Leaders Who Shaped Me: Meeting Muhammad Ali
- Rosanne Roberts Archuletta
- Feb 1
- 2 min read
How one unforgettable moment reminded me that greatness is about purpose, courage, and legacy.
A Birthday Moment I’ll Never Forget
On May 9, 1981, I experienced a moment that still feels surreal all these years later.
I met Muhammad Ali. It happened in a Beverly Hills restaurant while I was celebrating my 35th birthday — a setting that already felt special. But nothing could have prepared me for what happened next.
An Unexpected Encounter
I ran into him near a payphone.
He introduced himself with that unmistakable grin — though of course, he needed no introduction. When I told him I had grown up in a small town called Bangor, near the Pocono Mountains in Pennsylvania — a place where he once created a sports camp — he smiled warmly and told me how much he loved that part of the country.
It was such a simple exchange, yet it felt extraordinary.
A Surreal Autograph
A few moments later, my boyfriend came looking for me at the time.
I introduced the two of them — still hardly believing what was happening.
John pulled out his business card and asked Muhammad Ali for an autograph for me.
Ali paused and asked:
“How do you spell your first name?”
Even that question felt surreal.
And then he signed the card.
A small gesture… but one I have never forgotten.
More Than Athletic Greatness
It was a short encounter, but it was full of warmth, presence, and unmistakable energy.
What I admired most about Muhammad Ali wasn’t only his athletic greatness.
It was something deeper:
His courage
His voice
His willingness to stand for something bigger than himself
His determination to live his values openly — even when it cost him
Muhammad Ali reminds us that greatness is never just about talent.
Greatness Is About Purpose
Ali showed the world that true leadership is about more than achievement.
It’s about purpose.
It’s about having the courage to live your values out loud, even when the world pushes back.
That lesson continues to stay with me.
And it continues to guide my work today.
What Kind of Legacy Do You Want to Leave?
Because at the end of the day, the question isn’t only:
“What have you accomplished?”
It’s also:
What kind of legacy are you leaving behind?
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