Venus Williams has been through it all—both the highs and lows of a stellar career and the lessons she’s learned have extended far beyond the tennis court. With her decades of experience, she’s not just a sports icon but a wellspring of wisdom for life itself. And now, Williams has shared some sensational advice for up-and-coming athletes—but here’s the twist—it’s not even about tennis!

The 44-year-old engaged in an interaction with CBS News on October 15 and deliberated a wide range of factors as America celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. For the unversed, women in the country needed to have a male counterpart as the co-signee to have a credit card until 1973, which was changed only after the act was passed in 1974. Williams deliberated on some interesting topics related to finances and shared some remarkable advice. 

When quizzed about what advice would she give to young athletes who are starting their journey, Williams had a quick answer to share. Speaking in the interview, the tennis legend said, “The advice is definitely financial literacy. Get involved. Don’t just let everyone else handle it, you get involved, you ask questions, it’s okay not to know.” Continuing further, she highlighted that it is important to amalgamate the financial knowledge of a relevant person from the field, with the knowledge of the sports that the players themselves have. 

“As athletes we spend like you know, 10-15 years until we get to that level and people and people who have done finance have also spent 10-15 years to get to where they are. So combined, you know, you can make a difference in your own life. Do the work, ask questions,” the star player shared. Williams has been quite vocal when it comes to spreading financial advocacy. 

Notably, Venus Williams has partnered with SoFi to launch the ‘Give Her Credit’ campaign this year. This campaign aims to ensure that the next generation of women has financial independence and tools to take control of their future. She has also been vocal about equal pay for male and female players in various tournaments and contributed significantly to ensuring the concept being implemented by Grand Slams like Wimbledon in 2007. But what motivates Williams to share such financial advice and promote financial independence? Well, the reason is deeply personal!

Venus Williams reveals how her mother motivated her to talk about financial literacy

Venus Williams has established herself as one of the most successful black athletes in the history of tennis. She, along with her sister Serena Williams, did not just redefine the idea of sports for budding players but also gave a light of hope to many. But throughout their journey, Williams faced several situations that forced her to be vocal about financial independence, and her mother is a crucial factor behind the same. 

Speaking in the same interview, Williams revealed that even her mother faced challenges while applying for a credit card before 1974. “My mom, you know, not being able to get a credit card having to have a male co-sign with her. It’s really so staggering to think about it,” Williams shared. She further called out the discrimination she faced during her tournaments.

“I also went through that kind of same inequity as well on tennis courts when I got to the Grand Slam. You imagine arriving to Wimbledon and you are not paid the same as the men. So there’s been so much that woman had to fight for.” These experiences, amalgamated with the motivation of her mother, forced her to open up about the financial struggles of athletes, and the star player has continued to spread awareness about the same.