Dr. Jax ML Black, MA, MHA, PHD is The Big Joy Theory’s Joy Maximizer where she carries the heart of joy in all that she does. Jax is the nation’s leading speaker on how joy can be leveraged for transcendent leadership. Her talks speak to the souls of leaders in ways that illuminate just how relevant their own self-love, heart-felt wisdom, and joyful radiance are to the bottom line of everything that they do. Working with leaders of all stripes, Jax constantly aims to convey that they journey into joy is about naming, centering, and honoring the ways in which your heart has led oh so well in this world already. This is not about fighting against the system, or even tearing it down. This is about building pathways of systematic joy, from one heart to the next.

Following a stellar high jump career that included multiple All-American recognitions as well as University of Michigan’s Medal of Honor, Jax went on to earn Master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology and Health Administration followed by a Ph.D. in Community Psychology. She’s previously been an executive director, strategy consultant, and professor of psychology and non-profit management as well as a sought-after board member to a wide variety of leading organizations. Currently, she resides in Charlotte, NC with her spouse and business partner with whom she’s also co-authored three books, the most recent of which, The Joy Manifesto, was released in September of 2022.