Serena Williams is taking it to another level
Serena Williams has been declared as the first athlete to be in the richest self-made women list by Forbes with a net worth of 225 million, but this woman is not just about the sports.
Tennis star Serena Williams in action. / Photo: Adam Davy / PA Wire / dpa
The Woman Post | Luisa Fernanda Báez Toro
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Leer en español: Serena Williams lo está llevando a otro nivel
According to Forbes’ profile, Williams has become a recognizable face among those who have never watched a single-serve due to her lucrative dealings with Nike, her high-profile fashion and beauty collaborations and a large portfolio of advertising and media work.
“I want to be a part of it,” she tells Forbes. “I want to be in the infrastructure. I want to be the brand, instead of just being the face.”
As read on INC, this April Williams launched her own venture capital firm, Serena Ventures, that focuses on early-stage investments in companies led by women and people of color, and those that value "individual empowerment" and creativity.
"I launched Serena Ventures with the mission of giving opportunities to founders across an array of industries," Williams said in her announcement on Instagram.
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Working with and for women
Williams is also speaking out about financial abuse: October was the Domestic Violence Awareness Month and, to honor that, Serena partnered for the third time with the Allstate Foundation’s Purple Purse initiative to raise awareness around the rampant problem of financial abuse in relationships.
According to a 2018 national survey by The Allstate Foundation, nearly 50% of Americans are unaware that financial abuse is a form of domestic violence, and nearly one-third find the topic of domestic violence taboo.
This is mainly because financial abuse is usually hard to recognize and easy to hide. Some tactics include restricted spending, stealing money, sabotage of education or employment and causing debt.
To change that, the Allstate Foundation debuted a public service announcement titled "Signs", their first initiative under their new campaign platform – "Know Financial Abuse. No Domestic Violence."
"Not all abuse is visible. Unlike the marks and bruises of physical violence, the signs of financial abuse can be difficult to see – even for victims experiencing it," said Ellen Lisak, Allstate Foundation senior program officer. "With the help of Serena and our advocates across the country, we hope to raise awareness of the issue of financial abuse, remove the stigma and begin a much-needed dialogue."
As Serena told Glamour, her partnership with Allstate’s Purple Purse has given her the opportunity to talk with survivors. “I feel really lucky to be among such powerful women… It’s important for me to use my voice to support them and help tell their stories. Together we can help other women.”
