“I’d be a fashion designer,” Serena Williams once revealed, expressing if not for her legendary tennis career, what she should have pursued. Even though tennis panned out just about fine for Serena, she still envisioned her own clothing line back in 2016. And why wouldn’t she? Everyone wants to pursue their passion, no matter what. Even for Serena’s husband Alexis Ohanian, destiny had a unique plan! Despite an impressive academic journey, he took a bold leap, abandoning a conventional career to carve his own path in the world of entrepreneurship. Recently, he shared how his trajectory shifted before he found his true calling. But what was the road he didn’t take?

Ohanian’s journey is a testament to the ‘unpredictability’ of career paths. Born in Brooklyn and raised in Maryland, the father of two initially envisioned becoming a computer programmer, even taking his high school’s only computer science class. However, upon entering the University of Virginia, he opted to pursue a double major in history and business commerce.

His fascination with technology started in middle school, though, fueled by a 33.6K dial-up modem and programming classes at a community college. Ohanian even built websites for nonprofits for free. At one point, he planned to become a lawyer, but a pivotal moment changed everything: he walked out of an LSAT (The Law School Admission Test) preparation course, sat down at a Waffle House in Charlottesville, and decided he wanted to start a company instead. Well, that decision led him to the creation of Reddit, which he co-founded and later returned to as a full-time leader in 2015. By that time, Reddit had already become the 10th largest website in the United States.

Ohanian shared this story with his fans on Wednesday, dated Feb 21, 2025. The 41-year-old entrepreneur wrote on X, “Part 20 of my Ask Alexis series” where the fundamental question was “What if I never started Reddit?” He further added, “I was VERY close to taking the LSAT, seriously. And if I had, given my background as the child of an undocumented immigrant, I probably would have ended up in immigration law. But that’s an alternate timeline, so back to our regularly scheduled programming 😂”  

This isn’t the first time Alexis Ohanian has shared his life story with fans. Time and again, he has emphasized how changing career paths can make a profound difference in life. Even at the Tom Tom Founders Summit, he spoke about the pivotal moment when he walked out of an LSAT prep course and ended up at a ‘Waffle House.’

Ohanian’s journey with Reddit was immersive. He had to endure a tough path before bringing it to life, as he faced numerous challenges and setbacks along the way. In a 2018 interview with David Gelles of the New York Times, he revealed, “My first job was at a CompUSA demo-ing software, and it was the worst public speaking experience a teenager going through puberty could have. Every 30 minutes I’d have to get on a mic and demo to the whole store some lame piece of hardware or software and literally get ignored by people. The high school job is where I learned basically everything I’ve ever needed to know about customer service,” 

However, tech and entrepreneurship aren’t the only fields Mr. Ohanian ventures into, he also has a deep passion for tennis (for obvious reasons) and a strong interest in track and field as well.

“The first Athlos changed the track world and we’re not done” — Alexis Ohanian and his love for marathon

Beyond his position as a tech entrepreneur, Alexis Ohanian has become a prominent investor in the sports industry of the USA. His venture capital firm Seven Seven Six has supported major athletic initiatives including NWSL’s Angel City FC and the Los Angeles Golf Club (TGL). Additionally, his sports brand Athlos is making significant strides in track and field, creating new opportunities for athletes. 

The inaugural edition of Athlos was a resounding success, featuring thrilling action on and off the track and earning praise from stars like Noah Lyles and Gabby Thomas. Among the contestants was three-time Paris Olympic gold medalist Gabby Thomas, alongside ‘Olympians’ Masai Russell, Faith Kipyegon, Alexis Holmes, and Torrie Lewis, adding to the event’s prestige and excitement.

Following the success of the event in the first edition, Ohanian has already hinted at an exciting second edition. “I’m so proud of what our team did and all our amazing athletes and fans who made this a night to remember. The first Athlos changed the track world and we’re not done… thanks for joining us on this journey — it’s a marathon not a sprint😏,” he wrote on X.

Alexis Ohanian is taking big initiatives to support the athletes in the country. Do you think he will be able to turn Athlos into one of the biggest sports brands ever? Share your thoughts in the comments below.