Venus Williams

Yeah, I think that's important. And I think there's a difference between having self-belief at your core and having situational moments where you don't feel good about it. Right. I there's a hundred times more that I've walked on the court and just didn't feel great. You know, I don't know if I can do this. Right. So that's different than ultimately deep down knowing I have what it takes to do it.

Yeah, I think that's important. And I think there's a difference between having self-belief at your core and having situational moments where you don't feel good about it. Right. I there's a hundred times more that I've walked on the court and just didn't feel great. You know, I don't know if I can do this. Right. So that's different than ultimately deep down knowing I have what it takes to do it.

So those are two different things. Right. So I would say, yeah, there have been plenty of times I was like, you know, oh, my God. But at the end, I always felt like I was worthy and that I deserved it. And that's purely my background. It was purely my parents who just gave us that from the very beginning. There was nothing else I ever heard since I could remember.

So those are two different things. Right. So I would say, yeah, there have been plenty of times I was like, you know, oh, my God. But at the end, I always felt like I was worthy and that I deserved it. And that's purely my background. It was purely my parents who just gave us that from the very beginning. There was nothing else I ever heard since I could remember.

So I was very fortunate in that sense. And I think as an adult, I've definitely faced some moments where I have felt like, I don't know if I belong here. Really? Yeah. Yeah, that felt... Like what situations do you mean? I guess they call it imposter syndrome.

So I was very fortunate in that sense. And I think as an adult, I've definitely faced some moments where I have felt like, I don't know if I belong here. Really? Yeah. Yeah, that felt... Like what situations do you mean? I guess they call it imposter syndrome.

Yeah, so I've had different moments. I'm working with a new AI company in interior design. I'm thinking, should I really be here? I mean, I have a background in interior design. And then I had to fundraise for the first time. This was a nightmare for me.

Yeah, so I've had different moments. I'm working with a new AI company in interior design. I'm thinking, should I really be here? I mean, I have a background in interior design. And then I had to fundraise for the first time. This was a nightmare for me.

And oh my God, like the anxiety and the issues going, it was horrible. And that's the moment where I understood imposter syndrome. So I went through my whole life of like, pretty much feeling like, you know, king of the court. And then I get there and have to raise money. I'm like, I don't want to be here. I'm so afraid. What's happening? So I think that was a great experience for me.

And oh my God, like the anxiety and the issues going, it was horrible. And that's the moment where I understood imposter syndrome. So I went through my whole life of like, pretty much feeling like, you know, king of the court. And then I get there and have to raise money. I'm like, I don't want to be here. I'm so afraid. What's happening? So I think that was a great experience for me.

And I think that I saw it for what it was. And I knew I had to push through, but it was extraordinarily uncomfortable. It was awful.

And I think that I saw it for what it was. And I knew I had to push through, but it was extraordinarily uncomfortable. It was awful.

Exactly. My parents are, once again, back to them. My mom says, never ask for anything. So just for me to have to ask, like, you know, we're raising money. We need you to give us this. Oh, no, I have to ask for money. This is out of my DNA. I don't ask for anything. I'm used to being able to do everything for myself. Also, just a pitch, like, in AI. Like, I don't know anything about AI.

Exactly. My parents are, once again, back to them. My mom says, never ask for anything. So just for me to have to ask, like, you know, we're raising money. We need you to give us this. Oh, no, I have to ask for money. This is out of my DNA. I don't ask for anything. I'm used to being able to do everything for myself. Also, just a pitch, like, in AI. Like, I don't know anything about AI.

I had to learn the entire world. What am I doing here? Just in general, I think on the second call, the person I was pitching with, they fell off. So they asked me, okay, yeah, what are next steps in the timeline? and I'm all by myself, and you have to say something. And so those kinds of things happen, and you're completely unprepared, and it's like, how do you deal with it?

I had to learn the entire world. What am I doing here? Just in general, I think on the second call, the person I was pitching with, they fell off. So they asked me, okay, yeah, what are next steps in the timeline? and I'm all by myself, and you have to say something. And so those kinds of things happen, and you're completely unprepared, and it's like, how do you deal with it?

But I absolutely think that my experience in sport helped me to deal with that, kind of dealing with ambiguity. It's just... It's not easy, but sometimes you don't know what's going to happen when you walk on the court, but you have to deal with it. So I think that helped. But it was a tough situation. Do I ever want to fundraise again? Absolutely not. I hope I don't have to.

But I absolutely think that my experience in sport helped me to deal with that, kind of dealing with ambiguity. It's just... It's not easy, but sometimes you don't know what's going to happen when you walk on the court, but you have to deal with it. So I think that helped. But it was a tough situation. Do I ever want to fundraise again? Absolutely not. I hope I don't have to.

It's not a place I'd like to be, but it was good to be very humbled.

It's not a place I'd like to be, but it was good to be very humbled.