Serena Williams has built her legacy on excellence, but these days, the 23-time Grand Slam champion is opening up about a different kind of discipline. In a recent conversation with Porter magazine, Williams explained how she balances a packed schedule in business and ownership while still being present every day for her daughters.

The tennis icon, who has transitioned into a high-powered investor and entrepreneur, made it clear that her most important work now takes place at home, where she prioritizes being present for Olympia and Adira, even as her professional commitments continue to grow.

A Closer Look at Serena Williams’ Family Story With Husband Alexis Ohanian

Williams’ reflections carry extra weight, considering the life she has built with her husband, Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit. The two first crossed paths in 2015 at a hotel in Rome while she was preparing for the Italian Open and he was in town for a tech event. Their relationship accelerated quickly, and in December 2016, Ohanian proposed at the same hotel where they had met.

Four months later, in April 2017, she revealed that she was expecting their first child. Their daughter, Olympia, was born on Sept. 1 of that year. The couple married in New Orleans two months after her birth in a star-studded ceremony.

Their family grew again on August 22, 2023, when they welcomed their second daughter, Adira River. Over the years, Williams and Ohanian have become admired for balancing busy careers in sports, tech, and investing with hands-on parenting and a shared commitment to raising their two girls.

What Approach Does Williams Take to Balance Work and Parenting?

When Porter asked how she manages to pour time, energy, and financial resources into so many projects without losing sight of motherhood, she said with a laugh, “With Olympia, I didn’t leave her until she was five! That may have been a little extreme. And it’s not recommended!…But I’ve just always wanted to be a mom.”

She added that motherhood had long been her dream. Williams also acknowledged the privilege her career has given her. “I feel fortunate that I’ve had a career and that I don’t have to do what most people do. I’m very lucky. I put in the hard work, like we all are doing, but I did it a little bit earlier. So, I think that’s really working in my favor. And now I can just put my kids first.”

She described a family-centered routine, noting, “I want to be around my family. I’m cooking every night that I’m home. I’m home 29 nights a month… Sometimes I’ll fly to New York, do what I need to do, fly back, and be home in time for dinner.”

Even in retirement from professional tennis, Williams remains profoundly influential in the sports and business worlds. Forbes reports that through Serena Ventures, she has backed more than 70 companies, with roughly 78% led by women or people of color. She also holds ownership stakes in Angel City FC and the Los Angeles Golf Club, a TGL franchise supported by Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy.