Venus Williams
ATHLETE, COLLECTOR, AND CO-FOUNDER OF PALAZZO
WHEN YOU WERE LITTLE, WHAT WERE YOU KNOWN FOR?
Since I started playing tennis professionally at 14 years old, I was known to be a determined and fiercely competitive young athlete. Truthfully, I was quite oblivious as a child. I had a real childhood—we played tennis, went to school, attended church. My whole world was my family: my mom, my dad, my sisters.
WHAT’S ONE BOOK, WORK OF ART, ALBUM, OR FILM THAT GOT YOU THROUGH AN IMPORTANT MOMENT IN YOUR LIFE?
The Old English poem Beowulf. The irony and simplicity of the message is beautiful. This too will pass. We all face challenges and sometimes sorrow, but it will pass.
““I’ve overcome so much adversity in my career. I know what I am capable of and I know that I can still compete at the highest level, so this mindset pushed me through those tough periods of time.””
DESCRIBE A RECENT CROSSROADS AT WHICH YOU FOUND YOURSELF.
My injuries over the past couple of years have been hard on my body and my mind. Having to push through rehab and be taken away from the game you love is every athlete’s worst nightmare. These are defining moments, though, and the ones that really shape your legacy. I’ve overcome so much adversity in my career. I know what I am capable of and I know that I can still compete at the highest level. This mindset pushed me through those tough periods of time.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SURPRISED YOURSELF IN YOUR WORK?
With the launch of Palazzo. I have always been in the arts, so combining it with tech has been thrilling, but I don’t think I was quite qualified for that undertaking at the start. It took a few months of adjusting. Now I’m full steam ahead tackling design in a new medium, diving into A.I., and leading a team that is tech-based—all things I hadn’t done before.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS YOUR BIGGEST CONTRIBUTION TO CULTURE?
I am so proud of my achievements on the court, but I take even greater pride in what I’ve accomplished beyond it. Early on in my career, I utilized my platform to make a positive impact, whether through tennis or through my design firm, V Starr. I like to think that my decisions to stand up for what’s right—and be an advocate for gender equity and women’s empowerment—has inspired the next generation.
in your life?
