Mellody Hobson
Mellody Hobson | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 3, 1969 |
| Occupation | Business executive |
| Known for | President and co-CEO of Ariel Investments; former chair of Starbucks; former chairman of DreamWorks Animation; first African-American woman to lead The Economic Club of Chicago |
Mellody Louise Hobson Lucas (born Hobson; April 3, 1969) is a prominent American executive, serving as president and co-CEO of Ariel Investments. She previously held the position of chair at Starbucks and was chairman of DreamWorks Animation until she facilitated its acquisition by NBCUniversal in August 2016. In 2017, she made history as the first African-American woman to lead The Economic Club of Chicago. On December 26, 2020, Hobson was named chair of Starbucks, commencing her role in 2021, becoming the first black woman to chair an S&P 500 corporation and ranking among the most influential corporate directors in the United States. She maintained this role until August 2024.
By 2020, Hobson was ranked #94 on Forbes list of the World's 100 Most Powerful Women.
Early life and education
As the youngest sibling among six children, Hobson completed her high school education at St. Ignatius College Prep in Chicago in 1987, followed by earning her degree from Princeton University in 1991.[1] During her time at Princeton, she was affiliated with the Cottage Club.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Career
Soon after finishing college, Hobson began her career at Ariel Investments, a Chicago-based investment firm managing assets exceeding $14 billion,Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name starting as an intern. She progressed to senior vice president and director of marketing,Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name and was appointed president of the company in 2000.[2] Ariel Investments ranks among the largest money management firms owned by African Americans in the United States.[1] Hobson has also appeared on financial segments for Good Morning America and CBS This Morning.[2]
She holds the position of chairman on the board of trustees for Ariel Investment Trust and acts as spokesperson for the annual Ariel/Schwab Black Investor Survey.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Hobson is a board member at JPMorgan Chase & Co., the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, and Starbucks Corporation,[2] having previously served on the board of The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.[2] Her leadership has been recognized through inclusion in Time's 2015 Time 100 List among other accolades within finance and corporate governance.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In 2009, she developed and hosted ABC’s program Unbroke: What You Need to Know About Money, which featured celebrities to raise awareness about financial literacy.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Hobson broke new ground in 2017 as the first African-American woman to preside over The Economic Club of Chicago.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name That same year, she guest-hosted the "Money Issue" episode of CBS Sunday Morning in August.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
In June 2018, she was appointed vice-chair of Starbucks Corporation,Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name later serving as chair of its board from 2020 until September 2024, when she transitioned to lead independent director amid executive leadership changes.[3][4]
In 2022, Hobson became part of an investment consortium including Rob Walton, Greg Penner, and others that acquired ownership of the Denver Broncos.Cite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad nameCite error: The opening <ref> tag is malformed or has a bad name
Philanthropy
In October 2020, Hobson and the Hobson/Lucas Family Foundation made a principal donation to establish a residential college at Princeton University.
In 2024, Mellody Hobson alongside her husband George Lucas funded the restoration project for Girish Kasaravalli’s film Ghatashraddha, with restoration efforts overseen by the Film Heritage Foundation.
Awards and recognition
Hobson was honored by the City of Birmingham in August 2017 for her philanthropic contributions through Birmingham’s Bright Leaders of Tomorrow.
In 2018, she was inducted as a Laureate into The Lincoln Academy of Illinois and received the prestigious Order of Lincoln, Illinois’ highest award, presented by the Governor of Illinois.
Popular culture
The character Courtney Paige, portrayed by actress Vanessa L. Williams in the American drama The Good Wife, was inspired by Hobson’s persona as a self-made businesswoman, drawing influence from her TED talks.
Personal life
Hobson started a relationship with filmmaker and producer George Lucas in 2006, having first met at a business conference the previous year. The couple made their engagement public in January 2013 and tied the knot on June 22, 2013, at Lucas' Skywalker Ranch. They are parents to a daughter, who was born through surrogacy in August 2013.
In 2016, Hobson was captured in photographs by Annie Leibovitz for the Pirelli Calendar.
External links
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedHM - ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedMcLean - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedLudlow - ↑ Cite error: Invalid
<ref>tag; no text was provided for refs namedStarbucksNYTaug2024