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- From Tennis to Tech: How Serena Williams Built Her Plan B while Slaying Her Plan A
From Tennis to Tech: How Serena Williams Built Her Plan B while Slaying Her Plan A
A new AI companion for moms, 10 inspiring women in venture capital and the new VCF for women over 50
Jasmine Crockett
October 22, 2024
Featured Story
Building Your Plan B While Excelling at Plan A: Lessons from Serena Williams
“It’s the hardest thing that I could ever imagine. I hate it. I hate that I have to be at this [career] crossroads.” These words were penned by Serena Williams in Vogue about her retirement from professional tennis in 2022. Since then, she’s risen from the ashes as a successful investor, entrepreneur and founder of the new DTC brand, Wyn Beauty. What started with reluctance and sadness transformed into trailblazing investments. Serena’s funded 14 unicorn status companies, valued at $1B+. How did she do it? Well, it didn’t happen overnight. She was making investments 14 years before her retirement, aka making her plan B while working her plan A. |
And it started with one stat. After learning (with disbelief) that only 2% of venture capital goes to women and less to people of color, Serena knew she needed to write the checks.
Now, through Serena Ventures over 50% of her investment portfolio is women-led and 80% are minority founded, with 47% Black founders and 11% Latino. In addition to her investment fund and beauty line, Serena has her hands in dozens of endorsement deals, co-ownership of two sports teams - Los Angeles Golf Club and Angel City FC - and Serena Williams Design Crew, a Nike partnership.
So, learn from Serena. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. You don’t have to abandon your current path to explore a new one. Build your plan B while excelling at plan A. You got this!
Want Serena’s buy-in on your business? Apply for funding via Serena Ventures here.
Need to Know
Nominate your fav trailblazing woman leader for the 2025 CNBC Changemakers List. The second annual list highlights executive women disrupting business and philanthropy. Deadline 11/11 at 11:59 PM EST.
Thanks BMO! $150K to 15 women-owned businesses. See 2024 grant recipients of its Celebrating Women Grant Program.
New venture fund, Brilliant Minds, taps into overlooked talent pool: Women over 50. Because 95% of venture capital funds go to founders under 30 years old.
Need a personal brand concierge? You’re in luck. WINS Media Agency led by founder/CEO Amie Sheridan expands with personal branding services to founders and executives. Check all the brand boxes with strategic storytelling, thought leadership, personal PR and wealth strategy.
Heads up to early stage startup founders with a heart for children and youth! Check out Unicef Venture Fund to snag funds, mentorship, and network partner access.
Industry Updates
These 5 female founders raised the biggest rounds in 2024, upwards of $680M to date!
👀 10 Powerhouse women impacting VC from the Women of Influence in Private Markets list. Check out the 42 women who made the cut on the complete list here.
Menopause kicking your butt at work? You’re not alone. See how other women are faring via Bonafide’s 4th Annual State of Menopause Report.
Want a 20% pay increase? See Robert Half’s recently released 2025 Salary Survey on how to get it.
The mental load squeezing your 🧠? Met Poppins, the newest AI personal assistant who transforms emails (and texts) into calendar invites and emails to you and your partner.
Quote of the Week
Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else.
Resource Spotlight
📚 Book Sheryl Sandberg’s Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead is the powerful pocket mentor for all women navigating leadership and career. One of my absolute favs! | 🎧 Podcast Discover how being uncertain can be your competitive advantage in this episode of the Career Contessa podcast. | 📝 Article Support women’s professional and personal needs as a leader. Check out Inc.’s Top 5 Ways to Cultivate a Culture that Empowers Women at Work. |
Founder’s Note
Like many female founders, I get the challenge of balancing multiple roles while strategically planning for the future. Serena's journey underscores the power of leveraging your platform to pursue new opportunities while remaining grounded in your core mission and values.
Key Insight: :Success isn't about making abrupt changes but about gradual evolution and preparation. Just as Serena invested in her future for 14 years before retiring from tennis, I'm building my next chapter while giving my all to my current commitments.
Action Taken: As I navigate the Techstars program and build my new company, Smply, I'm laser-focused on developing our platform's landing page and waitlist. It's exciting to lay the groundwork for our community while nurturing the networks and responsibilities I've built over the years.
Tip for Fellow Founders: Don't feel the pressure to rush your pivot. I'm learning to explore new passions on the side, test small ideas, and gain experience without the weight of immediate success. I remind myself on the daily that it's okay to not have it all figured out from the start. I'm trusting in my ability to evolve and grow. I encourage you to do the same.
Stay inspired, stay unstoppable,
