From becoming a four-time Grand Slam champion to being a leader in entrepreneurship, Naomi Osaka has shown that she is a force to be reckoned with. At only 24 years old, Osaka is looking to reach an even bigger milestone by leaving her current talent management company, IMG, and building her own called Evolve.

Hoping to follow the business models of Kobe Bryant and Lebron James, Osaka will be working alongside her agent, Stuart Duguid, to create the first female athlete to lead an athlete-driven agency focusing on big picture brand building. 

This wouldn’t be the first time Osaka has ventured into entrepreneurship and business. She created Play Academy in 2020, providing grants and training services for young girls interested in tennis. Since its launch in 2020 Play Academy works with both Nike and Laureus Sport for Good, “partnering with organizations in Tokyo, and has since expanded to Los Angeles and Haiti”. 

Just last year, Osaka launched KINLÒ, a skincare line made specifically to protect people of color. When asked about the inspiration behind KINLÒ, Osaka stated, “Black, Brown, and other melanated skin-toned communities are often an after-thought in the discussion and research surrounding sun care, including being excluded from clinical studies on skin cancer.”

“I’ve spent my career doing things my way, even when people told me that it wasn’t what was expected or traditional, Evolve is the natural next step in my journey as both an athlete and businesswoman,” stated Osaka regarding the creation of Evolve. 

By breaking barriers and venturing out on her own, the young athlete continues to prove that she has way more to offer outside of the tennis court.