Serena Williams, renowned not only as a mother and tennis champion but also as a successful entrepreneur, recently shared her insights at the First Movers Summit in Atlanta. The 23-time Grand Slam winner, who heads her own investment fund and has been a Global Advisor for the social app Bumble since early this year, discussed the lessons she’s learned and her commitment to empowering women.

Williams, who collaborates with Bumble CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd both as an investor and active member of the Bumble Fund, emphasized the importance of hard work and persistence in achieving success. “The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that it takes a lot of hard work and time, regardless of who you are,” Williams said. She reflected on a recent conversation with her husband about business matters, noting that success often appears to happen overnight, but in reality, it requires significant effort and sleepless nights.

She continued, “Many people enter the business world thinking success will come instantly, but that’s very rare. Most businesses don’t achieve that level of success. It’s important to understand that what you see isn’t always the whole story.”

Williams, a long-time advocate for women’s empowerment, shared her belief that empowerment is crucial because women are often led to feel that they aren’t capable or deserving. “Empowerment is generally important,” she stated. “Women frequently conclude that they aren’t empowered or don’t need to stand up for themselves. Honestly, I feel almost every day that I’m not empowered. It’s a daily struggle. I remember a day when I didn’t feel empowered by my team’s advice. It happens every day, but you have to rise above it and communicate better.”

Williams also discussed her belief in taking initiative, recalling how she’s always been proactive. “I’ve always taken the first step for as long as I can remember. When I was seven years old, I took the first step by entering a tennis tournament. I’m not saying every seven-year-old should do that, but I’ve always had this attitude: you have to do it before someone else does.”

Regarding her venture into the investment world, Williams explained that her interest was sparked by observing successful investors in companies like Apple and Facebook. “I started Serena Ventures because I wanted to invest in various companies. I saw people investing in Apple and Facebook and wondered how I could achieve that,” she said. “As I began investing, I realized how few women-founded businesses received investment funds, which shifted my mission to raise awareness about this issue. I wanted to use my platform and voice to advocate for change.”

Through her ventures and advocacy, Serena Williams continues to inspire and lead, championing not just her own success but also the empowerment and advancement of women in all fields