Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon is a mission-forward visionary known for developing an economic vehicle that empowers the Black community through collective wealth. She transforms businesses from sales to success by advocating for, equipping, and empowering artisans, creators, and entrepreneurs to become doers, supporters, and leaders of change.
Affectionately known as Dr. Key, her unique “Village Model” is renowned for its innovative structure and community-centered approach. Since founding Village Model’s retail platform, The Village Market, in 2016, Dr. Key has served over 1,440 businesses and facilitated $8.3 million in direct sales to Black-owned enterprises. She set a new standard for success among Black-owned businesses by integrating, through her nonprofit, Our Village United, programs offering grants, mentorship, and technical assistance and has awarded $800,000 in grants. Dr. Hallmon continues to expand her mission creating a retail storefront — The Village Retail at Ponce City Market — a curated retail collection of premier Black businesses.
Dr. Hallmon’s long-term vision is to build Black economic resilience where businesses and communities can flourish globally. Her commitment to culturally competent programs and community-centric wealth-building models distinguishes her from others in the field. She integrated her mantra, “Support is A Verb,” into her business motto as she propels businesses from Atlanta to the Bahamas to turn big ideas into big profits. Testimonials from beneficiaries of her initiatives consistently highlight her impactful leadership and dedication to fostering environments where Black businesses can succeed.