A Sit-Down With Serena Williams: Changing the Rules and Bringing a Championship Mindset to Your Work

Speaker A: Foreign.

Speaker B: HR Break Room is brought to you by paycom, empowering employees nationwide with HR and payroll tech in one easy UM app. Learn how Paycom, um simplifies business for your entire workforce@paycom.com.

Speaker A: hi, everyone. Welcome to HR Break Room podcast, covering the hottest topics in HR. I'm your host, Amy Walker. Whether as a college athlete or paycom's chief sales officer, I've always set my sights on winning. And yes, while sports and business are undeniably different, excelling in either takes both determination and innovation. Though my guest is one of the most recognizable champions in not just tennis, but sports, Today she'll help us understand how her commitment to excellence on the court has transformed into success in business and philanthropy. Serena Williams is a legend in sports, with 23 career Grand Slams, nearly 100 singles and doubles championships, and four Olympic gold medals. She founded her own venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, in 2017, which holds a portfolio of over 85 companies, 14 of which are worth over $1 billion. With that, let's jump into the HR break room. Well, Serena, thank you so much for joining me on HR Break Room today. I know from, um, playing college basketball and swimming, that grit and determination has had a huge impact on my leadership career. And I know that you really focus on a champion's mindset, and so I was curious how that comes into business and the way that you lead others in your personal life.

Speaker C: You know, one thing I always say is that I feel like, um, sport has such a huge help when it comes to business. I always say that people in sport really can make a big impact in business. And now we see a lot of athletes turned business people turned entrepreneurs. It creates this leadership in you because you really have to lead your team, lead yourself every single day to strive to go out there, um, and particularly, in a sense, solo sport. Um, but obviously, same with basketball and swimming. It was more of a team sport effort, but it really makes a huge difference, you know, when, um, you go into, you know, something different, um, in particular in the business field, and then you go into understanding what it takes to lead a team, how to motivate a team. Because in sport, you have to show up every day, and in sport, you don't win every day. And that's one thing that I learned is like, okay, how do you show up again? And then again, we have a bad practice, but you show up the very next day. You have a bad game, you show up the next day. And, um, to do that on such a high level and then taking that information and parlaying that into business is, for me, um, one of the most successful things that you can do.

Speaker A: Well, I know in tennis, you are obviously very well known for stuff. Studying your opponent's next move. And is that something that just comes natural to you, or does it take a lot of preparation?

Speaker C: Um, well, I can't, uh, say I was known for studying my opponent. Maybe that's what people thought, but I really focused on me. You know, I really focused on what I was doing and what I was showing up with. And obviously, I mean, when I got a different coach, he really focused on my opponent, which is something I actually had never done. And it brought a whole new different dimension to me and to my game, and it made me even better. Um, so I think both is important. I think it's important to know what your opponent's doing, but it's also important not to over focus on them. Whether that's in business, whether a company is doing. I love how some, um, Fortune 500 companies just look at other competition and they're like, we're focusing on ourselves. There's lots of famous, you know, memes or pictures or CEOs talking about that. Um, and I love that. I'm so inspired by that. Cause I'm like, wow, that really makes me understand. To focus on. You understand what they're doing, know if they're coming out with a product. Obviously, I know what my opponent is good at, but at the same time, what am I good at? And let my. And believe in yourself and to. To focus on that.

Speaker A: Yeah. Well, I'm really big on mentoring, and I think that that's the foundation of any great athlete, any great business person, and was curious your thoughts on mentoring in the workplace and maybe even young athletes.

Speaker C: Today, I'm, I'm on the fence with mentoring. I feel mentoring is a. Is a. Some sort of a privilege sometimes. I didn't really have a huge mentor. When I got older, I did. And then on the same side, I did have a mentor in my family and my mom and my sisters, obviously, and Venus. But, um, sometimes, especially when you're breaking down barriers, there might not be people holding out their hand saying, let me help you, or let me. If you're the first at something, it's not as easy to have a mentor. Um, however, in business, I've had some amazing mentors, and so I've been able to see both sides of it. I think mentorship really helps a lot. But if you don't have that opportunity, you have to create your own mentorship and I think that's important as well.

Speaker A: Well, certainly you've been a pioneer in sports and in business, but you mentioned a couple of great mentors you've had at work. What do you look for in a great business mentor?

Speaker C: In a great business mentor? I think one thing that I really look at is advice. Um, my business, I do vc, so it's really important to also have, um, VC is really all about connections and, you know, and what you know. And so, um, that's one thing I also look at, but also just experience, you know, mistakes. You know, I love hearing about people's mistakes. So you don't make the same ones. And that way you kind of learn from what your mentor has done. So you don't do that. That or they can tell you, like, what not to do, which I think is so important. And, um, I think those are really great. And when I talk to some of my mentors, I just get so much information on what not to do or what to do, who to talk to, connecting me with other people that can really help me on my path and my journey, um, and people that are just really proud to be a part of the process. And I'm always at awe when I end up, when I hang up, I'm like, wow, they took time. And I think time is the most expensive luxury that we all have because we don't know how much of it we have. Right. And so I think that time is something that what a mentor gives you is invaluable.

Speaker A: So in tennis, of course, you have to be able to pivot, navigate different techniques, different opponents, you know that you're going to play. How has that impacted your, uh, business decisions and risk taking that maybe you've had, especially in the VC world?

Speaker C: Well, I think, um, just being able to recover more than anything is the most that I can re. That I've been able to take from tennis. How do you recover from something? How do you recover from being good or being bad or a win or a loss? Like, regardless, you still have to recover. And when you think about business, when you make a good investment and do a good deal, you still, you can't celebrate that too long. You know, you really need to recover and focus on the next one and how to continue to grow and how to continue to build.

Speaker A: Um, yeah, well, my parents were certainly fundamental in my development in athletics. Um, I didn't realize that until I got older that having them at every single basketball game or swim practice made a huge impact on my ability to be resilient and succeed. And I was just curious for you, when it comes to sports and lessons that you want to teach your daughters, what does that look like at home? And what type of coach are you to them?

Speaker C: I can't say I'm the best coach. I am more, um, of a mom. I'm more of a someone that wants to be there for my daughters and wants to always support and help them. Um, and even when I was younger, I always said I'm not a coach kind of person. I'm always like, do this, do that. But, um, even when it comes to education and just talking to my daughters, my kid, because one is only two, but talking to her about how to improve her grade or how to just do better, um, you, uh, know, I feel like I'm better at that stuff than actual, the actual tennis or the golf of it. I'll go to golf with Olympia and I'll be like, focus. And she tends to focus a little bit more when I go to golf with her than her dad. Uh, because her dad is definitely more the fun, you know, golf dad or more the like sports mom. Like, just do this. You got to do it. And that's because that's the only thing I know. And I understand the hard work that you have to do as an athlete to put into it to get the results. And I know she doesn't like to lose, so I know that she likes to have really big results. So. Yes. Um, but yeah, I don't, I don't know if I'm a good coach.

Speaker A: Yeah, well, certainly winning, showing up, showing

Speaker C: up is super part, is a big part of that. Just I think showing up and being

Speaker A: there is, is big, being visible and so important. What are some of the core values that you guys talk about in your family? Whether it's just being a great person or a great athlete, or modeling, being a great businesswoman for them.

Speaker C: Yeah, I mean, our main value is putting God first. You know, I think that's super important. It also humility is something that I always teach my daughters about. It's, it's hard though, because one is so young and one is a little bit older. So it's like, you know, trying to balance that act and can't really explain humility to a 2 year old because they want everything that they want now and they want to be first and they want all that. But. And that's okay, you know, they give them that time. Um, so that's something else that we love to teach our girls is that. And, um, yeah, those are just, uh, what else what else do we like to teach? Um, you know, work ethic. You know, I feel like sometimes, um, I could probably be better at teaching a little better. Work ethic? Uh, yeah. But hopefully she'll see how much I work and how important work ethic is.

Speaker A: Well, how did you and your sister Venus navigate competing against each other and you know, the ups and the downs of that in sisterhood?

Speaker C: Um, interesting because we always put family first and our parents was very bullish on the fact of Serena and Venus and all of our sisters, family comes first. And I feel like, well, I feel like no matter what you do, they always said no matter how great you are or whatever kind of player you end up being, one day it's all going to end and you'll still have your sister, you'll still have your family. And so you don't want to like, have such a bash or have such a relationship where you can't spend the rest of your life, the meatier part of your life, years and years and years that aren't dedicated to being a competitive athlete. You know, as an athlete, your career typically is short, um, hours, really long, but usually it's short, um, and

Speaker A: you

Speaker C: have the rest of your life to live. And now that I'm not playing tennis, it's great because I have a wonderful relationship with my sister. I can't imagine being a different person and having a different personality and throwing my family away. You know, that would be very difficult. Um, so it's been really rewarding to take that advice. Or I guess that could be coaching too. Coaching doesn't necessarily have to show up in sports, but, um, listening to my parents as a parental coach and taking that advice to always stay close to

Speaker A: my sister, well, it sounds like they taught you a lot of great lessons along the way. I am curious, what were the interactions like with her prior to a match? Mhm.

Speaker B: Mm.

Speaker C: Mm. Um, was not a ton of interactions, you know, I think. I mean, I tried to avoid her and maybe she tried to avoid me. And you know, it's, it's tough because we have to play each other on such high stakes, you know, and also love each other on such high stakes. And we also lived together at the same time, so we were, it was an interesting dynamic. But you know, before the final of a Grand Slam or before the third round of a big tournament, whatever we met, it wasn't necessarily like, oh, let's hang out and be besties and talk and warm up together. And you know, in the beginning we started out warming up together, but Then it was like, okay, we need to create some separation and just be our best selves and be unapologetically our best selves and don't feel guilty for winning or losing or whatever the case may be, just to continue to show up.

Speaker A: Well, part of being your best self, of course, is being a style icon. I wouldn't be able to not mention that, uh, today. So I know that whether it's in sports or at work, if you feel your best, you look your best, you play your best. And so just curious to hear a little bit more about how you came into your style on the tennis court or even outside and maybe a favorite outfit that you had.

Speaker C: Oh, my goodness. Um, so I don't know. I felt like I was. I m. Was meant to be a style person. I mean, when you see us, me playing tennis, you see me. That's the only time most people would see me. They didn't see me outside, you know, walking on the streets and, you know, before paparazzi era. And then even if so I lived in a very small city in a small town where that didn't really exist. And so that wasn't my goal in life. And, um, so it's like being on stage, you want to wear your best performance and your best outfits and I truly believe look good, feel good. I think a lot of people believe that. It's. I feel like it's a true, total true statement. Um, and you know, with that being said, going out there, sometimes I would have an outfit and I'll be like, there's no way I'm losing this tournament wearing this outfit because first of all, it looks so good. Second of all, I need to wear this a lot because, you know, you don't get to wear the outfits for so long. Um, so I'm like, okay, I need to get as much use out of this outfit as I can. So I'm playing all seven matches this next fortnight. Um, so, yeah, so I don't know if I were to say a favorite outfit. It's very. It's impossible. I definitely did not have a favorite outfit because there were so many that I absolutely loved. Um, from the original catsuit in the early 2000s to the Flo Jo inspired amazing one leg, like full on jumper to the Virgil Abloh stuff, which obviously has to be one of the favorites tutu. So, yeah, it just. So many iconic moments and definitely don't have a favorite. It'll be impossible.

Speaker A: Do you. Did you keep all of the outfits?

Speaker C: Do you have a. Yeah, I keep most of the outfits, I feel like some of them got lost in transit or, you know, moving in life and. But I cataloged up most of them and kept most of them amazing.

Speaker A: Let's shift over to philanthropy. I know that you are a huge philanthropist and it's in the core values that you have, I'm sure with your family as everything you've shared with me and certainly in business. But can you talk a little bit about, um, anything that you're focused on right now in the world of philanthropy?

Speaker C: Yes, I think it's so important. I've always loved education. I feel like education is the start of everything. Um, and I just feel like education open up opportunities for all again, another opportunity for AI. Um, AI is going to be able to open up lots of opportunities for people that didn't have an opportunity to go to school and get an education or rural areas in different countries and globally. They never had that opportunity. So I think, um, yeah, I think that that's something I always been passionate about. I've opened a couple of schools in Africa, um, just helping kids have the base level. And then in the States sending some kids to college, um, that wouldn't have normally been able to afford it through scholarship programs. And so that means a lot to me, um, is to continue just to, just to be able to have education and to be able to be a part of that. Because it's like I said, it's the basis and where you start and you're starting at a negative, um, if you don't have it and you know, we don't need to start at a negative. And so for me that's really important.

Speaker A: And I know just giving back in general is so important. How would you define giving back? Because it's not always a grand gesture. Sometimes it can be small things. But what does that also look like for you in your day to day life?

Speaker C: I think giving back is best. I mean, it's twofold. Right. I think it's best unheard. Um, but then sometimes when you have a platform, it's best to be heard because that way more people can know about it and talk about it and create awareness. Right. Um, I think you can't go wrong either way. I'm more of a low key kind of individual, so I don't like to be pat on the back or given, you know, I like to do things out of the goodness of my heart, not out of, not to get praise. And so that's just how I've always been kind of, um, but I think, um, giving back you know, is. It's how so many. That's how we continue in this world. Like so many people give back to help others and so many different ways, whether it's loud or proud. And there's absolutely no wrong way to give back.

Speaker A: What's one of the most recent charities that you've started working with?

Speaker C: Well, I actually do a lot of outreach for, uh, women's health and just learning about it and talking, using my platform to talk about it and um, just, you know, a lot of. I love learning about that too because as we as women in this new generation, um, starts to get a little bit older, we're a little more tech savvy, we want to understand our bodies a little bit more. We want to. And also even through investing, um, through as well and helping, um, invest in women and people of color and underrepresented founders is something that I really enjoy doing.

Speaker A: I love that. And I'm sure you're making a huge impact for women all over by the work that you do.

Speaker C: I don't know. Right. I just do what I can and if I can create an impact, that would be great. Obviously that's the goal. Um, at the end of the day, just try to impact at least one person and that's. That can be changed so many that can change a life.

Speaker A: As a venture capitalist, you get to work with companies at the ground floor. Can you talk a little bit about the AI strategies that you're seeing most commonly used?

Speaker C: Um, you know, I just. The most commonly used strategy is integrating it into their systems. Um, whether that's through making sure that everyone has an opportunity in their company to understand what they're using it for or answer questions, et cetera, et cetera. Um, but also if they're building something new using AI as a tool, as they build, uh, could be building a completely new software using AI and software or, um, if they're having a business that's going to be B2B2C or B2B. Um, so it's so many different ways that we see it being used that um, it's also very important for us to see it because now we look at. When we're looking at a fintech company, I mean, well, fintech is a category which AI can really do a lot of damage in which negative or positive. Um, so we really want to understand how, if we're seeing a fintech startup, how are they incorporating AI and how can AI take over their business? And if it could take over their business and we have to think, okay, well, how does that impact profit? How does it impact profit? Exactly. Probably can't invest in that because if Skynet is doing it, always say Skynet. Because it reminds me of the Terminator. What is the Terminator? Um, then it won't exist anymore. We don't want to invest in something that's not going to exist anymore. So, um, for us, it's imperative that we need to get those answers. And so we see it all kinds of levels and sometimes when they're explaining it to us, we're just like, okay, but that doesn't quite make sense. So maybe not.

Speaker A: But yeah, trying to understand what happens in one, in three and five years from now is critical.

Speaker C: I, uh, can't even imagine what's going to happen five years from now.

Speaker A: Well, how do you use AI on the day to day? I know all of us are learning. Whether it's planning a vacation, looking up a recipe, or just getting advice on something you're pondering. There's so much at our fingertips now that we didn't have before.

Speaker C: Yeah. So we invested in an AI company that does space. Design. Design Girl. Um, and I just took a picture of a room the other day that I was trying to transform and I'm like, okay, transform this for me, you know, and so I use it in that, in design, in my life. I use it for research. I do a ton of research with it. So I use it a lot, maybe more than the average individual because I invest in it. And so I'm seeing a lot of it. I'm using it a lot, but I use it in lots of different aspects of my life.

Speaker A: Are you using AI to learn more about AI and the different types of language models?

Speaker C: So, no, but that's a really good question and suggestion. I've been reading different books about that, but it probably would make more sense for me to use AI to learn more about AI. Right. Um, I'm always fascinated how lots of companies, even you said you guys have your own AI system internally and how a lot of companies now are having their own AI system internally and building it out. So I'm always fascinated by that.

Speaker A: Well, thank you so much for joining us today on the HR Break Room podcast. It was incredible to get to know a little bit more about you personally and professionally. And congratulations on all your success and future success.

Speaker C: Thank you. Thank you so much.

Speaker A: Thank you so much for joining HR Breakroom today and thank you listeners for tuning in. Don't forget, if you're looking to transform your organization and maximize its potential, paycom's Truly single hr Ah and Payroll Software scales with your success Like Serena, we're committed to leading the HR tech industry through innovation. We were the first provider to empower organizations with the tool to track, measure and maximize ROI from employee tech usage. We also developed an automated payroll experience that automatically finds errors and guides employees to fix them, um, before submission. And we've transformed the industry again with iWant, the first command driven AI engine in a single database. It's your shortcut to smart work. It lets you easily access employee data you need instantly, accurately and entirely at your command. No need to rely on someone else or take extensive training. Simply ask and iWant will provide the right answer every time. Paycom makes creating a culture of growth simple too. Our performance management tool makes it easy to conduct reviews, encourage development and inspire your employees to maximize their success with intuitive experiences that meet them at their level in one easy to use app, paycom connects employees with everything they need to manage their pay, time off, development, benefits and more. Plus, manager on the go makes it easy for your leaders to complete essential tasks and approvals from anywhere. You can learn more about how Paycom Single Software scales with your organization and helps you win at, uh, paycom.com we'll see you again in the HR Break Room soon.

Speaker B: Be sure to follow and subscribe to HR Break Room on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen. For more episodes, visit hrbreakroom.com or follow us on social media. Thanks for tuning in to this episode and we can't wait for you to join us again inside the HR Break Room.