
Dr. Avis Jones-DeWeever is a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Solutionist and Race & Gender Empowerment Expert. She’s the author of the award-winning book, How Exceptional Black Women Lead and Founder & CEO of the Exceptional Leadership Institute, a global personal and professional development firm that’s grounded in the notion that the best leadership is diverse leadership. As such, ELI helps organizations and diverse talents maximize their potential for exceptional success in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.
Dr. Avis’ clients range the gamut from major corporations to non-profit organizations to governmental institutions and colleges & universities. Across the spectrum, she understands how to face tough issues and breakthrough to the power and potential that inclusive diversity brings.
Dr. Avis has had the honor of being the Keynote Speaker to President Obama’s Inaugural President of the United States’ Young African Leaders Summit, was a Featured Speaker before the World Bank and has conducted workshops and training on women’s career and entrepreneurial success on behalf of U.S. Embassies across the globe. As such, she’s served as a featured speaker in Tanzania, Colombia, Trinidad & Tobago, The Bahamas, Fiji, Tonga, and Somoa in addition to speaking at corporations, conferences, and colleges and universities throughout the U.S.
Find Dr. Avis regularly as a Guest Host and Regular Panelist to TV One’s NewsOne Now with Roland Martin, PBS’ To the Contrary, Sirius XM Radio’s the Agenda. She also serves as a regular contributor to Black Enterprise, the Huffington Post, and NBC BLK.

Over the years, she’s been featured in hundreds of television and radio appearances domestically and internationally. She’s also been published and quoted on some of the most prestigious platforms in the world and has leveraged her expertise to become a professional speaker, sharing her message throughout the US and in countries across the globe. Intending to help more Black women make the shift from merely becoming empowered to being in-power, she understands the importance of escaping obscurity and becoming known broadly as the expert that you already are. As a result, she has dedicated the next stage of her career to helping more women understand how to leverage the media to make the shift from modern-day Hidden Figure to recognized Thought Leader.