Four-time Grand Slam Tennis Champion Naomi Osaka is expanding her business ventures off the court. In addition to launching her own skincare brand, KINLÒ, in 2021, Osaka has co-founded her own production company, Hana Kuma, and a female athletic-centric talent agency, EVOLVE, over the past year. Osaka and her business partner, Stuart Duguid, recently joined Yahoo Finance’s Alexandra Canal for the Yahoo Finance Invest event to discuss their new ventures and Osaka’s return to the pro tennis circuit.
Osaka explained that she has always been curious about exploring new paths and expanding on the opportunities she has received as a tennis player. She sees her career as an athlete as relatively short, so she wants to explore different avenues and create businesses that she is passionate about. Osaka believes that her businesses, such as Hana Kuma and EVOLVE, are an extension of who she is as a woman and a minority, and they provide a unique perspective in the industry.
Duguid, who serves as Osaka’s business partner, shared that his role is to help bring Osaka’s creative ideas to life and provide guidance when needed. He also noted that there has been a rise in athletes wanting to launch their own businesses and take a portion of their deals in equity. Athletes now have more access to financial information and better advice, allowing them to participate in the upside of growing brands.
During the conversation, Osaka also discussed the importance of mental health in sports. She expressed her gratitude for the increasing conversation and resources available for athletes’ mental well-being. Osaka believes that the topic of mental health is becoming more comfortable to talk about, and she has seen a positive change in athletes’ attitudes towards it.
As for her return to the pro tennis circuit, Osaka expressed her excitement about getting back into competition. She missed the competition and is looking forward to seeing new players and faces in the sport. Osaka hopes to accomplish a lot when she returns to the court and aims to perform well on grass and clay next year.
Overall, Osaka’s business ventures and her advocacy for mental health in sports demonstrate her commitment to expanding her influence beyond the tennis court and making a positive impact in various areas.Naomi Osaka Expands Business Ventures and Discusses Tennis Career in Yahoo Finance Interview
Four-time Grand Slam Tennis Champion Naomi Osaka is making waves off the court with her expanding business ventures. In addition to launching her own skincare brand, KINLÒ, in 2021, Osaka has co-founded her own production company, Hana Kuma, and a female athletic-centric talent agency, EVOLVE, over the past year.
Osaka and her business partner, Stuart Duguid, joined Yahoo Finance’s Alexandra Canal for the Yahoo Finance Invest event to discuss their new ventures and Osaka’s tennis career. Osaka expressed her curiosity about exploring new paths and expanding beyond her career as an athlete. She emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities and the desire to accomplish more in different avenues.
When asked about her return to the pro tennis circuit, Osaka expressed her excitement about the competition and her competitive nature. She mentioned her admiration for other players’ success and the emergence of new faces in the sport. Osaka expressed her hopes of performing well on grass and clay in the upcoming year.
The interview also touched upon Osaka’s businesses and their uniqueness. Osaka highlighted the influence of her cultural background, being half-Japanese and half-Haitian, and growing up in America. She mentioned the guidance she received from individuals like Mav and LeBron, which helped shape her businesses.
Duguid, as Osaka’s business partner, discussed his role in bringing Osaka’s creative ideas to life. He mentioned the increasing trend of athletes wanting to launch their own businesses and the desire to participate in the upside of these ventures. Duguid acknowledged that while top-tier athletes have more opportunities, breaking through in the business world can still be challenging for others.
The conversation also delved into the topic of mental health in sports, an area Osaka has been passionate about. She acknowledged the progress made in discussing mental health and the increasing comfort in talking about it. Duguid praised Osaka for bringing the topic to the forefront and inspiring other athletes to speak up.
Osaka shared her learnings from stepping away from tennis, emphasizing the importance of gratitude and taking things one day at a time. She expressed her eagerness to return to the sport and compete against other talented players. Duguid expressed his excitement for Osaka’s comeback and the potential for the WTA tour to elevate with diverse players from different backgrounds.
In conclusion, Naomi Osaka’s interview with Yahoo Finance shed light on her expanding business ventures, her passion for tennis, and her advocacy for mental health in sports. As she prepares to make her return to the pro tennis circuit, fans and fellow athletes eagerly await her comeback and the impact she will continue to make both on and off the court.Four-time Grand Slam Tennis Champion Naomi Osaka is making waves off the court with her new business ventures. Osaka, who launched her own skincare brand KINLÒ in 2021, has also co-founded her own production company, Hana Kuma, and a female athletic-centric talent agency called EVOLVE. She recently joined Yahoo Finance’s Alexandra Canal for the Yahoo Finance Invest event to discuss her new ventures and her tennis career.
During the interview, Osaka expressed her curiosity about exploring new paths and expanding on her opportunities beyond tennis. She mentioned that her career as an athlete is not as long as she would want it to be, so she sees these business ventures as a way to explore different avenues. She also emphasized that everything she has created comes from an organic place and is aligned with her interests and passions.
Osaka’s business partner, Stuart Duguid, who serves as the co-founder of EVOLVE and Hana Kuma, joined the conversation and discussed his role in helping bring Osaka’s creative ideas to life. He mentioned that athletes today are more interested in starting their own businesses and taking a portion of their deals in equity. Duguid believes that athletes now have better access to financial information and advice, which has led to a rise in athletes wanting to expand beyond their sport.
When asked about the biggest challenge she faces as an entrepreneur, Osaka mentioned that while tennis feels natural to her, business is a learning experience every day. She feels fortunate to be surrounded by knowledgeable people who can guide her and provide valuable information. She also shared advice she received from someone, possibly Math, which is to keep believing in her ideas even if everything doesn’t go perfectly.
The conversation also touched on the topic of mental health in sports, which Osaka has been a passionate advocate for. She mentioned that there has been a positive shift in the discourse surrounding mental health in recent years, with tournaments and organizations stepping up to address the issue. Osaka believes that more people are now comfortable talking about mental health and seeing it as an acceptable topic.
Stuart Duguid praised Osaka for bringing the topic of mental health to the forefront and mentioned that her openness has inspired other athletes to speak up about their own struggles. He emphasized the significant evolution in the conversation surrounding mental health in sports.
Overall, Naomi Osaka’s new business ventures and her advocacy for mental health are making a significant impact both on and off the tennis court. Her curiosity and drive to explore new paths are propelling her success as an entrepreneur, while her dedication to raising awareness about mental health is inspiring athletes around the world.