ABOUT

Justin is a Los Angeles–based actor, entrepreneur, keynote speaker, and author with nearly 20 years of experience working at the intersection of entertainment, business, and education.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, he has built a dynamic career as a performer, professor, consultant, and creative leader. His work spans film, television, and national campaigns, with appearances on Netflix, BET, Comedy Central, PBS, and Amazon Prime, as well as brand campaigns for Walmart, Ross, and Burlington.

Justin’s impact has been recognized by Forbes, Black Enterprise (2019 Man of Distinction), the UNCF Hall of Honor, and Memphis’s 40 Under 40. His hometown of Rossville, Tennessee, also honored him with the Key to the City for both his professional success and philanthropic contributions.

He is the founder of Black Theorem Co., where he partners with Fortune 500 companies, universities, and startups on leadership, mindset, and inclusion. In addition, Justin serves as a professor at the University of Southern California and is the bestselling author of Mind Control, with his latest book, The Pursuit of Curiosity, released in 2025.

At the core of his work is a simple belief: curiosity isn’t a distraction; it’s direction. That principle continues to shape how Justin creates, leads, and challenges people to imagine what’s possible.

Justin D. Key’s career has never followed a straight line, and that’s by design. Rooted in Memphis and guided by curiosity, his work moves fluidly between storytelling, scholarship, and leadership, spanning entertainment, business, and education.

Rather than choosing a single lane, Justin has built a body of work defined by range, intention, and impact, bringing the same discipline to film sets, classrooms, and boardrooms alike.

Education & Training

  • Doctorate — Business, Indiana Wesleyan University

  • Master’s — Entrepreneurship, Mount Saint Mary’s University

  • Bachelor’s — Mathematics, LeMoyne-Owen College

  • Associate’s — Acting, AMDA College of the Performing Arts

  • Professional Training — Acting, American Conservatory Theater (ACT)

  • Language Immersion — French, Middlebury College Language Schools

Professional Context

  • Professor, University of Southern California (USC)

  • Actor, SAG-AFTRA

  • Founder & Principal, Black Theorem Co.

Selected Affiliations

  • Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

  • United Negro College Fund — National Alumni Council (UNCF-NAC)

  • National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA)

  • Black Doctoral Network

  • Los Angeles Urban League Young Professionals

  • Benjamin Banneker Association, Inc.

  • MSMU MBA Alumni Professionals (MAPs)