Lakeysha Hallmon

Affectionately known as “Dr. Key,” she moves businesses from sales to success, and inspires them to become doers, supporters and leaders of change. The mission-forward visionary advocates and empowers artisans, creators, and burgeoning Black businesses who want to thrive. After founding the Village Market ATL in 2016, she has reached and served 1440 businesses and facilitated 5.3 million dollars of direct sales to Black-owned businesses. Now with several verticals under the Village Market moniker, Dr. Key has recently expanded her village to include her storefront The Village at Ponce City Market, a curated collection of premier Black businesses. She has cultivated a team of her own, employing 100% Black people, over 90% of them women. From Atlanta all the way to the Bahamas, the Mississippi-bred thought leader helps businesses with big ideas turn them into even bigger profit. Her goal is to build a Black mecca, where Black businesses can build and grow anywhere, and with several market storefronts on the way, she’s just getting started.

Dr. Key’s expertise in education spans 15 years, where she has served as a critical voice and advocate for creating empowering learning and work environments for students and employees and is deeply passionate about work efficacy and social-emotional learning.

Dr. Key has been featured in Forbes, Essence, Black Enterprise, CNN/ HLN, the Today Show, NOW THIS, the Source, Atlanta Business Chronicle, The Atlanta Voice, Madame Noire, Side Hustle Pro, Therapy for Black Girls, Black on Air.

A sought-after speaker, served as the keynote speaker for the Fall graduating class at Clark Atlanta University and the Boys and Girls Club of NW Mississippi and graced the stages of the Steve Harvey Foundation, Hope Global Forum, Beyond School Hours National Conference, Students At-Risk Conference, National Summer Institute Conference, GA Federal Programs Conference, the Power Rising Conference, EnricHER Conference, Atlanta University Center’s Financial Literacy and Innovation Conference, and the HBCU Entrepreneurship Financial Literacy Expo.

Walker’s Legacy has honored Dr. Hallmon. In 2017, she was inducted into the 40 under 40 Society at her undergraduate alma mater, Tougaloo College. Dr. Hallmon is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.