Interview Qa Format

Q: Serena, thank you so much for joining me here at Cannes Lions. [00:00:15]

Interviewer: It’s so nice to be here. You know, I’ve come here, but I haven't been able to speak here. So this is nice.

Q: What did it feel like speaking here, Serena? Because everyone knows you as a tennis legend, and here you are talking about your business and entrepreneurship. What are the messages you want to get across? [00:00:27]

Interviewee: It’s nice to speak here and for people to see this other side of Serena—things I’ve actually been doing for well over a decade, like building businesses and investing. A lot of people don’t actually know that about me. It felt good to talk about investing in women and empowering others. It’s not always about what you can do; it’s about what you can do to help others.

Q: You have just been announced as the Wreck-It Catalyst Entrepreneur-in-Residence. Can you tell us about that? [00:01:21]

Interviewee: It’s super exciting. We’ve been working on this for almost two years. I wanted to do this authentically, and Wreck-It was equally authentic. They wanted to ensure this program is for women, entrepreneurs, and innovators. It’s really just about building up someone else and backing these new innovators through investment.

Q: You have been investing for a long time through Serena Ventures. Where did that curiosity come from? [00:02:18]

Interviewee: It comes from curiosity. I love being curious and learning about what’s next. We are living in a digital revolution, similar to the industrial revolution of the past. I wanted to get on the cap table of companies that are effectively changing how we live our lives—whether it’s transportation or healthcare—and be a part of that movement behind the scenes.

Q: What do you think you learned from the tennis court that you are using now in business? [00:03:13]

Interviewee: Being disciplined is the number one thing. In tennis, you have to train every single day, and business is exactly the same. You also have to be determined through the ups and downs. I’m excited to share that determination with the mentors and entrepreneurs I work with.

Q: You broke boundaries and made history. When you look back at your tennis career, is there anything you want to highlight? [00:04:14]

Interviewee: I don’t look back that much. It’s filled with so much nostalgia and sadness because I miss it. I try to use an avoidance technique because it becomes very emotional for me.

Q: Can I take you back to that first moment when you were 17 years old and won your first U.S. Open? [00:04:47]

Interviewee: That’s different; I like reminiscing on that because it seems like a lifetime ago. Being able to hold up that trophy, which you dream about when you’re a kid—I didn’t realize at the time how young I was. It was iconic to win that specific Grand Slam.

Q: What about the Australian Open where you were nine weeks pregnant? [00:05:37]

Interviewee: That was crazy. It must have been an out-of-body experience. I remember thinking, "How am I even winning matches?" I thought I would definitely lose the next round, and for the first time, I would have been happy with that because I had a good excuse. But I kept winning.

Q: How has motherhood changed you? [00:06:06]

Interviewee: It has enhanced my intensity. I put the same passion I had for tennis and VC work into my girls. I have to be the best at whatever I do. My older daughter understands a little bit of what I’ve achieved—she sees me in her books at school—but I don’t think she fully grasps it, and that’s fine. I don’t want her to understand; that was yesterday.

Q: Was the decision to move away from tennis in 2022 difficult? [00:06:53]

Interviewee: It was hard. I ultimately did that to expand my family. As a woman, you have to make those decisions, which is particularly difficult in tennis because it is a grueling sport with no real off-season.

Q: What values did your parents instill in you that you still hold today? [00:07:37]

Interviewee: The main value is humility. It keeps you grounded, respectful, and reminds you that, at the end of the day, we are all the same.

Q: What is your message to the millions of girls and women around the world who view you as a role model? [00:08:24]

Interviewee: My message has always been: be yourself, love what you do, have passion, and be kind to someone today.

Q: Were you surprised to learn that less than 2% of investment goes to women? [00:09:23]

Interviewee: Yes, and even less than that goes to women of color. It means that if you aren't in a specific position, it’s almost impossible to start a company. I don’t think one person can change that needle entirely, but I want to use my platform to encourage others to prioritize diversity in their investments.

Q: How excited are you for the future of the work you are doing with Wreck-It? [00:10:04]

Interviewee: I am super excited. We are focusing on women, healthcare, and hygiene. These women are going into communities—whether in Pakistan, Nigeria, or Kenya—and building companies to solve local needs. I love to roll up my sleeves and get "dirty" with these founders and innovators.