Maria Sharapova on Building Her Brand and BusinessesThe tennis star shares her story and secrets to building a brand.

Maria Sharapova is a five-time Grand Slam champion tennis player, but she might be better known for her off-court ventures. Darren Rovell, the sports business writer and host of this interview, says he can't think of any athlete for whom he's written more marketing articles.

That's no accident -- Sharapova has been mindful about building her brand and her business standing for years. She says she first started focusing on business when she was 12 or 13 years old, training full-time in Florida at what is now called IMG Academy.

During a surprise training session in front of potential investors, Sharapova says she learned two things -- the economic value that her tennis skills brought, and the joy she got from playing beneath bright lights.

Watch the video to learn more about how those two lessons helped push her toward a life in the spotlight as an athlete and entrepreneur.