Welcome to Exceptional Leaders, LLC
At Exceptional Leaders we believe that great leaders are not born, they are made. Our leadership capacity building services are designed to help individuals and organizations unlock their full potential and achieve exceptional results.
With a deep understanding of the challenges faced by today's higher education leaders, we offer personalized programs tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. Through our proven methodologies and strategies, we empower leaders to develop their skills, enhance their decision-making abilities, and build high-performing teams.
Chief Executive Officer
Dr. L. Joy Gates Black established Exceptional Leaders, LLC in 2023 after a successful thirty year career as a higher education executive with a proven track record of building leadership capacity. She retired as the fourth president of Delaware County Community College after serving for six years. In that time the College received national recognition as a Center of Excellence for Domestic Maritime Workforce Training and Education, established the Center for Equity and Social Justice, received millions in state and federal grants, and received capital funding to build a new campus focused on Community Success and Workforce Development. A well-respected higher education administrator with experience at both community colleges and four-year institutions, Dr. Gates Black is keenly focused on leadership capacity building through executive coaching, strategic planning, and organizational change management.
As a first-generation college student from a small town in Texas, Dr. Gates Black is proud that during her career she played a role in uplifting communities, increasing economic development, and helping others to achieve their dreams.
Dr. Gates Black holds an undergraduate studies certificate and a master’s degree in Education from Cambridge College, and a Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Pepperdine University. She also pursued doctoral studies in Human and Organizational Development from Fielding University. She is a Certified Executive Coach, and a U.S. Air Force veteran.
