World-class tennis champion, investor, and entrepreneur Maria Sharapova was a featured speaker at the WE Convention, organized by the Women’s Empowerment (WE) Council in Dubai on April 20-21, 2024.
Sharapova participated in a fireside chat with Mila Smart Semeshkina, founder of the WE Council, at the convention held at Atlantis The Royal in Dubai.
The event, themed “Big Goals, Bold Choices,” featured over 100 speakers, 2,000 attendees, 23 main stage sessions, 12 roundtable discussions, and 42 one-on-one coaching sessions.
During this event, Sharapova said how her mindset as an elite athlete has helped her succeed in her post-tennis career as an entrepreneur and investor.
“The entrepreneurial space was a very natural evolution of being an athlete,” she said:
The decision-making and teamwork skills you develop as an athlete are incredibly valuable in the business world. I developed a keen interest in business early in my tennis career because I knew my time on the court was finite, and I wanted to ensure I was ready for life afterward. Establishing a foundation in business early on broadened my perspective and gave me the opportunity to learn from incredible brand partners.
At just 25 years old in 2013, Maria took a bold risk – she invested $500,000 into her own candy store!
Of course, the haters came out swinging. They criticized the store for promoting sugary snacks to a young audience. But did Maria let that stop her?
She ignored the naysayers and HUSTLED. Today, that candy empire is worth a staggering £150 MILLION! Let that sink in for a second…£150 MILLION from candy!
It rakes in an insane £16 million every year by selling sweets and premium chocolate in over 22 countries worldwide. From a $500k investment to a £150 million.
