Dr. Deloris Thomas, a leadership strategist, author and international speaker established her distinguished career in marketing and strategy for Fortune 500 companies such as Xerox, Pepsi-Cola Company, Kraft food, and Sears. She managed multi-million dollar rebranding campaigns and developed strategic plans for multi-billion dollar divisions. She currently serves as the President of The Joseph Center® executing the vision to eradicate poverty through entrepreneurship. Her responsibilities include the strategic leadership and global operational direction for the nationally accredited Joseph Business School and its related entities including the U.S. Small Business Development Center, the APEX Accelerator, the International Trade Center, the Carver Innovation Center, and related entities. Dr. Thomas established and expanded the flagship campus-based entrepreneurial program by offering multilingual online versions. Dr. Thomas has traveled throughout the United States and around the world to over 70 different countries across six continents including Mongolia, India, Belgium, South Africa, Russia, Brazil, and Australia empowering people to become successful entrepreneurs.

Dr. Thomas was selected for a Notable Woman in Education Award in the May 28, 2018 edition of Crain’s Chicago Business. She was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2017 for her High School Girls Outdoor Track Team. She completed three 26.2-mile marathons in 2002, 2003, and 2004 as well as successfully trekked to Mt. Everest Base Camp at 17,500 feet above sea level in 2025. Dr. Thomas founded and served as President and CEO of Sterling Thomas, LLC, a management consulting firm. She serves as a consultant for the OWN Network television series Greenleaf. Dr. Thomas authored two books, Awaken to Leadership and a contributing author, Organizational Metaphor-Faith as Key to Functional Organizations.

Dr. Thomas holds a bachelor's degree in marketing from Bentley University, an MBA from Harvard University, Graduate School of Business, and a Ph.D. in organizational leadership with a focus on entrepreneurial leadership from Regent University. Dr. Thomas is happily married with children.