Recently Visionary Women invited trailblazing athlete and author Venus Williams to the Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts in Beverly Hills to discuss her new book STRIVE.

This empowering women’s group started 10 years ago as a social impact organization. Soon Visionary Women attracted a vibrant community of dynamic, professional, and civically-minded women in the fields of entrepreneurship, medicine, politics, the arts, media, and wellness. They are a community dedicated to improving the lives of women and girls. Together this dynamic non-profit has raised $3.5 million in grants to give to 233 non-profit organizations helping women and children worldwide.

Visionary Women member Thea Andrews Wolf, led an hour long evening conversation with Venus Williams. As a veteran television journalist, Thea’s diverse experience ranges from reporting as a national network news correspondent, to co-hosting a live daily morning show for ESPN. She knows a lot about athletes, while reporting for ABC Sports. As a co-anchor of CBS’ internationally syndicated program The INSIDER, Thea spent more than a decade interviewing Hollywood’s biggest stars.

Thea introduced Venus Williams as in a class of her own. “She has seven Grand Slam titles, four Olympic gold medals, the first African American to reach a number one ranking, a fierce crusader for women’s equal pay, plus a plant-based protein business – Happy Viking, and business in interior design.”

Wearing black pants and jacket with white tennis shoes, Venus sat next to Thea center stage and shared the following insight about her life, struggles and sisterhood with an audience of over 100 Visionary Women fans.

TAW: On page two in your book STRIVE, you state making the right choices have allowed you to keep a promise to yourself – Make it easy, make it enjoyable, but most of all make your life exciting.

VW: Yes, first of all it’s so great to be here tonight. Envision your goals. Life shouldn’t be painful, you shouldn’t wake up dreading the day. Don’t make it hard, in your decisions. The easiest decision is usually the right one.

TAW: Reading your book is like you are talking to a girlfriend or mom. It’s funny and deeply personal. You share your struggles in your book and your own health issues.

VW: I wanted to write in a relatable tone as if I am talking to friends.

TAW: You talk about tough love.

VW: Yes, life is a series of consequences.

TAW: You mention how you are a junk food and sugar addict. You stay up too late and snack. Tell us about this weakness.

VW: One time I went to Disney for three days with my family. On day three I went off on my own and visited every confectionary shop. I found myself drinking a Lucky Charms milkshake. We are all running a race. The life we live is a race, and you have to run one step at a time. When you fall off the wagon, give yourself Grace. In my book, I list 8 tenets, when I fall off all 8, I go dark. I love sugar and Sweet Tarts are my favorite go to. I was off sugar for five months and felt so good. When I arrived at LAX and I saw Randy Donuts at the airport, I was so tempted to bring out my credit card for donuts. Sugar is my weakness. It’s important to just keep moving. You have to move your body. Find something you like, you don’t have to be perfect. I love to dance, and my goal is to get back to a class.

TAW: Your book is divided into 8 tenets – Observe, Appreciate, Balance, Enrich, Soothe, Believe, Inspire, and Strive.

VW: Observe is my favorite. Observing is so important in life. Don’t be afraid to observe yourself. I would observe myself on the court. I had to observe my confidence, observe what I did and didn’t do to succeed. Apply this to your part of your life. Some people can’t do it honestly. Make notes throughout the day and be honest at the moment.

TAW: You are such a confident woman.

VW: Confidence is something you earn, because you put in the work over time. Don’t feel guilty when you don’t feel confident. The actions you take, and the decisions you make, will help restore your confidence. The old saying ‘Fake it until you make it.’ The way you hold your posture is so important. I remember watching a video of a game I played, and I had this look in my eyes after losing a game. I said to myself that I will never give that look in my eyes again. Mindset is a huge part of success. Growth mindset stay positive, learn from failure and let it go.

TAW: How about Appreciate?

VW: Appreciate – Thank someone at the grocery store. Live your life half full everyday. Open your world to possibilities. It is power.

TAW: Family is very important to you.

VW: My parents are amazing and my sisters are too. My mom would say to us, ‘I’m not raising any weak women.” My dad would tell us, “A slow walker is a slow talker.” Dad had a lesson for everything when we were younger. He wanted us to only watch educational shows on the television. When he would leave the house, we would turn on MTV. One day he let us watch the movie Cinderella, and when we asked him why, he said that, Cinderella said to the Godmother, ‘Thank you so much. This is more than I expected.’ He always had a lesson in life.

TAW: Do you have a role model?

VW: My sisters are my role models. I’m number four and Serena is number five in sisters. As the older sister, I was the first one to go on tour. When my younger sister started playing tennis, she was beautiful and frightening. It was amazing to watch her take each player down one at a time. Serena has no fear, she is tough. If she loses, she gets the confidence to rise again. Her philosophy is once you are here, why not compete. 

TAW: Tell us about playing tennis together.

VW: When we play, instead of beating ourselves up with why did I miss that shot, we say, ‘how am I going to win that next shot.’ Serena actively went for it and allowed herself to do her best. If you fail giving it your all, that is a beautiful thing. Serena gives the full extent of what she can be. Sisterhood and my mom are so important in my life. We are together and work together 24/7. 

TAW: Sisters can be so competitive. How was it competing against Serena in Grand Slams?

VW: Facing Serena was a disaster. She serves 120 mph. There are times when I thought ‘I will not even touch the ball she serves to me.’ I may be older, but Serena reached her potential sooner. I guess I shouldn’t have been such an influence on her (Venus laughs). We put in so much work together that when it happened, our success, it made sense. We would play Grand Slam finals and then we would be together playing doubles and win. My older sister Isha is the Alpha sister, she is like a mom and a supportive sister. All the sisters are so supportive of each other. When I struggled in school, Isha would help or do my work. We are always checking on each other and we don’t step on each others toes. If Serena wants something, she gets it. Sometimes I use reverse psychology on her. I’ll say I want something, knowing that she wants it too. Since I’m the older sister, I usually let her have it.

TAW: Inspire is a tenet in your book. Tell us about Inspire.

VW: Every season I pick a different inspiration to win a Grand Slam. I observe where I am mentally and pump myself up more to succeed. When I was injured, it was hard to come back to where I was before the injury. I was at war with myself and just needed to reload, let it go, recharge and move on. When I lose a point, I reload, let it go, recharge and know that I have another opportunity to make the next shot.

TAW: In 2011 you were diagnosed with the auto immune disease Sjögren’s. What was that period like?

VW: I sang a lot of karaoke. I have my own home system with CDs. I would get pumped with Pearl Jam’s Greatest Hits. I was home alone, not feeling well, and music brought me happiness. I sang a lot of ‘Toxic’ by Britney Spears. I had time to figure out what was happening in my life. The illness made my body out of control. I had to stay encouraged, even though I couldn’t run even one mile anymore. I said to myself it is ok to have expectations that I didn’t have before.

TAW: Some people would have stopped, but you kept going.

VW: I wanted to play the 2012 Olympics at Wimbledon. It was a big motivator to get strong, like a North Star. I wanted to get back and compete in the Olympics. 

Speaker: What was the biggest learning experience?

VW: How to handle fear and put it in its right place. We get so caught up with fear that we forget to live.

TAW: You mention forgiveness in your book. Tell us about it.

VW: We strive to find someone to forgive. Forgive ourselves on what we have fallen short on. If you hold onto it, it can cause trauma. One day I just grew up. I was at a charity event and a woman who is always a problem, said something to me. Instead of my normal reaction, I just let it go and considered to forgive. I realized it was freeing and I had a new level of maturity and being.

TAW: You are quite an art collector. How did you get started?

VW: I played tennis at such a young age, that I don’t remember learning how to play. Besides tennis, I have a love of art. I went back to school to get a degree in Design and Business Administration. I like all types of art. Art shouldn’t be put into a box. Art is freedom. Walking through the Wallis Annenberg theatre today, I loved looking at the art on the walls.

TAW: Do you go to Art Basel?

VW: Yes. I collect art. I move around a lot and I am inspired by artists. It can be an old artist or emerging artist.

TAW: Do you love being an auntie?

VW: Oh yes! It’s all the fun without the heavy lifting. 

TAW: What do you consider your legacy? Equal pay? All the records you have broken? When you look back what is your greatest achievement?

VW: Definitely being a big sister, Serena turned out ok. She is the biggest part of my legacy.

TAW: In the immediate future what are you excited about?

VW: Next thing I’m excited about is women in sports and telling those stories, especially filmmaking like the movie ‘King Richard’.

TAW: What are your challenges?

VW: My struggles with balance. I wrote about balance, but haven’t achieved it yet.

TAW: Well STRIVE is a call to action book. Everyone received a copy to take home tonight. Read it and change your life. It’s by a passionate mind that can help you achieve your goals. Thank you Venus.