Mellody Hobson, Investor

Mellody Hobson (born April 3, 1969) is the president of Ariel Investments, LLC, a Chicago investment firm managing over $3 billion in assets. She is also the Chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of Ariel Mutual Funds. Hobson is a regular contributor on financial issues toABC's Good Morning America and a spokesperson for the annual Ariel/Schwab Black Investor Survey.

Hobson was born in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1991 from the Woodrow Wilson School of International Relations and Public Policy at Princeton University. She joined Ariel soon afterward as an intern and rose up to become the firm's senior vice president and director of marketing. She ascended to become the firm's president in 2000. Read more info here / source.