From the very start of her career, Serena Williams has openly described herself as a perfectionist. In her own words:
“I’m a perfectionist. I’m pretty insatiable. I feel like there are a lot of things I can improve on.”
She once shared a childhood memory about learning to write the alphabet. When she couldn’t write a perfect “A,” she stayed up all night rewriting it while her sisters slept. That relentless drive for perfection defined her early years-but with time, she’s learned that not everything has to be perfect.
Lessons from the court and motherhood
A turning point came during the 2020 Australian Open. After defeating Tamara Zidanek in the second round, Williams admitted in the post-match press conference:
“I was making a lot of errors… I just have to say, ‘It’s okay. Not every match is going to be perfect.'”
Later, motherhood added a new layer to that lesson. In an interview with Glamour, she spoke candidly about the pressure many moms feel to be flawless:
“You don’t have to be perfect. But no matter how many times I heard that, I kept feeling like I had to be. That’s what moms do… My respect for moms, including my own, just skyrocketed.”
A cryptic tweet sends fans into speculation
As the 2025 French Open grabbed headlines, Serena Williams stirred curiosity with a cryptic post on X (formerly Twitter):
“You don’t have to be perfect. Just unstoppable. #JustGettingStarted”
The tweet sparked immediate buzz. Is Serena hinting at a new business venture? A return to tennis in some form? Or something else entirely?
Serena Ventures: the new arena for a tennis icon
Shortly after the tweet, Serena shared an Instagram Story from SuperReturn International 2025 in Berlin, highlighting:
“At @SuperReturn sharing how @serenaventures is building with intention through our Fund I. We invest in true diversity, backing underrepresented founders turning bold ideas into unstoppable companies.”
For those unfamiliar, Serena Ventures was founded in 2014 with the mission:
“To ignite change by investing in opportunities that improve everyday life for everyday people.”
Today, the firm boasts 17 unicorns in its portfolio. With more than 5,500 senior GPs and LPs managing $50 trillion in assets across 70+ countries gathering at SuperReturn, Williams is firmly positioning herself as a force in the global investment world.
Though Serena Williams may have stepped back from the relentless pursuit of perfection, her ambition remains unstoppable. Whether on the court or in the boardroom, she continues to redefine what it means to lead, build, and inspire.
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