Our mission
Turn trusted relationships into economic opportunity.
We help members build relationships that support their careers, strengthen their businesses, and expand what they can contribute to their communities.
Built on shared roots.
Hillman Hall is a private membership club for ambitious professionals across the United States, Africa and its global diaspora. We bring people together across industries, generations, and borders to build trusted relationships and create economic opportunity.
Who we are
Different expertise. Shared ambition.
Our members are professionals, founders, investors, creators, and leaders who value both their own progress and the progress of others.
We connect through curated dinners, personal introductions, and member Circles. Each creates a different way to exchange knowledge, build trust, and find people who understand what you are working toward.
Our vision
A connected global diaspora.
A community where expertise, access, and opportunity travel more freely across industries and borders.
Our why
Talent existed. Connection didn’t.
As the founders of Hillman Hall, we met while pursuing our bachelor’s degrees at Howard University. Despite coming from different backgrounds, we were pleasantly surprised at how quickly we connected.
This sense of connection was common among the diverse student body, where we thrived in an atmosphere of unity and success.
However, after graduating and entering corporate America, that sense of community disappeared. We found ourselves isolated, often as one of the few Black professionals in our workplaces.
The higher we climbed the corporate ladder, the more isolated we felt—and soon realized that this wasn’t just our experience, but the reality for many like us.
This lack of connection wasn’t limited to our corporate careers—it extended to our entrepreneurial ventures as well. Although 11.3% of businesses in America are Black-owned, only 2.7% are employer firms, many of which struggle to scale and sustain.
Black-owned
11.3
%
of businesses in America are Black-owned.
Employer firms
2.7
%
are employer firms, many of which struggle to scale and sustain.
Collaboration
< 0.5
%
likelihood of a graduate working or collaborating with a Black-owned business for mutual benefit.
If we think a layer deeper, we have brilliant minds as career professionals and creators as entrepreneurs, but with only 2.7% of Black-owned firms employing staff, the likelihood of a graduate working or collaborating for mutual benefit with a Black-owned business is less than 0.5%.
The issue was clear: talent existed, but we weren’t connected, and we weren’t maximizing our potential impact within our communities through this connection.
This issue isn’t just an American problem; but a global challenge as well.
We built Hillman Hall to bridge this gap—to create a space that thrives on diverse expertise, shared experiences, and strong networks.
Through these connections, we believe we can begin to uncover the solutions that bring balance and progress to the world.
What we stand on
Our tenets
I.
Cultural Unity
Our different histories and experiences are part of our shared strength.
II.
Networks & Relationships
We build trust through reciprocity, discretion, and follow-through.
III.
Economic Advancement
We connect people and expertise to help members move their work forward.
IV.
Community Impact
We share what we know and create opportunities for others.
The right relationships can move your next chapter forward.
Find your people. Share what you’re building. Help someone else move forward.