Mellody Hobson

Mellody Hobson is one of the most influential women in business. While a student at Princeton University, Hobson interned at investment firms Ariel Capital Management and T. Rowe Price Associates. After earning her B.A. in 1991, she joined Ariel full-time, assisting with strategic planning and overseeing client service. Today, she serves as the firm's co-CEO and President.  Hobson has served on several high-profile corpoarate boards, including Estée Lauder, DreamWorks Animation, Groupon, and Starbucks. In March 2021, she joined an elite group of business professionals when she was named Stabucks' non-executive chair. Only 8 percent of Fortune 500 board seats are held by African-Americans.  In June 2022, she expanded her influence into the realm of sports when she became a part-owner of the NFL's Denver Broncos. Quarterback Russell Wilson was among those who celebrated her being the first African-American woman to become part of a new ownership group buying an NFL team, telling INSIDER, "This is a big deal. I mean, this is history."  A trusted source on financial literacy and investing, she’s a frequent contributor on Good Morning America and CNN. And she stays on the lists of movers and shakers, including Crain's Chicago Business' 40 Under 40, Time Magazine's “100 Most Influential People” in the world, and The Wall Street Journal's 50 “Women to Watch” in the corporate world.  Hobson and her husband, "Star Wars" creator George Lucas, are well-known for their philanthropic efforts. Their George Lucas Family Foundation donates to influential civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, ACLU and Southern Poverty Law Center.