Black Sheep

What Black Sheep does

Black Sheep (legal entity Black Sheep, Incorporated; DBA Black Sheep Global) is a privately held, founder-owned boutique leadership development and executive communications firm headquartered in Manning, South Carolina. Founded in 1995 by former television anchor Jeff Black, the company designs and delivers training programs, one-on-one and small-group coaching, and signature keynote speeches focused on executive presence, strategic communication, media training, and personal branding for senior executives and C-suite leaders. Service delivery is built on experiential learning methodologies, proprietary frameworks (including the SOAR coaching model and an Experiential Communications Boot Camp), and licensed behavioral assessment integrations (DiSC and KII), with formats spanning two-day in-person programs, multi-module series, and hybrid virtual engagements.

The company's product portfolio includes four core programs (Executive Presence, Media Training, Strategic Communication, Personal Branding for Leaders), three coaching tracks (Executive Coaching, Legacy Coaching for transitioning leaders, and Power Coaching), a catalog of thirteen modular sessions (covering crisis management, systems thinking, generational leadership, emotional intelligence, improv, customer service, and others), and a library of signature keynote topics delivered by Jeff Black. Distribution runs through direct enterprise sales, custom quote-based engagements, and event-driven keynote appearances at conferences, company offsites and executive summits, supported by an Insights blog, social channels (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and earned media on CNBC and FoxBusiness.

The business model is professional services revenue with quote-based, non-public pricing that varies by format, duration, group size, and travel logistics; secondary revenue comes from keynote speaking fees and book sales (Jeff Black's 'Unleash Your BS', published by Morgan-James). The firm claims a global footprint with delivery in 20 countries and languages, and a named enterprise customer base spanning GE, Lockheed Martin, Takeda, Google, Coca-Cola European Partners, Target, Capgemini, American Airlines, NBC Television, Nielsen, and Sabre. Headcount is reported at 51–100 employees, no institutional funding or parent company is disclosed, and there are no software, AI, or platform technology components in the offering.

Name

Black Sheep

Legal name

Black Sheep, Incorporated

Website

https://blacksheepglobal.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1995

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Black Sheep is a privately held, founder-owned boutique leadership development firm founded in 1995 that designs and delivers executive presence, strategic communication, media training, personal branding programs, executive coaching, and signature keynotes to senior leaders and Fortune-class enterprises globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Manning

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Leadership Development Programs: Two-day executive presence programs, multi-module strategic communication series, personal branding workshops, and experiential boot camps delivered in-person or virtually. Revenue is generated through program fees based on format (in-person/virtual), duration (half-day, full-day, multi-day), and group size.
2. Executive Coaching: One-on-one and small group coaching engagements including face-to-face sessions with virtual coaching follow-up. Formats include Three Face-to-Face (3 sessions + 6 months virtual), Two Face-to-Face (2 sessions + 4 months virtual), One Face-to-Face (1 session + 2 months virtual), and Power Coaching (5 one-hour sessions). Includes DiSC or KII assessments.
3. Keynote Speaking: Customized keynote presentations for leadership conferences, company offsites, industry events, and executive summits. Jeff Black delivers signature talks including Leaders Follow Their Hearts, Everyone's a Reporter, Empowered Women Leaders, Unleash Your Best Self, The Human Moment, and more.
4. Book Sales: Sale of Jeff Black's book 'Unleash Your BS (Best Self): Put Your Executive Presence to the Test!' published by Morgan-James Publishing, available in paperback, hard cover, and Kindle formats.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Black Sheep is a boutique leadership development company that sells customized executive education programs (Executive Presence, Media Training, Strategic Communication, Personal Branding), one-on-one and small-group Executive and Legacy Coaching engagements, and signature keynotes to enterprise clients. Programs are delivered in-person, virtually, or hybrid, and are tailored to the client's group size, format, and goals. The firm also sells the founder's book, Unleash Your BS (Best Self), as an ancillary offering.

Product overview

Black Sheep is a boutique leadership development company offering a portfolio of training programs, coaching services, and keynote speeches. The core offerings include Executive Presence, Media Training, Strategic Communication, and Personal Branding programs, complemented by Executive and Legacy Coaching services and Signature Keynotes by founder Jeff Black. Additional modules span experiential boot camps, virtual communications, crisis management, systems thinking, generational leadership, emotional intelligence, coaching conversations, DiSC-based communications, customer service, and improv training. The company also publishes the book 'Unleash Your BS' by Jeff Black. The product line is delivered through in-person, virtual, and hybrid formats and serves executives, managers, and emerging leaders across global corporations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Presence Program A two-day intensive experience equipping leaders to communicate with authority, elevate their visibility, and show up as their Best Self in every high-stakes moment; delivered to enterprise cohorts.
• Media Training Practical, high-stakes training for spokespeople, executives, and leaders who must communicate clearly and confidently with journalists and public audiences.
• Strategic Communication Program A multi-module program helping leaders translate complex ideas into compelling narratives that move teams, stakeholders, and organizations forward.
• Personal Branding for Leaders A workshop helping leaders articulate who they are, what they stand for, and how they want to be known inside their organization, including a 30-day visibility plan.
• Executive Coaching One-on-one and small group coaching program for leaders looking to communicate more effectively and build better personal and leadership brands; includes DiSC and KII assessments and tiered engagement formats.
• Legacy Coaching Tailored coaching program for retiring executives or transitioning leaders who wish to leave a lasting impact, preserving their insights and experiences for future generations.
• Signature Keynotes Customized keynote speeches delivered by Jeff Black at leadership conferences, company offsites, industry events, and executive summits; topics include Leaders Follow Their Hearts, Everyone's a Reporter, Empowered Women Leaders, Unleash Your Better Self, and The Human Moment.
• Unleash Your BS (Best Self) Book Book by founder Jeff Black, published by Morgan-James Publishing in New York, offering concrete techniques for enhancing executive presence and strengthening personal brand; available in paperback, hardcover, and Kindle.

Quantifiable outcome

• Highest impact program I have ever been through - still using what I learned today (GE PRL 2009 participant)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• I Promise InitiativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-founded by Jeff Black, the 'I Promise' Initiative is designed to encourage law enforcement agencies around the nation to renew their commitment to treating all citizens with dignity, respect and fairness. The initiative was launched in Manning, SC with the Manning, SC Police Department - Jeff's hometown.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• DDI (Development Dimensions International): Large leadership and talent management firm providing leadership development programs, assessment, and coaching to global enterprises. Competes for the same Fortune 500 L&D RFPs as Black Sheep but with broader methodology and tech stack.
• Center for Creative Leadership (CCL): Nonprofit executive education and leadership research organization offering open-enrollment and custom programs. Targets the same senior-executive audience as Black Sheep but with broader content (strategy, innovation) and a research-driven brand.
• FranklinCovey: Public, scaled leadership development firm selling enterprise-wide programs and content (e.g., 'The 7 Habits', 'Leader in Me'). Competes with Black Sheep for corporate L&D budgets but operates at much greater scale and broader content depth.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a substantial Leadership and Professional Development practice offering executive coaching, assessment, and learning solutions that overlap with Black Sheep's coaching and communications offerings.

Direct peers

• Speakeasy: Boutique media training, communications coaching, and presentation skills firm serving executives and corporate spokespeople — closely aligned with Black Sheep's media training, spokesperson prep, and crisis communications offerings.
• Bates Communications: Boutique firm specializing in executive presence, communication coaching, and presentation skills for senior leaders — a tightly overlapping offering with Black Sheep's Executive Presence and Personal Branding programs.
• The Humphrey Group: Boutique executive communication and leadership presence firm working with senior executives on storytelling and influence — overlapping directly with Black Sheep's Executive Presence, Storytelling, and Strategic Communication programs.
• Mandel Communications: Boutique communication skills and presentation training firm with methodology-driven programs (e.g., 'The Mandel Method') that directly compete with Black Sheep's executive communications and presentation skills modules.
• Rorke Communications / James Rorke: Media training and executive communication consultancy serving corporate spokespeople and C-suite leaders, with offerings directly comparable to Black Sheep's Media Training and Crisis Communication modules.
• Dale Carnegie Training: Long-established global leadership and communications training franchise with a course catalog (presentation skills, interpersonal communication, executive presence) that overlaps directly with Black Sheep's Executive Presence and Strategic Communication programs.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCCsjNW812Hl8aKmDI5LyUwg
• Facebookfacebook.com/BlackSheepGlobal
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/blacksheepglobal
• Instagraminstagram.com/blacksheep_global

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Black Sheep