Lakeysha Hallmon
Lakeysha Hallmon | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation(s) | Social entrepreneur, speaker, and author |
| Known for | Village Market, Village Retail, Our Village United |
| Website | drkeyhallmon |
Lakeysha Hallmon is an American social entrepreneur, speaker, and author who best known as the founder of The Village Market, a national initiative supporting Black-owned businesses through commerce, marketplaces, and campaigns.[1]
Early life and education
Hallmon grew up in Batesville, Mississippi.[2] She received her BA from Tougaloo College, MED Curriculum and Instructions from University of Ole Miss, and graduated EdD from Liberty University.[3] She worked as an education and evaluation specialist.[4][5]
Career
Early in her career, Hallmon worked as an education and evaluation specialist.[4]
Hallmon moved to Atlanta in 2011 and founded The Village Market in 2016, a platform that connects Black-owned businesses to consumers through access to business resources, educational programs, and marketplaces.[4][6]
In 2017, Hallmon launched Our Village United (OVU), a non-profit organization, that supports small business development through its primary program, Elevate. Our Village Market has allocated $800,000 in grants since its inception.[2][5] In 2020, she expanded her efforts with the opening of The Village Retail, a brick-and-mortar store in Atlanta, at Ponce City Market, dedicated to showcasing up and coming brands.[7]
In 2023, Hallmon was appointed to Mayor Andre Dickens's Women's Advisory Council.[8]
In 2024, Hallmon published No One Is Self-Made: Build Your Village to Flourish in Business and Life, a book that challenges the myth of individualism and emphasizes collaboration and community as critical tools for business and personal development.[9][10] Essence described the book as "part memoir, part manifesto, dismantl[ing] the myth of individualism in business… Hallmon delivers a timely and necessary guide for anyone striving to build lasting wealth while staying rooted in purpose."[11]
Hallmon also serves on the Board of Trustees for Tougaloo College and the Board of Directors for Invest Atlanta, advocating for equitable development and small business growth.[12][13]
Awards and recognition
- Forbes 50 Champions
- The Root 100
- Georgia Trend's 500 Most Influential Leaders
- Atlanta Business Chronicle's 40 Under 40
- Trailblazer Award from Atlanta Business League
References
- ^ "She Revised A Business Model. Now This Atlanta Retailer Profits By Helping Black Solopreneurs". Forbes.
- ^ a b Dunigan, Jonece Starr (February 21, 2025). "How women set the standard for Black entrepreneurship". nj.
- ^ Hallmon, Lakeysha (1 October 2015). "Exploring the Relationship between Cultural Intelligence and Teacher Burnout in the Mississippi Delta". Doctoral Dissertations and Projects.
- ^ a b c Webb, Nicole (31 October 2019). "Educator Creates The Village Market ATL for Black Business Owners to Prosper". Black Enterprise.
- ^ a b Grace, Alexis (19 April 2022). "HBCU Graduate launches Incubator to provide support for Mississippi Small Business". The Atlanta Voice.
- ^ Hobbs, Ashley (6 December 2020). "Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon Launched An All-Black Marketplace Without A Dollar From Investors". Essence.
- ^ Walljasper, Matt (April 8, 2022). "4 Atlanta-based retail incubators you need to visit".
- ^ https://www.atlantaga.gov/Home/Components/News/News/14019/672
- ^ Donastorg, Mirtha. "'No One Is Self-Made.' Atlanta entrepreneur turned author shares life lessons". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution – via AJC.com.
- ^ America, Good Morning. "Learn the secrets to professional and personal success". Good Morning America.
- ^ "Dr. Lakeysha Hallmon Wants Us To Remember That 'No One Is Self-Made'". Essence. February 11, 2025.
- ^ "Office of the President | Tougaloo College".
- ^ "Board of Directors".