“Hug ’em tight! Keep ’em close,” a simple yet heartfelt piece of advice that Alexis Ohanian, Serena Williams’ husband, has lived by. It’s a mantra he shared long ago, but one that continues to guide his life—especially when it comes to his precious bond with his daughters. As a successful entrepreneur and businessman, Ohanian might have a packed schedule, but he’s never been one to let his work overshadow his role as a father. And recently, he took another sharp dig at his critics, those who question how he balances such a high-flying career with being a hands-on father.

The 41-year-old engaged in an interaction with Taylor Smith for the latter’s Offseason NFC podcast. He deliberated on a wide range of factors, which also included his life as a father and a successful businessman. Ohanian candidly addressed the critiques he encounters from his business peers regarding the amount of time he dedicates to his daughters and cleverly fired back by sharing his secret to successfully juggling multiple tasks. 

Speaking in the interview, Ohanian said, “I get strangers who stop me. They don’t stop me for Reddit, they stop me for my pancake art. They are like, “Yo dude I love your pancakes, man.” And I’m like “Thank you, I enjoy making them.”” Ohanian is known not just for his ventures but also for his love for pancakes. He has successfully passed on this admiration to his daughters, Olympia and Adira, and is often seen baking “Papa pancakes” with them on weekends. However, this does not seem to suit well with his business colleagues. 

Continuing further in the interview, Ohanian said, “At the same time, I have business folks I work with. I have got guys who sincerely think I am not nearly as committed as I am to success at work because they know that side of my persona. And it’s so wild, because I’m like, bro I know I outwork you, I know my returns are better than you. But I think it’s cute that you have this idea that I can’t be showing up for my kids, making some pancakes, and also show up to beat your a–.” It would definitely not exaggeration to say that Ohanian’s love for his daughters transcends boundaries. 

In a post that Ohanian made earlier on X, he asked a rhetorical question. “Do you know the ONE thing I keep hearing from the most successful CEOs?” Answering the same, he continued, “I wish I’d spent more time with my kids.” He later added the comfort that he gets around his kids. “That first hug from my girls after a work trip. Hug ’em tight! Keep ’em close esp [especially] those early years.” It is probably for this reason that the Reddit co-founder has often voiced taking children to the workplace.

Remember when Olympia accompanied her father to the grand opening of Athlos NYC on September 26? She was even spotted with him during an interview where the ‘Business Dad’ deliberated on his ventures. And this love of Ohanian for his daughters has continued to reflect on several occasions. 

When Alexis Ohanian made a grateful post for his daughters

Alexis Ohanian is often seen making extra efforts for his daughters. Whether it’s taking them to visit their favorite places or enjoying leisure time with them at home, the entrepreneur never fails to set dad goals. One such admiration for his daughters was witnessed in October itself when Ohanian made a heartfelt post for them.

Taking to X, Serena Williams‘ husband shared a heartfelt post for his daughters. “I’m so proud to be a father to two amazing little girls,” he wrote. Ohanian and his legendary wife, Williams, welcomed their first daughter, Olympia, in 2017. Their second daughter, Adira, was born in 2023 after the tennis star hung up her racquet in 2022 to grow their family. In the post, Ohanian expressed how blessed he is to have them in his life. “An absolute blessing,” the 41-year-old added.

As the father-daughter love continues to evolve, it would be interesting to see what more Alexis Ohanian has in the surprise store for his daughters. Fans would be awaiting to witness more such adorable reactions from Ohanian that have continued to highlight his pride in his daughters.