Since giving birth to her first child, Alexis Olympia, tennis queen Serena Williams has continuously affirmed her desire to pursue her career.
Moreover, she has become an emblem of independent women, consistently sharing positive messages, encouraging new mothers not to shy away from dreaming big. Serena's motherhood experience has provided her with the opportunity to connect with more mothers. Serena openly admits feeling exhausted while juggling motherhood and her career, as well as moments of loneliness when separated from her child, dedicating time to her profession.
Recently, Serena Williams accepted a role as a strategic advisor for the "Mom Project," a platform connecting hundreds of thousands of mothers with the goal of providing suitable job opportunities for women who are also mothers. These women may have had to abandon career aspirations due to the inability to devote themselves fully to work while caring for young children. In her role at the "Mom Project," Serena shares that she and the management team will promote the development of mother-friendly work models, ensuring the professional fulfillment of working mothers.
Many studies conducted in the United States show that women after childbirth are not highly regarded for their competitiveness in the workplace. In fact, many are ready to work, but employers are still hesitant to provide opportunities. On average, 35% of women in the United States quit their jobs after giving birth. Only about 10% of these women can find other jobs, while the rest have no choice but to stay home to care for their children. Additionally, childcare costs in the United States are quite expensive, even higher than college tuition fees, making it even more challenging for mothers to pursue job opportunities.
Allison Robinson, CEO and founder of the "Mom Project," has been firsthand witness to many women struggling to return to work or find new jobs after maternity leave. In 2016, after giving birth to her first child, Allison, with her acute business acumen, founded the "Mom Project," connecting companies in need of labor with highly skilled mothers in their fields. To date, the "Mom Project" has provided jobs for 200,000 mothers, helping them assert their capabilities with confidence and alleviate fears of missing job opportunities after fulfilling their maternal duties.
Last year, Serena established a foundation bearing her name to provide essential financial support to companies led by women. Serena's aspiration is to empower women, especially mothers, to start businesses, create ideal work environments for them, and benefit future generations as well.
Coincidentally, Serena's husband, billionaire Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of the social media platform Reddit, introduced her to the "Mom Project." Serena sees this as an opportunity to get closer to her mission. Serena shares, "Mom entrepreneurs are valuable human resources for the market because they understand what families and themselves need. As we develop together over time, women will improve themselves so that in the end, everyone can be proud of standing together, creating opportunities for themselves."