Business · Companies · 1 hr ago
Mellody Hobson built a career in finance and broke a corporate barrier
Mellody Hobson leads Ariel Investments, a Chicago-based fund manager owned by Black people and one of the largest firms of its kind.
She grew up in Chicago amid serious financial hardship, and learned early to pay attention to money.
After graduating from Princeton in 1991, she joined Ariel and rose through the company, becoming co-CEO in 2019.
In 2021, she became the first Black woman to chair an S&P 500 company when she was named president of Starbucks.
Her career also includes board roles at companies such as DreamWorks Animation, Estée Lauder and JPMorgan.
Her career has brought greater visibility to Black women in corporate leadership, while she has argued that tax policy and education can help widen opportunity.
Mellody Hobson became the first African-American woman to chair a company in the S&P 500 when she was named Starbucks chair in 2021.
She joined Ariel Investments after graduating from Princeton in 1991 and became its co-CEO in 2019.
Ariel is one of the largest investment firms owned by Black people, with $14.5 billion in assets.
Hobson has also served on the boards of companies including DreamWorks Animation, Estée Lauder and JPMorgan.
- Who
- Mellody Hobson, a finance executive and chair of Starbucks.
- What
- She became the first African-American woman to chair a company in the S&P 500.
- When
- 2021.
- Where
- At Starbucks; a more specific location is not stated.
- Why
- The sources do not state a reason for her appointment.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
After graduating from Princeton, Hobson began working at Ariel Investments.
Hobson played a key role in DreamWorks’ sale to NBCUniversal for $3.8 billion.
Hobson was named co-CEO of Ariel Investments.
Hobson was named Starbucks chair, becoming the first African-American woman to hold that role at an S&P 500 company.
- Ariel assets
- $14.5 billion
- Princeton graduation
- 1991
- Ariel co-CEO appointment
- 2019
- Starbucks chair appointment
- 2021
- DreamWorks sale
- $3.8 billion to NBCUniversal in 2016
What people are saying
It was a source of great worry and anxiety
Be so good they can’t fire you
I knew she was going to be a superstar