Maria Sharapova
The Pioneer
The frontier and an appetite for the unknown, goes first.
Maria Sharapova reads as The Pioneer because her arc demanded she forge new ground twice. First came one of the most decorated careers in tennis, built on relentless competitive tenacity. Then, after a doping ban, came the harder task of rebuilding her identity entirely, launching Sugarpova and proving herself a credible entrepreneur before many believed she could. Persisting through adversity while experimenting boldly in unfamiliar territory is the Pioneer's defining pattern, and she has lived it publicly.
“I made a very conscious effort of setting up a platform and a foundation that would make me feel going into a second chapter... I knew it was going to be important to feel like I have a strong foundation in order to grow.”
“I selfishly took on the role because I felt like I could learn from a lot of people sitting in that room. I stayed really open minded and curious about other things.”
“I don't want to look back and say I should have done something, because the reason I won these events was because I probably messed up a few times and I lean into feeling like this doesn't feel good and what am I going to do to change it.”
The David Rubenstein Show: “Maria Sharapova”
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