Being a business owner can be daunting on certain occasions, even for someone as diligent as Alexis Ohanian. As the co-founder of Reddit, Ohanian must’ve spent years dealing with stress. And on top of that, he has revealed he was always concerned about what strangers thought of him. Back then, little did he know that everything was about to be changed with his marriage to Serena Williams and the birth of their daughter Olympia.
Alexis Ohanian, in a recent interview with Adweek, talked about a major shift in his life priorities. Due to his anxiety issues over other people’s opinion of him, he felt it was necessary to build a platform like Reddit. “If you’re building Reddit, you’re building a community platform in 2005, you actually genuinely have to care what strangers on the Internet think,” he explained.
However, Ohanian said everything changed when he became a husband and father. His perspective shifted dramatically following the birth of his daughter, Olympia. “I realized I don’t care,” Ohanian shared, talking about the clarity that came with fatherhood. His tone suggested a sense of liberation as he laughingly embraced this change in mindset.
Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit, has made a name for himself in the tech industry as one of the pioneers of online community platforms. His journey as an entrepreneur has been marked by both tremendous successes and inevitable challenges, particularly in the realm of mental health. Ohanian has always been candid about the stress that comes with running a major tech company, especially one like Reddit, where user interaction and community-building are the foundation of the platform. In a recent interview with Adweek, Ohanian opened up about how the weight of others’ opinions once dominated his mindset and how his life priorities dramatically shifted after two life-changing events—his marriage to Serena Williams and the birth of their daughter, Olympia.
Ohanian launched Reddit in 2005 with his college roommate, Steve Huffman. At a time when social media platforms like Facebook were still in their infancy, Reddit offered a different kind of digital space—one where anonymity, user-driven content, and discussion could thrive. However, creating and managing a platform where millions of users share their opinions can be mentally taxing. For Ohanian, the early days of Reddit were filled with stress and constant concern about how strangers viewed him. “If you’re building Reddit, you’re building a community platform in 2005, you actually genuinely have to care what strangers on the Internet think,” Ohanian said in his interview.
The fear of judgment and criticism from millions of online users meant that Ohanian spent years obsessing over his reputation, both as a businessman and a person. In the tech world, and particularly in a space like Reddit, where feedback is immediate and unfiltered, managing a successful platform requires emotional resilience. Unfortunately, the pressure took a toll on Ohanian, contributing to anxiety and self-doubt. He mentioned that this pressure was a driving force behind the decisions he made in Reddit’s early years—sometimes to the detriment of his mental health.
For many entrepreneurs, especially those working in the highly competitive tech industry, the weight of public opinion can be overwhelming. With Reddit being a platform centered around discussion and often critique, Ohanian’s work required a thick skin, yet he often found himself preoccupied with others’ judgments. “You have to care what strangers on the internet think,” he emphasized, suggesting that the constant scrutiny led him to constantly question himself.
For years, this stress seemed inescapable, but everything changed when Ohanian became a father. His marriage to tennis superstar Serena Williams in 2017 and the birth of their daughter Olympia in the same year marked a turning point in his life. Becoming a parent shifted his entire perspective on what really mattered. In the Adweek interview, Ohanian described how fatherhood brought him a sense of clarity he hadn’t experienced before. “I realized I don’t care,” he said, speaking about how his anxieties over others’ opinions faded away once Olympia was born.
Parenthood has a way of changing priorities for many people, and for Ohanian, this shift was liberating. Suddenly, the opinions of internet strangers that once consumed his thoughts no longer held the same power over him. Instead, his focus turned to being the best father and husband he could be, rather than striving for approval from others. This newfound sense of purpose was accompanied by a lighter, more joyful outlook on life. “I don’t care anymore,” he reiterated in the interview, laughing as he reflected on the freedom that comes from no longer being tethered to others’ expectations.
Of course, part of this transformation can also be attributed to his marriage to Serena Williams, a woman who has herself faced immense scrutiny throughout her career as one of the most successful athletes of all time. Williams has navigated the pressures of fame, criticism, and societal expectations with strength and resilience, often speaking openly about the challenges she’s faced as a Black woman in sports and in the public eye. Her influence on Ohanian’s perspective is undeniable. In many ways, Williams’ example of focusing on her own goals and well-being despite the opinions of others likely helped Ohanian realize that he, too, could let go of the weight of judgment.
Ohanian has publicly praised Williams for her unwavering support and for being an incredible mother to their daughter. Together, they’ve built a life where they prioritize family above all else, a value that has transformed Ohanian’s approach to both his personal and professional life. With Williams by his side, Ohanian has been able to embrace a healthier outlook—one where the opinions of others no longer dictate his self-worth.
Ohanian’s journey as a father has not only changed his perspective on life but has also influenced how he approaches his work. He stepped down from Reddit’s board in 2020, urging the company to replace him with a Black board member as part of his commitment to racial justice. This decision reflected his desire to use his platform for positive change, rather than just focusing on success for its own sake. He has also shifted his attention toward initiatives that align with his values, including launching a venture capital firm, Seven Seven Six, which focuses on funding diverse and impactful startups.
His new role as a venture capitalist has allowed him to channel his experience as an entrepreneur into helping others navigate the challenges of building a business. However, unlike in the past, Ohanian is no longer motivated by the fear of what others think. Instead, he approaches his work with a sense of purpose rooted in his love for his family. This shift in mindset has allowed him to invest in projects that reflect his values and make meaningful contributions to society, rather than merely chasing financial success.
Alexis Ohanian’s story offers valuable lessons for entrepreneurs and business owners struggling with the pressures of public opinion. His experience highlights the importance of finding balance between professional ambition and personal well-being. While building Reddit was a monumental achievement, it came at the cost of Ohanian’s mental health. It wasn’t until he became a husband and father that he realized there was more to life than success and approval from strangers.
For Ohanian, the key to overcoming the anxiety that once plagued him was shifting his focus to what truly matters—his family and his legacy. His story is a reminder that while the opinions of others can be overwhelming, they don’t define who we are. By prioritizing the things that bring joy and meaning to our lives, we can find a sense of freedom and fulfillment that no amount of success or validation from others can provide.
In a world where social media and public perception often dominate our lives, Ohanian’s journey serves as an example of how we can let go of the need for approval and instead focus on what truly brings us happiness and purpose.