Most Powerful Women

Mellody Hobson

Monica SchipperGetty Images

Title
Co-CEO and President
Affiliation
Ariel Investments
Age
52
2020 Rank
45

A longtime advocate for closing the racial wealth gap, Hobson is a key leader and adviser of choice on race issues at some of the Fortune 500’s largest companies. On the board of JPMorgan Chase and Starbucks, Hobson in December had her position at the latter company elevated to nonexecutive chair. In February, Ariel Alternatives, a private investing firm co-founded by Hobson, launched Project Black, an initiative investing in Black- and Latinx-owned companies.

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