Getting to the top takes determination, but staying there requires something more.
For leaders facing constant disruption and shifting business priorities, the challenge is sustaining success as everything around them keeps changing.
During a keynote conversation with journalist Soledad O’Brien at the Gartner IT Symposium/Xpo, tennis champion and entrepreneur Serena Williams reflected on the mindset that helped her remain competitive throughout her career and how those lessons continue to shape her approach to business.
Her message was clear: leadership requires a commitment to growth, even when what you’re doing is already working.
The Discipline of Staying Ahead
Williams acknowledged that reaching the world’s number-one ranking was, in some ways, easier than remaining there.
Once leaders achieve a major goal, it can be tempting to rely on the strategies that got them there. But Williams understood that maintaining an advantage meant continuing to evolve.
“It’s so important to stay hungry,”
Throughout her career, Williams looked beyond traditional training methods, incorporating disciplines such as ballet and aerial exercises to improve her strength and performance. She also made a point of learning from others and remaining open to feedback.
For CIOs, that same thinking applies to how they lead their organizations. Successful transformation is not a permanent competitive advantage. The ability to question existing approaches, recognize new opportunities, and keep improving is what allows organizations to move forward.
Williams also challenged the tendency to focus primarily on weaknesses, emphasizing the importance of building on existing strengths.
Leadership Under Pressure
Few leadership roles come without pressure, particularly as technology executives balance innovation with operational demands and growing accountability.
Williams spoke candidly about the moments when she struggled to manage expectations, acknowledging that even the most experienced performers do not always get it right.
Her advice was to face those challenges rather than avoid them.
“You lean into it,” she said. “You don’t go around it. You don’t try to avoid it.”
That perspective offers a valuable reminder for CIOs making difficult decisions in uncertain environments. Resilience is not about having every answer. It is about remaining engaged, making the necessary decisions, and learning from the outcomes.
Reinvention Starts Before It’s Necessary
Williams’ transition into venture capital was not a sudden career change. She began investing years before stepping away from professional tennis, taking time to understand the industry, build relationships, and develop new skills.
That preparation allowed her to approach the next chapter with a foundation already in place.
For technology leaders, the connection is straightforward. Building the capabilities an organization will need tomorrow requires investment and attention today.
Williams also credited the people around her with helping elevate her performance, underscoring the importance of surrounding yourself with individuals who challenge your thinking and recognize opportunities for growth.
The Wrap
As technology continues to reshape the business landscape, the qualities that define effective leadership remain remarkably consistent.
Williams’ career illustrates that sustained success is not about protecting what has already been accomplished. It is about maintaining the curiosity, discipline, and willingness to adapt that made those accomplishments possible.
For CIOs, staying ahead means recognizing that leadership is never a finished achievement. It is something that must be continually developed, challenged, and earned.
