Venus Williams | Leadership: Grace & Growth:
Tech 1, me: 0. Let’s just say I forgot how to use my iPhone, and a grand slam champion came in for the win 😂——————————————————————————————————
I didn't expect to be flustered when I met Venus Williams. But there we were—both holding my iPhone, trying to take a photo.
Outwardly, I appeared calm. Inwardly? Total scramble.
"You're holding up Venus Williams. Where is the camera app?!"
She was gracious, calm, and entirely unbothered. She quietly showed me how to tap the side button while I fumbled. The photographer, witnessing this comedy of errors, finally intervened:
"It'll be faster if I take it."
He quickly pulled out his phone and captured the moment. In those few awkward minutes, I'd already witnessed the first of two powerful leadership lessons: absolute grace under pressure.
Lesson One: Grace That Grounds You
Just minutes earlier, I had been discussing public health and workforce challenges when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning around, I was awestruck—Venus Williams herself, who had just delivered an inspiring talk at the Becker's conference.
In that split second, I introduced myself, thanked her for being a role model, and asked about her experience navigating the health system. Despite my obvious starstruck state, she gave me her undivided attention.
What struck me immediately wasn't Venus's fame but her remarkable presence. Despite my fumbling, despite surely having places to be, she remained completely composed. No signs of impatience. No glancing at her watch. No subtle cues that she needed to move on.
She was fully there, helping me find the camera app, offering suggestions, completely unflustered by this minor inconvenience.
This wasn't just politeness. It was mastery of self. The kind of composure that comes from facing high-stakes moments repeatedly and learning that calm isn't just a feeling—it's a practice.
During her talk, she had spoken about:
Leading calmly under pressure and maintaining self-honesty
Trusting the process, especially when you're close to victory
Redefining balance as moments of presence
One statement resonated deeply: "Your job is to do your best and then trust the outcome."
Lesson Two: Continuous Growth Without Limits
The second lesson became clear as I reflected on Venus's journey and her talk. What truly sets her apart is how she's navigated from tennis superstar to entrepreneur, innovator, author, and investor. She refuses to be defined by a single vocation, continuously evolving while remaining remarkably grounded.
In a world fixated on singular success stories, Venus demonstrates something far more powerful: the courage to keep becoming and moving forward. She's approached each new chapter with the same discipline and dedication that made her a champion on the court.
Yet throughout her evolution, she's maintained authenticity. Her growth hasn't been about abandoning who she was, but about bringing her core strengths into new arenas.
Where These Lessons Meet
What makes these two qualities—grace under pressure and continuous growth—so powerful is how they reinforce each other:
Pressure becomes the catalyst for growth. Each challenge, when met with composure, becomes an opportunity to evolve.
Growth expands our capacity to handle pressure. As we develop in multiple dimensions, we build resilience that translates across contexts.
Both require self-honesty. Venus spoke about "telling yourself the truth" as essential to both staying calm and continuing to evolve.
This is the real work of leadership.
Whether you're a founder, healthcare leader, or navigating your next chapter—these twin qualities shape how we lead. Not polished perfection, but that grounded, honest space between the big idea and the real world. Between confidence and self-doubt. Between building something and becoming someone in the process.
Between now and next,
Mamata
P.S. Strive, the title of her book says it all.
Photo: To the Becker's team, thank you for finding the photo. To Venus, thank you for making me feel like I was the only person in the room. Your calm presence and continuous growth are the bedrock of true leadership. To the AMA team I appreciated the conversation which lead to this chance meeting with greatness.
