MELLODY HOBSON

PRESIDENT & CO-CEO, ARIEL INVESTMENTS L.L.C.

As president and co-CEO of Ariel Investments, the nation’s largest black asset manager, Hobson is responsible for management, strategic planning, and growth for all areas of the company outside of research and portfolio management. Additionally, she serves as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ariel Investment Trust—the company’s publicly traded mutual funds. Prior to being named co-CEO, Hobson spent nearly two decades as the firm’s president. Outside of Ariel, Hobson is a nationally recognized voice on financial literacy and has conducted extensive research on minority investing patterns. Her leadership has also been invaluable to corporate boardrooms, including Starbucks Corp., and JPMorgan Chase. Hobson has also been a major influencer for black women, regularly speaking out publicly on issues of race and intersectionality, amplifying her own experience and utilizing her network to help create impactful openings for others.

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