Mellody Hobson

If there’s anyone who could teach a class on being a boss, it’s Mellody Hobson. She's the co-CEO of Ariel Investments and the Chairwoman of Starbucks Corporation, making her the first Black woman to be chairperson of an S&P 500 company. Hobson’s philanthropic resume is long, as she has previously served on several other boards including DreamWorks Animation and Esteè Lauder. She’s been a longtime advocate of financial literacy, especially for the Black community. Her alma mater, Princeton University, named a college house after her -- the first at the institution to be named after a Black woman. In September, the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) -- an organization for Black CEOs, executives, board directors and entrepreneurs -- announced that it will honor Hobson with the 2023 ELC Achievement Award.