Mellody Hobson
Mellody Hobson is one of the most influential executives in the United States, and the President and CEO of Ariel Investments, one of the largest African American-owned money managers in the United States. In her roles, she is responsible for the management, strategic planning and growth for all areas of the firm. She is a former Lead Independent Director of the U.S. coffee giant Starbucks, where she played a key role in the brand's global growth. A well-recognized advocate for financial literacy and investor education, she has redefined what it means to be a Black leader in the investment world while championing diversity and inclusion at every step. She also works with a number of civic, non-profit and professional organizations.
Mellody Hobson Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
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President and Co-Chief Executive Officer
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President
Academic History
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A.B., International Relations and Public Policy
CURRENT AFFILIATIONS
Chairman of the Board, Ariel Investment Trust
Founder, Project Level®
Director, JP Morgan Chase
Chairman, After School Matters
Trustee, The Rockefeller Foundation
Co-Chair, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
Board Member, Bloomberg Philanthropy
Board Member, George Lucas Educational Foundation
Board Member, Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Board Member, Center for Strategic & International Studies
Executive Committee Member, Investment Company Institute
Executive Committee Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences
Executive Committee Member, LA28 Olympic Games
ARIEL INVESTMENTS
As Co-CEO, Hobson is responsible for all firm-wide management, including strategic planning and growth as well as every aspect of Ariel’s business beyond research and portfolio management.
She chairs the board of Ariel's publicly traded mutual funds. Prior to being Co-CEO, he spent nearly two decades as Ariel's President.
She co-founded Ariel Alternatives, LLC in 2021 and its inaugural private equity fund, Project Black® to scale minority-owned businesses.
STARBUCKS
Hobson joined the Starbucks board in 2005 and played a key role in the brand's global growth.
She served as a pillar of leadership during critical moments such as the global financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic.
She held key roles, including Vice Chair, Chair, and Lead Independent Director, becoming a central figure in Starbucks' growth strategy and social values.
EARLY CAREER
She was a long-standing board member of The Estée Lauder Companies and Chairman of the board of DreamWorks Animation until the company’s sale in 2016.
In 2017, she became the first African-American woman to head The Economic Club of Chicago.
RECOGNITIONS
2024 Forbes BLK50
2021 Forbes 50 Over 50 - Investments
2020 Forbes Power Women
2019 Woodrow Wilson Award
2015 Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People
MEDIA & PUBLICATIONS
Hobson is a regular contributor and analyst on finance, the markets and economic trends for CBS News.
She contributes weekly money tips on the Tom Joyner Morning Show and writes a column for Black Enterprise magazine.
She has been featured on Good Morning America, CNN, Forbes, Fortune, The Wall Street Journal, and more.