Undefeated

Meet SmartWomen speaker Laila Ali

“I realized early that my future was in my own hands,” Laila Ali says.

For Ali, this realization would prove to be literal, once she added some boxing gloves. She was a professional boxer for eight years, with 24 wins and no losses. She retired as a four-time undefeated boxing world champion.

But that record achievement was only the beginning.

“From a young age, I had a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a desire to become my own boss,” she says. “I didn’t know exactly how it would unfold, but that sense of control and empowerment drove me to pursue my dreams.”

Ali hopes to inspire others to find that same power within themselves when she shares her story at this year’s SmartWomen Luncheon & Expo.

Forging A New Path

Ali spent most of her childhood in Los Angeles, and as the daughter of Muhammad Ali, grew up in the world of boxing. When she got in the ring herself, she learned much more than how to physically fight.

“Boxing taught me lessons that went beyond the ring,” she says. “It revealed my inner strength and resilience, both physical and mental. On the business side, I learned to advocate for myself. I could have easily been intimidated by my father’s legacy, but instead I forged my own path.”

When women’s boxing made its debut in the Olympics in 2012, Ali became the first woman to provide expert commentary for NBC Sports. She also became a regular panelist and contributor for CBS Sports Network’s all-female sports commentary program, We Need to Talk.

But audiences discovered Ali in some unexpected ways as well. Her skills as a chef made her a two-time champion on the Food Network’s celebrity edition of Chopped. She also appeared in various cooking segments with Rachael Ray, Dr. Oz and Steve Harvey, with whom she prepared a healthy oven-baked “fried” chicken that incorporates whole-wheat flour to create crispiness instead of deep-frying.

She also wrote a book in 2002 for young women called Reach! Finding Strength, Spirit and Personal Power and made it to the final round on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars in 2007.

“I feel most empowered when I take on challenges as opportunities for growth,” she says.

Taking Punches, And Then Responding

Ali is passionate about health and wellness, and her focus now is on sharing what she has learned and inspiring others, especially those who are struggling with their own health issues. This passion also grew from her days as a boxer.

“Through the intense focus on optimizing my body’s performance as an athlete, I discovered the transformative power of proper nutrition, hydration, supplementation, rest and stress management,” she says. “This journey taught me that true wellness comes from taking ownership of our choices.”

Ali created a brand and a blog, Laila Ali Lifestyle, where she regularly posts tips for workouts, recipes and more. A big part of her writing is dedicated to having the right mindset.

“Mindset is the foundation of wellness, in my view,” she says. “It’s the belief in your body’s ability to heal and thrive.”

For Ali, that also means believing in yourself.

“When you believe in your own agency and capabilities, you’re more likely to become a resilient and happy person, rather than simply going with the flow,” she says.

Ali has literally taken many punches, but knows that everyone will get hit by life in their own way sometimes. She hopes that sharing her story will help others discover what is possible for them as well.

“Taking punches is inevitable, but it’s how you respond that matters,” she says. “Knowing who you are and what you stand for will help you make decisions that align with your values and goals. It doesn’t mean it’s going to be easy. But it can make you victorious.”

The 22nd annual SmartWomen Luncheon & Expo is sold out. But its mission to fund St. Joseph’s/Candler’s Telfair Mammography Fund is ongoing. This event has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for the Telfair Mammography Fund to meet this goal since its inception more than two decades ago. But the need is still great, and in some cases the Mammography Fund is the only viable avenue for uninsured and underinsured women to get this life-saving screening.

Become a SmartWomen Champion today by contributing to Fund the Mission! Call St. Joseph’s/Candler Foundations at 912-819-8683 or by donate online at www.sjchs.org/fund-the-mission.