Venus Williams isn't lacking for trophies. She's won 71 WTA Tour titles, including 23 Grand Slams, and four Olympic gold medals. She's still a top player, but now she's also focusing on making her sportswear label, EleVen by Venus, a global brand. Venus the entrepreneur, like the tennis player, works hard, recovers from mistakes—and remains a relentless competitor.
She climbs gracefully down the warehouse ladder, and then carefully places items in the shipping box. Like every diligent warehouse worker, she double checks the packing list—and then takes a moment to hand-write “Packed by Venus” on a small card. Nice touch.
WHAT SHE DIDN’T write was “Packed by Venus Williams, seven-time Grand Slam singles champion and three time world No. 1.” That might be a little unnerving to the amateur tennis player on the receiving end of Venus’s warehouse serve. How does someone fit into that outfit? Williams doesn’t have to fulfill orders any more than Michael Jordan, majority owner of the Charlotte Hornets, has to pass out towels on the bench. But like other successful entrepreneurs who love to work not just on their businesses but also in their businesses, she wants to understand her company from every level.
“I always dreamed of being an entrepreneur,” she says. “That was one of my lifelong goals.”
Wimbledon champion, check. U.S. Open champion, check. Olympic gold medalist, check, check, check, check. Business owner, check again.
This story is from the February 2017 edition of Inc..
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