Mellody Hobson is president of Ariel Investments LLC., a Chicago-based money management firm and financial contributor on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” As president of Ariel Investments, Hobson is responsible for the company’s management and strategic planning, overseeing all operations outside of research and portfolio management.
Beyond her work at Ariel Investments, Hobson is a nationally recognized voice on financial literacy and investor education, serving as a spokesperson for the annual Ariel/Schwab Black Investor Survey. Additionally, she is a regularly featured columnist for Black Enterprise magazine and frequently quoted in various publications including, Money, Fortune, Fast Company and PINK magazine.
Hobson serves as a director of DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc., The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and Starbucks Corp. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Princeton University’s Woodrow Wilson School of International Relations and Public Policy.