Former five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova said her 2020 retirement from tennis was not a sudden decision but the result of years of planning.
In an interview with the WSJ Leadership Institute, the 39-year-old entrepreneur explained that she anticipated the short duration of an athletic career from a young age.
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“I recognized from an early age that as a woman, my career would end much sooner than in other professions,” Sharapova said.
This realization drove her to seek knowledge and mentorship from leaders outside tennis during her competitive years.
“I was like, 'I've got to hustle. I've got to start learning from other people,'” she said.
During breaks caused by chronic shoulder issues and a 15-month doping ban in 2016, Sharapova completed corporate internships, attended business school, and shadowed NBA Commissioner Adam Silver.
“When I was injured, or I had a break, I'd go to a business school, I would take a few weeks.
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I would grow, I would take internships. I went to the NBA for a few weeks to shadow Adam Silver,” she explained.
As her financial security grew, she diversified her portfolio into corporate investments to ensure long-term sustainability beyond her athletic achievements, which included a career Grand Slam completed at Roland Garros.
Sharapova emphasized the importance of personal development outside of athletics, even while achieving success in her primary professional arena.
“There are elements of growth that even though you're progressing in one arena, I thought it was really critical and important to help grow in others,” she said.
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Today, Sharapova works full-time as an entrepreneur, overseeing her confection brand Sugarpova, serving on the Moncler Board of Directors, hosting her 'Pretty Tough' podcast, and investing in brands like Tonal, Therabody, and Amulet.
