How Motherhood Made Maria Sharapova Better at Business
Our take
The narrative surrounding female athletes transitioning to the business world is often framed through the lens of leveraging fame and visibility. Maria Sharapova’s recent discussion on her *Pretty Tough* podcast, however, offers a more nuanced and compelling perspective – one that highlights the surprising parallels between elite sports, entrepreneurship, and the profound shifts that motherhood brings. It’s not merely about capitalizing on a recognizable name; it’s about the cultivation of a specific skillset and mindset, honed over years of intense competition, that translates remarkably well to the challenges of building a brand and leading a team. This echoes a broader trend we’ve observed in the fashion and style spaces, where women are increasingly embracing a quiet confidence and intentionality, as seen in Zoë Kravitz's minimalist bridal era Zoë Kravitz's Minimalist Bridal Era Officially Begins With a One-Shoulder Slip Dress and Diamond Engagement Ring, a departure from the maximalist trends that dominated previous seasons. Sharapova's story isn't about loud pronouncements; it's about a refined approach, a deliberate construction of self, much like Zendaya's consistent ability to curate iconic looks, often pulling vintage pieces like her recent John Galliano web dress Zendaya's Vintage John Galliano Web Dress Bewitches the 'Spider-Man' London Premiere.
Sharapova’s insights are particularly resonant because they move beyond the superficial. She speaks to the discipline required for both athletic achievement and business success, the constant need for strategic decision-making, and the ability to handle pressure – all skills dramatically amplified by the introduction of motherhood. The challenges of balancing career ambitions with the demands of raising a child are universal, yet Sharapova’s experience offers a unique framework. Her podcast isn’t offering simplistic advice, but rather a candid exploration of the complexities involved – a sharing of vulnerabilities and hard-won lessons. This willingness to be open about the struggles alongside the successes fosters a powerful sense of authenticity, a quality increasingly valued by audiences who are weary of curated perfection. The emphasis on "pretty tough" itself acknowledges the inherent difficulty while retaining a sense of grace and resilience. It’s a sophisticated approach, a quiet declaration of strength that feels distinctly aligned with the current cultural shift towards embracing imperfection and prioritizing inner well-being.
What makes Sharapova’s perspective particularly compelling is its connection to a broader conversation about redefining female leadership. For too long, women in positions of power have felt pressured to conform to traditionally masculine models of leadership – aggressive, assertive, and relentlessly focused on external validation. Sharapova’s journey, and the conversations fostered on her podcast, suggest an alternative: a leadership style rooted in self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and a deep understanding of one's own priorities. This doesn't diminish strength, but rather reframes it – offering a more sustainable and ultimately more impactful form of influence. The podcast’s focus on conversations with other accomplished women—all navigating the complexities of career, family, and personal fulfillment—creates a powerful network of support and shared experience. This is a space for deep reflection and honest dialogue, a welcome contrast to the often-superficial nature of many online platforms – a refreshing alternative to the constant pressure to highlight, as exemplified by the vibrant, yet fleeting, trends of summer body mists The 10 Best Summer Body Mists That Are Made to Spritz On a Tropical Vacation.
Ultimately, Maria Sharapova’s evolution from tennis superstar to businesswoman and podcaster highlights a significant shift in how women are defining success. It’s no longer solely about climbing the corporate ladder or achieving external accolades; it's about creating a life that is both meaningful and fulfilling, a life that integrates all aspects of self – career, family, and personal passions. The question moving forward is whether this model of intentional, emotionally-driven leadership will gain greater traction, and whether more women in high-profile positions will feel empowered to share their own stories of vulnerability and resilience, fostering a more authentic and supportive environment for future generations. Will we see a broader embrace of this “quiet strength” as a defining characteristic of modern female leadership, moving beyond the traditional narratives of ambition and power?
Maria Sharapova: Career Grand Slam achiever, winner of five major tennis titles, and... podcaster?
After becoming one of the most accomplished tennis players of all time, Sharapova moved into the business world. Now, she has her own podcast, Pretty Tough, where she talks to other women about how they balance the different parts of their lives—often career, ambition, and motherhood.
Since retiring from tennis in 2020, Sharapova has expanded her business ventures, become a mother, and now has a nearly four-year-old son. On the latest episode of "Nice Talk," Sharapova shares what parenting has taught her about business—and why she decided to get into podcasting.
"There's so many lessons that you learn as a mother, and one of the things ... is this art of letting go," Sharapova says. "So much of the things that we do, we like to take control of, but at the end of the day, what having a little young girl or boy next to you teaches is that things often change, situations change. These little beings grow, and they kind of inform your actions right in front of you."
For example, she says, one minute a baby loves being in a swaddle, and the next, they don't. "You're like, "Oh, I want them walking,' and they're like, "Oh yeah, no. Now I walked and now I'm running,' and you're like, "Wait, slow down!"
Sharapova notes that "relearning this element of control" runs counter to how things are handled in professional tennis.
"A lot of my training, a lot of my performance, everything that I did with the way that I trained my body and my mind was this element of control and a schedule and routine and discipline. And all those are applicable, but you have to be ready to let go, and I think that also applies in business."
That said, Sharapova says tennis taught her how to handle losses in business the same way she handled them in her sport.
"You lose a lot, and you do it in front of millions of people, and there is real beauty and authenticity in being vulnerable in that moment," the 39-year-old says. "You work so hard and you're so confident, you go in and you lose. And then, how do you handle it? How do you talk with your team within the next hour when you wake up in the morning? Who do you call, and how do you speak to them about your loss? And then what do you do to change things around? The way that I was able to handle those situations certainly informed me in business, and also now being a mother."
With Pretty Tough, Sharapova seeks to connect with other women who refuse to be one thing only.
"I've always engaged in the concept of holding true to these two strong dualities of being thoughtful, being gritty, leading a team, but equally being a woman, and being motherly, and being soft, and being vulnerable in times that required it, and really not having to choose one or the other," she says. "And as I retired and had my son, I also realized that a lot of my mom friends very much felt the same way, they were either in a moment of being a CFO or a CMO or a CEO, or they were a mother, and the idea that you had to choose one or the other didn't resonate with me."
She adds, "I really truly believe that I could be both, and deep down inside, so many women feel the same way, but they're not allowed that breadth."
For more from Sharapova—including her memories of her conversation-starting 2006 tennis dress—check out this week's installment of "Nice Talk." The episode is available everywhere you listen to podcasts.
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