Conversations with Dr. Keima Lattimore-Allen

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Keima Lattimore-Allen.

Dr. Keima, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey has been one of growth, resilience, and a commitment to making a difference in everything I do. Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to build a career in commercial claims management, where I’ve spent more than 25 years developing my leadership skills, mentoring others, solving complex problems, and helping people navigate some of the most challenging moments of their lives. That experience has taught me the importance of empathy, accountability, and leading with purpose.

Beyond my corporate career, I’ve always had a passion for education, entrepreneurship, and helping others achieve their goals. That passion led me into real estate, where I help people navigate the process of homeownership and building their future. I also became an online professor and academic counselor allowing me to share my knowledge and experience with students who are working toward their own dreams.

Becoming an author was yet another meaningful chapter of my journey. My book, The Uncaged Butterfly: 100 Days to Freedom, was born out of my desire to encourage healing, growth, and the courage to break free from the things that hold us back.
But beyond every professional title and accomplishment, I am a wife and a mother, and those roles mean everything to me. My family keeps me grounded and reminds me why I work so hard. Balancing multiple responsibilities has not always been easy, but it has taught me that we can pursue our dreams while still honoring the people and values that matter most.
When I look back, I realize that my journey hasn’t been about following one straight path. It has been about embracing opportunities, continuing to learn, and being willing to reinvent myself when necessary. I believe our experiences, even the difficult ones, can become the foundation for something meaningful. Today, I’m proud of the many hats I wear, but even more proud of the lives I have the opportunity to impact through leadership, education, real estate, and my writing. I’m still growing, still dreaming, and still discovering what’s possible. More to come and very soon!!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely has not been a smooth road. Like many people, I’ve faced obstacles that were not always visible to the people around me. One of my greatest challenges has been finding the courage to face some ugly truths about my own life and confront trauma that I had spent years trying to suppress. Sometimes, we become so focused on surviving, taking care of others, and fulfilling our responsibilities that we convince ourselves we are okay, even when there are parts of us that still need healing.

For me, the journey required me to stop running from the things that hurt me and begin doing the difficult work of acknowledging them, processing them, and learning how to move forward. That process was not easy, and it certainly did not happen overnight. There were moments when I had to confront emotions and experiences I would have preferred to leave in the past.

Those experiences played a significant role in my journey as an author. Writing The Uncaged Butterfly: 100 Days to Freedom became a way to share a message of healing, hope, and freedom with others who may be silently fighting their own battles.

I’ve learned that being strong does not mean you never break, and being successful does not mean you have everything figured out. Sometimes, the greatest strength is being willing to face what hurts, ask for help when you need it, and give yourself permission to heal. My obstacles have not defined me; they have helped shape the woman I am today. I believe that even in our most difficult seasons, there is an opportunity to rediscover ourselves and realize that our past does not have to dictate our future.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As far as what I do, as mentioned earlier I am a commercial claims manager, realtor, adjunct professor, and author. When it comes to what I specialoze in, I consider myself a multifaceted professional and creative. I don’t believe I have to fit into one box or be defined by one title. My ability to lead, teach, create, adapt, and connect with people is what makes my journey unique.
I describe myself as someone who is passionate about life, family, creativity, and making a difference. I enjoy wearing many hats. Whether I am leading a team, teaching, writing, helping someone navigate a challenge, or bringing an idea to life, I find fulfillment in being able to use my gifts in different ways.
Outside of my professional life, I love cooking and interior decorating. I enjoy creating experiences, bringing people together around good food, and transforming spaces into places that feel warm, inviting, and beautiful. I have a creative side that allows me to express myself in ways that go beyond my career.

When asked what I am most proud of, my answer is my family. We are an incredibly close-knit family, and the bond we share means more to me than any professional title or accomplishment. When life gets overwhelming or I am navigating difficult moments, being surrounded by my husband, children, sister, nephews, aunts, uncles, and loved ones, and friends brings me a sense of peace that nothing else can replace. They are my safe place and my reminder of what truly matters.

I believe what sets me apart is that I am both driven and deeply rooted in the things that matter most. I have big dreams, I love a challenge, and I am always looking for ways to grow, create, and evolve. But I also understand that success isn’t measured solely by what you accomplish. It is measured by the relationships you nurture, the lives you touch, the memories you create, and the love you leave behind. I want to be remembered not just for what I did, but for how I made people feel.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I was the baby of the bunch, so I was very spoiled and my mom, sister, and brother poured everything into me. My mom was my everything, so when she passed in 2016, I was left with a hole in my heart that I never thought anything or anyone would ever fill. I was navigating one of the most painful seasons of my life, and little did I know that I would be introduced to someone who understood a part of my grief in a way few others could. A close friend introduced me to my best friend and now husband a month after losing my mom. We actually connected through the shared experience of losing our mothers. It was a bond built on understanding, vulnerability, compassion, and the ability to relate to a pain that words sometimes cannot explain. What began as a connection through shared grief eventually blossomed into love. In many ways, we found comfort in each other during a time when both of us were learning how to live with a tremendous loss.
We didn’t meet when life was perfect. We met when life was painful, and somehow, in the middle of our grief, we found each other and 10 years later, we are still going strong!!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://a.co/d/08fv3x4a
• Instagram: Ebony.allen.1042
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Jvr73gea3/
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/drkeimalattimore