959 Speaker 1: lot of people in this room. He real late put 210 00:12:30,000 --> 00:12:32,200 Speaker 1: a lot of pressure on yourselves and and and it's 211 00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:35,040 Speaker 1: you know, it's hard, so you just have to kind 212 00:12:35,040 --> 00:12:37,760 Speaker 1: of just take a deep breath and you know, almost 213 00:12:37,760 --> 00:12:39,959 Speaker 1: sometimes take a step back and then take those three 214 00:12:40,000 --> 00:12:42,920 Speaker 1: steps forward. So so let's talk about the people in 215 00:12:42,960 --> 00:12:46,400 Speaker 1: the room and the business that you're in. Um, it 216 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:49,200 Speaker 1: turns out that you and I both played tennis with 217 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:53,640 Speaker 1: the same racket. The Wilson Blade one oh four you 218 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:58,240 Speaker 1: use it to hit, serves a hundred twenty nine. It's 219 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: kind of neon green and black and cool. That's why 220 00:13:00,640 --> 00:13:06,600 Speaker 1: I use it. How how important is your equipment to you? 221 00:13:07,240 --> 00:13:10,280 Speaker 1: And what is decision making process like saying I'm going 222 00:13:10,320 --> 00:13:17,319 Speaker 1: to use these sneakers and this racket. Um, equipment is important. 223 00:13:18,280 --> 00:13:22,439 Speaker 1: I feel like if you're Sometimes I've noticed that some 224 00:13:22,600 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: players will switch equipments because equipment because um, they have 225 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:32,760 Speaker 1: a sponsor that will pay them more. Then they'll start losing. 226 00:13:33,200 --> 00:13:37,560 Speaker 1: So it's like, it's so important to have the right equipment. 227 00:13:37,600 --> 00:13:38,920 Speaker 1: You don't want to go out on the court with 228 00:13:38,960 --> 00:13:41,920 Speaker 1: a pair of shoes. It's gonna break, You're probably gonna 229 00:13:41,960 --> 00:13:44,480 Speaker 1: start losing matches. In the long run, it ends up 230 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:47,920 Speaker 1: being bad for you. So the equipment is key. You 231 00:13:47,960 --> 00:13:50,520 Speaker 1: really have to have a really good equipment, and uh, 232 00:13:50,600 --> 00:13:52,320 Speaker 1: I have to say and vouch that you have a 233 00:13:52,360 --> 00:13:55,680 Speaker 1: gray racket, okay, and you know I can't do the 234 00:13:55,720 --> 00:13:58,320 Speaker 1: same things with it, but I can occasionally hit the 235 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:00,600 Speaker 1: ball over the net, which is which a good start. 236 00:14:01,280 --> 00:14:05,559 Speaker 1: So you mentioned sponsors, What is the process like designing 237 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:08,000 Speaker 1: who do you want to work with as a sponsor 238 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:13,199 Speaker 1: as an endorsement. The professional sports game has changed where 239 00:14:13,320 --> 00:14:16,520 Speaker 1: that's really a substantial for those people who I wish 240 00:14:16,520 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 1: Allen was out here to discuss the economics of sports. 241 00:14:20,280 --> 00:14:24,840 Speaker 1: Um but that's an enormous portion of revenue for for professionals. 242 00:14:25,400 --> 00:14:28,520 Speaker 1: What is that decision making process? Like you, you work with, 243 00:14:29,080 --> 00:14:32,760 Speaker 1: you work with Wilson, you work with um it's still 244 00:14:32,800 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 1: doing Nike, um, I forgot the watch company Piagre or 245 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:42,960 Speaker 1: orm Presume okay, and but there's a run of different sponsors. 246 00:14:43,280 --> 00:14:47,680 Speaker 1: What is that process like um SO for me? When 247 00:14:47,680 --> 00:14:50,360 Speaker 1: you know, when when I the further one I got 248 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:54,640 Speaker 1: in my career, I really became a lot involved with philanthropy. 249 00:14:54,720 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 1: And you know, honestly, when I was younger, I always 250 00:14:58,280 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: was I've always wanted to I um SO one of 251 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:06,600 Speaker 1: the foundations that I look at for a sponsor is 252 00:15:06,800 --> 00:15:10,320 Speaker 1: someone that says, this is what we can do for 253 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:12,560 Speaker 1: your foundation, this is what we can donate, this is 254 00:15:12,560 --> 00:15:14,840 Speaker 1: how we can help you come up with different ideas, 255 00:15:15,440 --> 00:15:18,760 Speaker 1: this is how we can be involved. And so for me, 256 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: that means a lot to me, because I don't want 257 00:15:22,000 --> 00:15:25,560 Speaker 1: to be involved with the company that genuinely doesn't care 258 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:30,960 Speaker 1: about the world that we live in. UM. So there's 259 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:33,160 Speaker 1: been so many times I've turned down things because they 260 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 1: just didn't fit with who Serena as an individual and 261 00:15:36,560 --> 00:15:39,560 Speaker 1: as a person is. And then I have other companies 262 00:15:39,760 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: that I do work with. They all definitely have given 263 00:15:44,560 --> 00:15:47,000 Speaker 1: and want to give and have given a lot to 264 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: their own various charities and things that they do as well. 265 00:15:50,520 --> 00:15:53,680 Speaker 1: So that's super super important to me. UM also have 266 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:56,960 Speaker 1: to believe in the product, So I'm not gonna use 267 00:15:57,080 --> 00:16:02,480 Speaker 1: something that I just don't believe in. Friends Wilson actually 268 00:16:03,280 --> 00:16:08,320 Speaker 1: use them. When I was like six years old, I 269 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,200 Speaker 1: was using a Wilson racket. They didn't pay me. I 270 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:15,240 Speaker 1: just love the product. So UM when the opportunity came 271 00:16:15,280 --> 00:16:19,160 Speaker 1: to sign with Wilson, I was overjoyed. I was like, 272 00:16:19,640 --> 00:16:22,400 Speaker 1: oh my goodness, this is what I use. Yeah, this 273 00:16:22,520 --> 00:16:25,600 Speaker 1: is great. You know, so I don't when I when 274 00:16:25,640 --> 00:16:29,600 Speaker 1: I do endure something, it's genuine. Another example's Gatorade. I'm 275 00:16:29,600 --> 00:16:35,440 Speaker 1: from Compton, California, and we couldn't really afford to buy Gatorade. 276 00:16:35,640 --> 00:16:38,680 Speaker 1: So sometimes we'll be practicing on the public courts and 277 00:16:38,760 --> 00:16:40,640 Speaker 1: my dad would leave the courts and go around the 278 00:16:40,680 --> 00:16:45,280 Speaker 1: corner to the to the little um Corner market and 279 00:16:45,320 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: he would buy one Gatorade. Back then, it was like 280 00:16:47,320 --> 00:16:50,360 Speaker 1: in a glass bottle and we would all share it, 281 00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:53,320 Speaker 1: and it was the treat of the life for me, 282 00:16:54,040 --> 00:16:58,040 Speaker 1: you know. And so when an opportunity came up for 283 00:16:58,120 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: me to be indorsed with Gatorade, I almost touch faint it. 284 00:17:03,160 --> 00:17:05,200 Speaker 1: It was just because it was like, I've been using 285 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,119 Speaker 1: this fear. This is what I use, is what I 286 00:17:07,160 --> 00:17:09,879 Speaker 1: do all my life, and it just tells such a 287 00:17:09,920 --> 00:17:13,879 Speaker 1: great story. So a lot of the time, and I 288 00:17:13,920 --> 00:17:16,560 Speaker 1: think every athlete kind of wants to be with Nike. 289 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:19,960 Speaker 1: So um, that was like that was another one that 290 00:17:20,080 --> 00:17:23,440 Speaker 1: was just really genuine. So I always follow those guidelines. 291 00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:25,760 Speaker 1: I always try to be true to myself. You're you're 292 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: not gonna see someone different here and then meet me 293 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:33,040 Speaker 1: somewhere and see a totally different individual. So I always 294 00:17:33,040 --> 00:17:35,200 Speaker 1: try to be true to myself and true to people 295 00:17:35,240 --> 00:17:40,080 Speaker 1: that I line up with. You're dressed quite fashionably this evening. 296 00:17:40,440 --> 00:17:43,720 Speaker 1: You started a fashion line. How did that come about? 297 00:17:43,760 --> 00:17:50,160 Speaker 1: And how hands on are you with with a fashion line? Um? 298 00:17:50,280 --> 00:17:53,240 Speaker 1: So I'm very hands on, maybe two hands on. I'm 299 00:17:53,280 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: going to have to figure out a way to take 300 00:17:56,320 --> 00:17:59,840 Speaker 1: at least one hand out. Um. I went to art school. 301 00:18:00,160 --> 00:18:02,440 Speaker 1: I went to the artist dude to Fort Lauderdo, which 302 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:08,000 Speaker 1: is just down the street from here, um, whoop, whoop um, 303 00:18:08,040 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 1: And I studied fashion. So when I was when I 304 00:18:10,400 --> 00:18:14,520 Speaker 1: was young, I used to we couldn't you could? You know, 305 00:18:14,640 --> 00:18:16,600 Speaker 1: you have a baby doll and you can change, you 306 00:18:16,600 --> 00:18:19,080 Speaker 1: can buy different outfits for it, but we couldn't afford 307 00:18:19,119 --> 00:18:21,840 Speaker 1: the outfit. So my mom taught us how to sew, 308 00:18:22,440 --> 00:18:25,200 Speaker 1: and I would always make my baby doll different outfits 309 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:28,119 Speaker 1: from socks that I probably looking back that I probably stole, 310 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:32,120 Speaker 1: Like why did I get those socks? Um? So I'd 311 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:35,000 Speaker 1: always make different outfits from I had like a million dollars. 312 00:18:35,359 --> 00:18:39,399 Speaker 1: I always make different outfits for my baby dolls. So, um, 313 00:18:39,440 --> 00:18:42,280 Speaker 1: you know, I've always just been a fashion person and 314 00:18:42,280 --> 00:18:45,359 Speaker 1: have always loved designing and I designed everything I did 315 00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:49,560 Speaker 1: for I've been wearing on the court most collections, not all, UM, 316 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:52,960 Speaker 1: but a lot of the collections I designed for UM. 317 00:18:53,000 --> 00:18:55,879 Speaker 1: And so it was a no brainer after going to 318 00:18:55,920 --> 00:18:58,480 Speaker 1: school studying it to start a collections. So I did. 319 00:18:58,520 --> 00:19:02,680 Speaker 1: I've done that for our don't know nine to eight 320 00:19:02,760 --> 00:19:07,160 Speaker 1: nine years and now I'm starting a different collection. So UM, yeah, 321 00:19:07,200 --> 00:19:08,880 Speaker 1: it's it's been really fun. It's a lot of work. 322 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 1: Like I said, I'm incredibly hands on, but because I 323 00:19:11,400 --> 00:19:13,760 Speaker 1: know the art and I know the skill, and it's 324 00:19:13,800 --> 00:19:16,960 Speaker 1: not something I'm just putting my name on and then 325 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:20,240 Speaker 1: just um going out to practice, which is wouldn't be 326 00:19:20,280 --> 00:19:22,240 Speaker 1: a bad thing because I could use a little extra 327 00:19:22,240 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: practice nowadays. But UM, I'm super involved. So you're also 328 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:32,040 Speaker 1: involved in a number of boards of directors. What asset 329 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,200 Speaker 1: do you bring to these boards? And these are not 330 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:38,680 Speaker 1: just similar to the fashion You're not just putting your 331 00:19:39,080 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 1: name on this. These are real time consuming UM meetings 332 00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:48,480 Speaker 1: where important decisions get made. Yeah, very important decisions get made. UM. 333 00:19:49,400 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: Tell us the boards you're on as a as a start, 334 00:19:51,720 --> 00:19:55,879 Speaker 1: why just recently joined the board of survey Monkey. UM. 335 00:19:56,800 --> 00:20:01,120 Speaker 1: A lot of businesses use them very very very big company. UM. 336 00:20:01,160 --> 00:20:03,199 Speaker 1: So that was really exciting me. In fact, we had 337 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:06,960 Speaker 1: a call yesterday. We have a meeting in February. First 338 00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: Q one meeting is in February, so that was exciting 339 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:13,919 Speaker 1: for me. UM. I just joined a board with a 340 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:18,840 Speaker 1: Billy jan King just for UM that helps involves different 341 00:20:18,840 --> 00:20:23,199 Speaker 1: foundations in terms of making change inequality, which is again 342 00:20:23,320 --> 00:20:26,760 Speaker 1: something that I truly truly believe in. And uh I 343 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:30,320 Speaker 1: got asked to join another board UM a few days 344 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:34,240 Speaker 1: ago for a new sports league that's starting that I'm 345 00:20:34,320 --> 00:20:37,480 Speaker 1: deciding whether I would join it or not. But um, 346 00:20:37,520 --> 00:20:42,640 Speaker 1: it's interesting because I have always had this really side 347 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,360 Speaker 1: business mind that I often bring to the court with 348 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: me and that I have always just just just had 349 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:52,640 Speaker 1: and I like to say I got it from my dad. 350 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:56,600 Speaker 1: But UM, I love it. I really love being a 351 00:20:56,640 --> 00:20:59,520 Speaker 1: part of the boards. I love my first board meeting, 352 00:20:59,520 --> 00:21:01,560 Speaker 1: while was a little nervous, I just kind of sat 353 00:21:01,600 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 1: there with like a deer in headlines like should I 354 00:21:03,800 --> 00:21:07,199 Speaker 1: say something, should not say something? What do I do? Um? 355 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:10,320 Speaker 1: The second one I was I was in giving birth 356 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:13,040 Speaker 1: and I missed that one, so I was like, I promise, guys, 357 00:21:13,080 --> 00:21:16,400 Speaker 1: it's not my fault. The baby's going So that one 358 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 1: was really tough, but UM, I will all be at 359 00:21:18,600 --> 00:21:22,040 Speaker 1: the next one, and UM it's good. Like you said, 360 00:21:22,040 --> 00:21:24,480 Speaker 1: a ton of decisions are made about the about the 361 00:21:24,560 --> 00:21:27,520 Speaker 1: company and about how it's gonna be rant run and 362 00:21:27,520 --> 00:21:31,800 Speaker 1: and how how it's gonna do. You're also on the 363 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:36,840 Speaker 1: board of the new Verizon ao L Yahoo Comb. Yes, 364 00:21:37,280 --> 00:21:41,280 Speaker 1: so you have you seem to have an inclination towards technology. 365 00:21:41,359 --> 00:21:44,680 Speaker 1: I know, it's yeah, all right, I'm actually we're I'm 366 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:48,680 Speaker 1: actually I'm Tim Armstrong wanted me to be the chairman 367 00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:51,359 Speaker 1: of the board of advisors on that one. So we 368 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:54,560 Speaker 1: have tons of meetings coming up because we have our 369 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:57,600 Speaker 1: our first board meetings for OATH it's a new al 370 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:01,480 Speaker 1: Verison company. UM, so we have our first board meeting 371 00:22:02,440 --> 00:22:04,440 Speaker 1: Q our first que one actually is in a couple 372 00:22:04,480 --> 00:22:08,040 Speaker 1: of weeks, so we're excited about that one as well. UM, 373 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:10,600 Speaker 1: that's a great opportunity. I do love technology, and like 374 00:22:10,640 --> 00:22:15,520 Speaker 1: I was saying earlier, UM, technology affects our lives, from 375 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:20,520 Speaker 1: sport to equipment, to running a company to running business 376 00:22:20,600 --> 00:22:23,959 Speaker 1: like survey Monkey, Like it really affects our lives. And 377 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:29,320 Speaker 1: so for me, UM, I've always been. Especially I think, um, 378 00:22:29,359 --> 00:22:31,240 Speaker 1: a lot of people now are really trying to get 379 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:33,919 Speaker 1: into tech and just trying to think, well, what's the future, 380 00:22:34,040 --> 00:22:38,640 Speaker 1: What's what's the next Facebook, what's the next you know, Tesla, um, 381 00:22:38,760 --> 00:22:44,120 Speaker 1: and and just figure out. Basically it's cliche in San 382 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:47,320 Speaker 1: Francisco to say change the world, but that's what these 383 00:22:47,359 --> 00:22:50,640 Speaker 1: companies are doing. That these companies are changing the way 384 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:54,040 Speaker 1: people think, the way people function, to way people drive, 385 00:22:54,240 --> 00:22:59,000 Speaker 1: the way people catch rides, um, the way people ask questions. 386 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:03,239 Speaker 1: So oh, um, this is this is a new this 387 00:23:03,320 --> 00:23:05,520 Speaker 1: is a new time, and I'm and I don't want 388 00:23:05,520 --> 00:23:08,320 Speaker 1: to be left behind. I want to be a part 389 00:23:08,359 --> 00:23:10,320 Speaker 1: of that new time. So I always try to educate 390 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:14,280 Speaker 1: myself and try to stay at So who are you? 391 00:23:14,320 --> 00:23:17,280 Speaker 1: Obviously have an enormous background in sports, and there were 392 00:23:17,280 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 1: a number of people who mentored you and that who 393 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:24,040 Speaker 1: were your business mentors. So my business mentors are One 394 00:23:24,080 --> 00:23:28,320 Speaker 1: of my business mentors are is Cheryl Sandberg, which she's 395 00:23:28,359 --> 00:23:31,800 Speaker 1: so she's so great. Um, she's been very, very amazing. 396 00:23:31,880 --> 00:23:34,200 Speaker 1: She actually was very helpful with getting me on that 397 00:23:34,359 --> 00:23:38,359 Speaker 1: survey Monkey board. UM. In fact, she recommended me and 398 00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:42,800 Speaker 1: wanted me on that one. UM. Hannah Wintour was another 399 00:23:43,280 --> 00:23:47,880 Speaker 1: very very powerful woman, super super super smart. Um Tim 400 00:23:47,960 --> 00:23:50,720 Speaker 1: Armstrong and I've gotten incredibly clothes. He's the CEO of 401 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:54,919 Speaker 1: A O L and now Verizon All yeah who combination. 402 00:23:55,800 --> 00:23:58,680 Speaker 1: Um yeah, I have quite a few, but it's it's 403 00:23:58,680 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 1: been really great. Um, Alexis Ohanian, I probably should mention him. 404 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:08,960 Speaker 1: We're married, so found founder of Reddit. How much time 405 00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:14,760 Speaker 1: do you spend trolling around on on subreddits? Um? He 406 00:24:14,920 --> 00:24:18,520 Speaker 1: really more le more does VC work now more than anything. 407 00:24:19,000 --> 00:24:26,240 Speaker 1: So he has a VC firm. Um, oh god initialized? Okay, Um, 408 00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:29,960 Speaker 1: he's had it for many years, but um, he's definitely 409 00:24:30,040 --> 00:24:33,840 Speaker 1: doing a d percent of initialized now. So that's super cool. 410 00:24:33,960 --> 00:24:37,440 Speaker 1: That's super fun. That's a whole different investing and and 411 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:39,639 Speaker 1: and just a whole different side and a whole different 412 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:42,840 Speaker 1: world that I'm part of as well. But it's fun. 413 00:24:42,840 --> 00:24:45,199 Speaker 1: It's it's really fun to see him, you know, go 414 00:24:45,280 --> 00:24:48,480 Speaker 1: to work and go to bat for that and you know, 415 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:52,840 Speaker 1: basically throwing a baseball in the air and hoping it 416 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:57,880 Speaker 1: lands in a hoop. It's crazy. So tennis obviously has 417 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:01,160 Speaker 1: a lot of parallel as to the world's of business. 418 00:25:01,640 --> 00:25:05,600 Speaker 1: What has tennis? What you about business. Well, Tennis has 419 00:25:05,640 --> 00:25:09,159 Speaker 1: taught me UM that it's important to stay focused in 420 00:25:09,200 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: your business. So for instance, when I started my investing, UM, 421 00:25:13,640 --> 00:25:18,200 Speaker 1: it was very another mentor of mine. UM he also 422 00:25:18,359 --> 00:25:22,920 Speaker 1: is uh one of the pinterest main pinterest people. He 423 00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:27,879 Speaker 1: was telling me that it's very important to to have 424 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:30,959 Speaker 1: a focus. And I'm like, I could focus. I can 425 00:25:31,000 --> 00:25:33,160 Speaker 1: do that. I do that in Tennis a lot. So 426 00:25:33,280 --> 00:25:35,120 Speaker 1: but he would say that you could have a focus 427 00:25:35,200 --> 00:25:37,520 Speaker 1: on what you want to do. So I knew that 428 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:42,560 Speaker 1: I wanted. My focus was going to be. UM. Female 429 00:25:42,880 --> 00:25:48,920 Speaker 1: founders another focus of mine were UM, oh my gosh, 430 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:52,040 Speaker 1: I think I have mom brain. I have a really 431 00:25:52,040 --> 00:25:58,840 Speaker 1: bad case. Um, oh my goodness, good lord anywhere, So 432 00:25:58,960 --> 00:26:02,159 Speaker 1: let's talk about your sundation. Then, yes, I can't think 433 00:26:02,200 --> 00:26:03,679 Speaker 1: of the word. I'm kind of mad. Now I know 434 00:26:03,760 --> 00:26:05,760 Speaker 1: we're on time. Then I tell you, it only gets 435 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:10,640 Speaker 1: worse as you get all different equality. Equality. So I'm 436 00:26:10,680 --> 00:26:14,280 Speaker 1: looking for you know, people equality as well, so different 437 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:18,520 Speaker 1: races and so for me that's super important and so 438 00:26:18,680 --> 00:26:22,359 Speaker 1: that's what I focus on. So let's let's bring up 439 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:27,400 Speaker 1: the foundation because you specifically establish this to promote equity 440 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:31,800 Speaker 1: through education, gender, race, disability, anything that stands in the 441 00:26:31,880 --> 00:26:36,240 Speaker 1: way of a person achieving UH their potential. First, that's 442 00:26:36,280 --> 00:26:40,119 Speaker 1: a giant target. So I have to ask, what are 443 00:26:40,119 --> 00:26:42,720 Speaker 1: you doing to accomplish that target? And how do you 444 00:26:42,760 --> 00:26:47,359 Speaker 1: measure if you're actually making progress? Because really, just making 445 00:26:47,440 --> 00:26:51,040 Speaker 1: everybody better, that's a pretty big bogey, it is. But 446 00:26:52,200 --> 00:26:55,600 Speaker 1: the thing we strive is to make one person better, 447 00:26:55,840 --> 00:26:58,280 Speaker 1: because that one person can make one person, and that 448 00:26:58,359 --> 00:27:01,119 Speaker 1: one person and make one person before you know it, 449 00:27:01,119 --> 00:27:03,760 Speaker 1: it makes a lot of people better. Hopefully it's more 450 00:27:03,800 --> 00:27:07,359 Speaker 1: than one person, but usually we just strive for just 451 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:11,440 Speaker 1: that one to make that one person better. And UM, 452 00:27:11,480 --> 00:27:15,359 Speaker 1: for me, I think that is super important to UH 453 00:27:15,400 --> 00:27:19,720 Speaker 1: to do. So let's talk a little about some personal stuff. UM. 454 00:27:19,760 --> 00:27:22,960 Speaker 1: What athletes do you follow on social media? I noticed 455 00:27:23,320 --> 00:27:26,520 Speaker 1: you've retweeted Kobe a couple of times. Who else do 456 00:27:26,560 --> 00:27:31,800 Speaker 1: you follow? I follow Kobe, I follow UM. I don't 457 00:27:31,960 --> 00:27:36,639 Speaker 1: follow a lot of the rule I think I follow Lebron, Jamee. UM, 458 00:27:36,640 --> 00:27:42,119 Speaker 1: I follow Venus. That doesn't count, though. I follow a 459 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:45,879 Speaker 1: lot of tennis players. I followed Caroline was NIACKI I 460 00:27:46,040 --> 00:27:50,720 Speaker 1: follow Were you watching her today? No? I was practicing myself, 461 00:27:50,720 --> 00:27:52,960 Speaker 1: but I was happy she won. She didn't just win, 462 00:27:53,040 --> 00:27:56,479 Speaker 1: she coasted. Yeah it was good. I was happy for 463 00:27:56,760 --> 00:28:00,800 Speaker 1: But you mentioned Venus. So you have a number of 464 00:28:00,960 --> 00:28:05,080 Speaker 1: Olympic golds, both for singles and doubles with your sister. 465 00:28:05,800 --> 00:28:11,320 Speaker 1: How do the Olympics differ from regular open competition. I 466 00:28:12,080 --> 00:28:15,359 Speaker 1: I love the Olympics. A tennis player never grew up 467 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:18,720 Speaker 1: thought about playing the Olympics. We thought about US Open, Wimbledon, 468 00:28:19,280 --> 00:28:22,080 Speaker 1: Australian Open, French Open, and that was it. So when 469 00:28:22,080 --> 00:28:24,399 Speaker 1: there was an opportunity to play for the Olympics, you know, 470 00:28:24,440 --> 00:28:27,439 Speaker 1: it's like, you know, it's that Sully. And then when 471 00:28:27,480 --> 00:28:30,800 Speaker 1: you go and you see all these athletes from all 472 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:35,840 Speaker 1: these different countries and this is their life every once 473 00:28:35,960 --> 00:28:38,960 Speaker 1: every four years, this is this is their moment in 474 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:42,280 Speaker 1: time and they may never come back, and you realize 475 00:28:42,320 --> 00:28:45,840 Speaker 1: how amazing it is to hold a gold medal that 476 00:28:46,200 --> 00:28:48,720 Speaker 1: someone else has as well, in a field that they've 477 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:53,480 Speaker 1: worked for for twenty years plus, for just that one day. 478 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:58,080 Speaker 1: And as much as I love my Grand Slams trophies, 479 00:28:58,160 --> 00:29:01,120 Speaker 1: which I would never give up, I for me, my 480 00:29:01,240 --> 00:29:04,800 Speaker 1: Limbit gold medals mean more to me. So tell us 481 00:29:04,840 --> 00:29:09,240 Speaker 1: something important that people don't know about your background. Well, 482 00:29:09,640 --> 00:29:11,800 Speaker 1: that's I told you about the tennis story and the 483 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 1: gatorade and the Wilson one, the fashion one. Guys probably 484 00:29:17,160 --> 00:29:21,920 Speaker 1: didn't know that one. Um Oh, I was, well, I'm 485 00:29:21,960 --> 00:29:26,320 Speaker 1: going back to but I'm studying. Um I like again, 486 00:29:26,360 --> 00:29:30,320 Speaker 1: I'm going back. Wh'm studying premed at u Massa and 487 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:32,840 Speaker 1: what do you want to do with premed? So the 488 00:29:32,840 --> 00:29:35,720 Speaker 1: whole point of me studying premed was because I like 489 00:29:35,840 --> 00:29:39,200 Speaker 1: a holistic approach of medicine UM, and I wanted just 490 00:29:39,240 --> 00:29:41,640 Speaker 1: to have that. You know, in order to do the 491 00:29:41,640 --> 00:29:45,520 Speaker 1: holistic background, you still have to have the premed um. 492 00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:48,560 Speaker 1: But the whole purpose was if I ever had kids 493 00:29:49,000 --> 00:29:50,920 Speaker 1: that way, you know, I'd be able to know what 494 00:29:51,040 --> 00:29:53,800 Speaker 1: to do, what not to do, and how to help 495 00:29:53,840 --> 00:29:55,560 Speaker 1: them and how to not help them. And so then 496 00:29:55,600 --> 00:29:59,239 Speaker 1: Olympia popped up and it was just like, oh, so 497 00:29:59,320 --> 00:30:03,760 Speaker 1: let's talk. Let's talk about books. You you travel a lot. 498 00:30:03,800 --> 00:30:06,040 Speaker 1: I have to thank you're reading all the time on planes. 499 00:30:06,160 --> 00:30:09,800 Speaker 1: What have you tell us about some of your favorite books? Um? 500 00:30:09,840 --> 00:30:15,880 Speaker 1: I love autobiographies. UM I read Cheryl Samberg wrote two books. 501 00:30:15,880 --> 00:30:20,239 Speaker 1: You wrote Leman and then Option B. Yeah, which was 502 00:30:21,080 --> 00:30:25,840 Speaker 1: they're both great books. Also love to read fantasy novels 503 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:30,640 Speaker 1: like dragons and stuff like. Give us a title. Well, 504 00:30:30,640 --> 00:30:34,080 Speaker 1: there's this book called fable Haven that I love. Obviously 505 00:30:34,160 --> 00:30:37,120 Speaker 1: I loved all the Harry Potter books. Um. I just 506 00:30:37,240 --> 00:30:41,440 Speaker 1: recently read this book sky Raiders, which is another Brandon 507 00:30:41,560 --> 00:30:44,040 Speaker 1: Meal book. Okay, I'm talking way too much about that. 508 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:49,600 Speaker 1: Clearly that's the majority of my reading. Tell us about 509 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:51,760 Speaker 1: a time you failed. It could be on the quarter 510 00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:57,320 Speaker 1: or fail failed, and what did you learn from it? Um? 511 00:30:57,520 --> 00:30:59,600 Speaker 1: I don't know. I felt a lot. I felt so 512 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:01,440 Speaker 1: many times, was in fashion and I don't know. We're 513 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:03,720 Speaker 1: working on this new collection. It could it could fail too. 514 00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:07,640 Speaker 1: But um. The thing about failing is it's it's good 515 00:31:08,040 --> 00:31:10,840 Speaker 1: because if you fail, you don't Sometimes you don't know 516 00:31:11,680 --> 00:31:14,480 Speaker 1: how to be better if you're always doing right, or 517 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:16,360 Speaker 1: you can just kind of stay in this plane and 518 00:31:16,400 --> 00:31:19,160 Speaker 1: you're probably like, well, how come I'm not here? How 519 00:31:19,200 --> 00:31:22,240 Speaker 1: come I'm always here? But if you fail, then you fall, 520 00:31:22,320 --> 00:31:24,440 Speaker 1: and then you kind of can rise up higher than 521 00:31:24,960 --> 00:31:27,840 Speaker 1: you ever would have if you didn't fail. So every 522 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:32,240 Speaker 1: time I lose, which I absolutely horror, um, but every 523 00:31:32,280 --> 00:31:36,240 Speaker 1: single time I lose, I get ten times better. Um, 524 00:31:36,320 --> 00:31:39,320 Speaker 1: And that's failing that's what it does for you. What 525 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:42,960 Speaker 1: do you do to relax when you're not on the port? Um? 526 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,120 Speaker 1: I watch a ton of Netflix. I'm a total d 527 00:31:46,280 --> 00:31:49,240 Speaker 1: C comic nerd really, but I do still like Marvel. 528 00:31:49,400 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 1: I love Marvel comics as well. Um but yeah, so 529 00:31:53,520 --> 00:31:57,160 Speaker 1: I just was watching Catching Up with um a show 530 00:31:57,200 --> 00:32:02,400 Speaker 1: called Young Justice. But anyway, you do Avengers, Justice League, 531 00:32:02,480 --> 00:32:05,080 Speaker 1: arm and what do you like? The whole everything? Everything? 532 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:07,680 Speaker 1: I'm really honestly think I was a superhero in a 533 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:10,640 Speaker 1: different life, on a different dimension. Feel like I was 534 00:32:10,720 --> 00:32:13,720 Speaker 1: Miss Marvel or something come here to Earth to save 535 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:17,600 Speaker 1: us from bed. Yeah, I'm no more or less like 536 00:32:17,680 --> 00:32:22,200 Speaker 1: the alien Invaders. Yeah. Um, if if a young person 537 00:32:22,320 --> 00:32:24,880 Speaker 1: came to you and said they were thinking about being 538 00:32:24,880 --> 00:32:28,680 Speaker 1: a professional athlete, what sort of advice would you give them? Well, 539 00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:31,080 Speaker 1: you have to work hard. You have to believe in yourself, 540 00:32:31,680 --> 00:32:34,560 Speaker 1: and even when other people don't believe in yourself, and 541 00:32:34,640 --> 00:32:38,040 Speaker 1: you hear negativity, and now with social there's so many 542 00:32:38,080 --> 00:32:41,400 Speaker 1: things negative that you can read about yourself. You just 543 00:32:41,440 --> 00:32:43,720 Speaker 1: have to be so positive and you have to love 544 00:32:43,760 --> 00:32:47,600 Speaker 1: you and believe in you more than even more than 545 00:32:47,640 --> 00:32:51,080 Speaker 1: your parents probably whatever believe in you, and so that's 546 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:55,320 Speaker 1: what it takes. And UM, my last tennis question, what 547 00:32:55,520 --> 00:32:58,200 Speaker 1: is it that you know about being a professional athlete 548 00:32:58,240 --> 00:33:04,120 Speaker 1: today that you wish you you years ago? Oh? How 549 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:07,280 Speaker 1: to how to move the ball around more, how to 550 00:33:07,360 --> 00:33:12,000 Speaker 1: raise the ball, we're more technical stuff. I don't know, 551 00:33:12,120 --> 00:33:14,600 Speaker 1: that's a good question. I feel like if I wish 552 00:33:14,800 --> 00:33:19,160 Speaker 1: were just to, um take my losses the way I 553 00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:22,959 Speaker 1: take them now, which is awful, but imagine what they 554 00:33:22,960 --> 00:33:27,200 Speaker 1: were before. So if I could do that that way better? 555 00:33:28,160 --> 00:33:31,640 Speaker 1: All right, So let's go to our speed round before 556 00:33:31,680 --> 00:33:34,520 Speaker 1: we open this up, uh to the audience. This will 557 00:33:34,560 --> 00:33:39,800 Speaker 1: be our lightning round. Ten questions, uh in sixty seconds. 558 00:33:40,280 --> 00:33:50,080 Speaker 1: Favorite Grand Slam, most challenging opponent, venus Uh, favorite subreddit? Um, 559 00:33:50,120 --> 00:33:52,440 Speaker 1: I'm really not interred it. There's a lot of there's 560 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:54,720 Speaker 1: a lot of like dungeons and dragons stuff. There's so 561 00:33:54,840 --> 00:34:01,720 Speaker 1: interesting interest. Um favorite none ten in this athlete? No, 562 00:34:01,720 --> 00:34:04,520 Speaker 1: non tennis f non tennis f Um. That new ice 563 00:34:04,520 --> 00:34:08,840 Speaker 1: skater that that the young guy, he's awesome. What is 564 00:34:09,200 --> 00:34:13,800 Speaker 1: what is your favorite city to eat in? Oh? New Orleans? Easy? 565 00:34:14,000 --> 00:34:20,440 Speaker 1: Vigny a Star trek or Star Wars star track? Um? 566 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:24,040 Speaker 1: Other than your sister, who's your best friend on tour, Caroline. 567 00:34:24,160 --> 00:34:27,200 Speaker 1: That was that was really that was a later Um, 568 00:34:27,239 --> 00:34:32,840 Speaker 1: what's the number one item on your buffet list? Um? 569 00:34:32,920 --> 00:34:50,160 Speaker 1: Huh okay, okay, that than four old time favorite movie? Impossible? 570 00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:54,200 Speaker 1: Impossible because there's too many good ones. You got Forrest Gump, 571 00:34:54,239 --> 00:34:58,400 Speaker 1: you got the color purple, you have Friday, you have Shawshank, Redemption, 572 00:34:58,520 --> 00:35:00,360 Speaker 1: you have you know what it's you can't you have 573 00:35:00,840 --> 00:35:04,120 Speaker 1: I even like gentlemen prefer blondes. You know the impossible 574 00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:07,520 Speaker 1: old squine you can impossible online. And what's the favorite 575 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:13,279 Speaker 1: song that you sing to your daughter? Definitely mo Wanna? Um, Yeah, 576 00:35:13,480 --> 00:35:15,439 Speaker 1: the mo Wanna songs. I love them all. I don't 577 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:18,560 Speaker 1: know if she likes the way I sing them. I 578 00:35:18,680 --> 00:35:22,000 Speaker 1: love saying them to her. So that's ten questions in 579 00:35:22,040 --> 00:35:26,520 Speaker 1: a minute. Let's go to Slideoh, you mentioned you like technology. 580 00:35:27,080 --> 00:35:29,920 Speaker 1: We use the technology here that people can ask questions 581 00:35:29,960 --> 00:35:31,919 Speaker 1: and they'll come up on the screen and we could 582 00:35:31,920 --> 00:35:35,160 Speaker 1: pick them. Let's let's start running some of the questions 583 00:35:36,040 --> 00:35:40,680 Speaker 1: from slideo if we can. So the problem with technology 584 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:45,800 Speaker 1: is that often it does not work. No, it works. 585 00:35:45,920 --> 00:35:50,240 Speaker 1: I am I enjoy technology, and I love that lightning around. 586 00:35:50,239 --> 00:35:52,480 Speaker 1: That was fine, I have another fifty. We could do 587 00:35:52,520 --> 00:35:55,560 Speaker 1: this for an hour going. Do we want to do? 588 00:35:55,560 --> 00:35:59,160 Speaker 1: Do we want to do? Uh? The slido? All right? 589 00:35:59,239 --> 00:36:02,160 Speaker 1: So bring them out a dad and I have it 590 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:05,200 Speaker 1: on my phone this time. This is not me speaking, 591 00:36:05,280 --> 00:36:08,400 Speaker 1: although it's true. I have a father of daughters. And 592 00:36:08,440 --> 00:36:10,280 Speaker 1: I will let Barry finish the rest of the question. 593 00:36:11,280 --> 00:36:15,239 Speaker 1: I'm the father of daughters. You instill depositive attitude. What 594 00:36:15,440 --> 00:36:19,640 Speaker 1: suggestions do you have to instill positive self image amongst daughters? 595 00:36:20,280 --> 00:36:24,040 Speaker 1: Another great question and very important for me. I believe 596 00:36:24,760 --> 00:36:29,359 Speaker 1: it starts young. I believe it starts two months out 597 00:36:29,400 --> 00:36:32,319 Speaker 1: the wound. I really do. Um. I was in a 598 00:36:32,440 --> 00:36:35,360 Speaker 1: store I won't mention which one, and I saw the 599 00:36:35,400 --> 00:36:40,239 Speaker 1: girl section and it said Mommy's princess and Daddy's princess 600 00:36:40,360 --> 00:36:43,880 Speaker 1: and cute and you know, adorable. And I was in 601 00:36:43,920 --> 00:36:45,879 Speaker 1: the boy and I went to the boys area and 602 00:36:45,880 --> 00:36:51,560 Speaker 1: it said curious, I'm a thinker, I'm smart, Um, I 603 00:36:51,560 --> 00:36:56,640 Speaker 1: can do anything. And I was just like, what you know? 604 00:36:56,800 --> 00:36:58,680 Speaker 1: And I would have never noticed it before. That's why 605 00:36:58,680 --> 00:37:01,040 Speaker 1: I say it starts. And this was like zero to 606 00:37:01,160 --> 00:37:04,600 Speaker 1: three months, three to six months clothing, So it starts now. 607 00:37:05,160 --> 00:37:08,680 Speaker 1: It starts instilling that positive telling your daughter you can 608 00:37:08,719 --> 00:37:11,919 Speaker 1: do anything, you can be the best, just the way 609 00:37:12,000 --> 00:37:14,719 Speaker 1: we tell our sons. And it's something I have to 610 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:16,799 Speaker 1: do too, because I have a daughter and I need 611 00:37:16,880 --> 00:37:20,279 Speaker 1: to make sure that I'm actively working on that. So 612 00:37:20,440 --> 00:37:24,560 Speaker 1: someone asked the question, mom, brain is real? How do 613 00:37:24,600 --> 00:37:26,120 Speaker 1: you do all that you do? And how do you 614 00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:30,600 Speaker 1: balance work in life? It is real? I I write 615 00:37:30,640 --> 00:37:33,759 Speaker 1: a lot of things down. Balancing work in life is 616 00:37:33,800 --> 00:37:36,480 Speaker 1: easy for me because I made it. You know, I 617 00:37:36,600 --> 00:37:39,040 Speaker 1: work from I have to be done at one at 618 00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:41,719 Speaker 1: the latest usually, but I wanted to be here with 619 00:37:41,760 --> 00:37:45,879 Speaker 1: you guys, so um, but my everyday life, I'm trying 620 00:37:45,880 --> 00:37:47,440 Speaker 1: to be done at one that I can spend the 621 00:37:47,440 --> 00:37:49,399 Speaker 1: rest of the day with my daughter. I can take 622 00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:52,839 Speaker 1: phone calls, which is fine, but um, as long as 623 00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:57,320 Speaker 1: I'm at the house, I'm good. You've achieved great success, 624 00:37:57,400 --> 00:38:00,319 Speaker 1: you have great poisoned grace. How do you remain so 625 00:38:00,520 --> 00:38:04,400 Speaker 1: grounded amid the fame and fortune? I have four older sisters, 626 00:38:04,560 --> 00:38:09,600 Speaker 1: have three older sisters, and I'm the youngest of five. Um, 627 00:38:09,640 --> 00:38:12,120 Speaker 1: and my mom if you ever met her or she 628 00:38:12,200 --> 00:38:16,480 Speaker 1: doesn't play. So if I'm not humble, they give me 629 00:38:16,520 --> 00:38:20,640 Speaker 1: a whack in the head. So you're a very competitive person. 630 00:38:21,440 --> 00:38:24,640 Speaker 1: One day you're gonna have to figure around forty five 631 00:38:24,680 --> 00:38:29,120 Speaker 1: you'll retire from tennis. What's going to replace the competition 632 00:38:29,200 --> 00:38:33,480 Speaker 1: of tennis in your post tennis life. The competition I 633 00:38:33,520 --> 00:38:35,360 Speaker 1: want to be the I want to have a really 634 00:38:35,400 --> 00:38:39,880 Speaker 1: strong voice on those boards. UM. I definitely am competing 635 00:38:39,880 --> 00:38:44,279 Speaker 1: to be on other boards as well. UM. So that's 636 00:38:44,360 --> 00:38:46,799 Speaker 1: very competitive. And of course the fashion with this new 637 00:38:46,840 --> 00:38:51,000 Speaker 1: company that we just started, um, that is going to 638 00:38:51,080 --> 00:38:55,600 Speaker 1: be a lot of competition to you know, outdo some 639 00:38:55,680 --> 00:38:58,160 Speaker 1: of the other people that are doing their own minds 640 00:38:58,200 --> 00:39:01,560 Speaker 1: as well. That is all the time we have. I 641 00:39:01,600 --> 00:39:03,919 Speaker 1: want to say thank you to Serena Williams. This has 642 00:39:03,920 --> 00:39:13,160 Speaker 1: been one delightful thank you so a pleasure. I take 643 00:39:13,200 --> 00:39:16,000 Speaker 1: you back to thank you hello, thank you so much. 644 00:39:16,080 --> 00:39:21,239 Speaker 1: Thanks all right, Serena Williams. M