profile-photo

Jax Black

Founder of Big Joy Theory | Joy strategist guiding leaders to transform from burnout to bold-hearted brilliance

Add to wishlist

Book Jax Black

Dr. Jax ML Black, MA, MHA, Ph.D is The Joy Maximizer, carrying 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 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 the journey into joy is about naming, centering, and honoring how 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 the 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.

Speaking Topics

Leading With Self-Love: The Untapped Power Of Authentic Presence

Discover how self-love transforms leadership from the inside out. True leadership begins within. In a world obsessed with performance metrics and external validation, the most powerful leaders are those who cultivate self-love as their foundation. This keynote explores how self-compassion, emotional resilience, and authenticity allow leaders to create thriving cultures rooted in trust and connection.


Through powerful storytelling and actionable insights, attendees will discover how to:

  • Release the pressure to “perform” and instead lead with grounded confidence.
  • Use self-love as a tool for better decision-making and deeper team engagement.
  • Build cultures where both people and profits flourish.


This talk is ideal for executives, HR professionals, and organizations ready to evolve beyond outdated leadership models and embrace a more human, heart-centered approach.

Lighting The Path From Within: Awakening Inner Brilliance In Leadership

The best leaders don’t just direct — they illuminate. This keynote invites attendees to explore leadership as a journey of self-discovery, where the brightest guidance comes from within. By connecting to inner wisdom, leaders can navigate uncertainty with grace and inspire others not by control, but by the power of their presence.


Key takeaways include:

  • How to cultivate inner clarity and intuition as leadership tools.
  • The art of leading through energy, not just strategy.
  • Practical practices to “light the path” for teams and organizations by embodying vision and purpose.


This keynote resonates with healing leaders, heart-centered entrepreneurs, and creatives who are ready to lead from the soul rather than ego.

The Heart’s Way: Creating Success On Your Own Terms

Success begins where your heart leads. This keynote empowers leaders and entrepreneurs to align with their deepest values, trust their intuition, and create meaningful impact without sacrificing joy. What if success wasn’t something to chase, but something you created by simply living in alignment with your heart? This keynote challenges traditional narratives of achievement, offering a framework for building businesses, careers, and legacies that are as soulful as they are successful.


Participants will learn how to:

  • Align daily actions with core values and heart wisdom.
  • Break free from external pressures to “do it all” and instead build in flow.
  • Harness intuition and joy as guiding forces for innovation and fulfillment.


Perfect for entrepreneurs, change-makers, and leaders in Wellness who are ready to forge their own path and redefine success on their terms.

Joynote/Not A Keynote: The Power Of Leading From Within

This transformative Joynote invites leaders to reimagine leadership—not as performance for others, but as presence from within. Blending soul wisdom with grounded strategy, it reveals how joy is not a soft skill but a strategic frequency that anchors clarity, courage, and authentic impact. It names the path of self-awareness, self-expression, and self-efficacy that makes the authentic presence of joy more powerful than executive presence. Rather than teaching leadership from the outside in, this session guides participants to reconnect with their inner compass, dismantle inherited paradigms, and lead from the truth of who they are.


Participants leave with renewed vision, aligned energy, and a deeper sense of self-trust—ready to lead with integrity, resonance, and joy.

Jax Black's Experiences

EXPERIENCE DETAILS

*
Virtual In-Person

Experience Details

Virtual In-Person
I'm prepared to move to contract immediately if my offer is accepted.

Payment Terms

+
=
I understand that submitting this firm offer form is a legally binding offer to contract with the talent on the terms above, should the talent accept them within 5 business days of when this form is submitted. I further agree to Engage's standard booking terms & conditions.

Testimonials

“Your talk was life-changing. I will not forget it!”

  • What is your favorite quote? Joy is more than a moment, it is a lifetime of possibilities.

Start With Curated Recommendations From Our Expert Team

We book thousands of speakers each year for clients ranging from Fortune 10 companies to local associations. Every event is unique. That's why the best place to start your search is with a list of recommendations tailored to your thematic goals, audience profile, and budget. Fill out the form below to get started!

0 0
$5000 $21000
X