Corporate Serena To Hire A CEO

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 30th December 2013

Brisbane International tennis tournament

Corporate Serena To Hire A CEO

epa04002976 Serena Williams of the USA looks on during a press conference prior to her competition at the Brisbane International tennis tournament in Brisbane, Australia, 29 December 2013. EPA/DAVE HUNT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT EDITORIAL USE ONLY |

Insiders were wondering why Serena William spent this off season in Florida rather going back to the island of Mauritius to train with her coach Patrick Mouratoglou like she did in 2012, but the reason is not as some have speculated that she and her coach weren’t getting along, it was because she had significant commercial obligations to take care of during the off season.

Williams, who runs her own clothing company, Aneras, has to put on her owner’s hat as she re-launches the company. So she worked out in Florida with her father and longtime coach Richard, as well as her hitting partner Sasha Bajin, and also strapped on a white collar.

“Obviously I love working with my father,” said Williams who is the defending champion at the Brisbane International. “For me, he’s the most unbelievable coach in the world. Working so hard with my companies, I can’t do that in Mauritius, so we’re trying find a CEO to run it. Then I have to run another company. I was interviewing so many people. Corporate Serena was taking over. I’m happy to be here right now.”

Williams said that she personally conducted about 10 interviews with potential CEOS, and wasn’t always easy on her interviewees. She can be as serious off court as she is on court.

“I definitely am not easy,” she said. “For me, it’s all about business and removing a lot of emotion and just seeing black and white. I just want to get to the point and I want to know the whys and the ins and outs and what can you do and what can’t you do and reasons for that. I definitely think I’m a tough interviewer, but I also think I’m just a real person, and everyone can see that. Ultimately, someone that’s really fun and super, super motivated to take my business to the next level.”

When Williams returns to the tour, she sheds her business suit most of the time, but when a player owns a company, it’s impossible not to pay attention some of the time.

“It goes from like 80% to like 20%,” she said. “That’s the best way to describe it. I do a lot more reading on strategy and leadership and things of that nature, but I don’t necessarily conduct actual interviews. I do have one this week, and then I’m done.”

One of the reasons why Williams has managed to win 17 Grand Slam titles and maintain the No. 1 ranking despite being of an older tennis age of 32 is she has boundless energy. That’s applies off court too and she keeps herself consistently active.

I don’t sleep, so… I do every now and then,” she said. “Actually, I’m happy to be here because now I can turn everything else off and let everyone else do their thing. Now I can do what I do best, which is play tennis. I was so happy to leave because I was like, Okay, I’m done and I won’t be back to this for a few months.”

Topics: 10sballs, Brisbane, Patrick Mouratoglou, Serena Williams, Sports, Tennis, Tennis News