Wearing white sneakers and a sports jacket with the words “Le Punk c’est Chic” emblazoned on the side, Venus Williams needed no introduction when she took to the stage at The Wallis Goldsmith Theater as the keynote speaker for Visionary Women’s Fall Salon on Oct. 28. The legendary tennis superstar was joined by Canadian journalist and television personality Thea Andrews Wolf to discuss Williams’ new book, “STRIVE: 8 Steps to Find Your Awesome,” which emphasizes the importance of making goals easy, enjoyable and exciting. Williams discussed her approach to success, highlighting the significance of maintaining a positive mindset and the influence of her family, particularly her father’s high standards and her younger sister Serena’s competitive spirit. She shared personal anecdotes, singing karaoke after being diagnosed with Sjogren’s syndrome, and her commitment to fighting for equal pay in a male-dominated industry. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion, Olympic gold medalist, activist, designer, executive producer and author shared a few of the secrets to her success, which are outlined in print in eight steps.
Visionary Women is a member-based organization founded in 2014 by former Beverly Hills Mayor Lili Bosse and bestselling author Angella Nazarian to support women’s initiatives on a local and global level. Over the past 10 years, Visionary Women has awarded $3.5 million in grant funding to over 240 nonprofit organizations that drive change and address pressing issues facing women and girls. Beyond that, the organization has worked to build a network of influential women, brought together under one platform to highlight issues relevant to them.
