Mellody Hobson

As the co-CEO of Ariel Investments, Mellody Hobson is one of the most powerful women in the world. In 2021, she became the first Black woman to chair an S&P 500 company when she accepted the leadership role at Starbucks. But in 2024, the Chicago native used her power and knowledge to give back to those who need it in the children’s book “Priceless Facts About Money.” The 80-page book makes financial literacy easy to understand and gives young people a head start when managing their “cheddar.” The 55-year-old is also the chairman of After School Matters, a non profit that helps Chicago-area teenagers find beneficial programs that will assist them in the future.