Mellody Hobson, President & co-CEO of Ariel Investments, on the advantages of a diverse workforce and the changing media landscape.

The interview discusses: 

• Why having a diverse workforce is a competitive advantage. 
• The changing media landscape. 
• Why the business of content curation will be critical in the future. 
• The reason why movie theater companies will survive.  
• A behind the scenes look of when Mellody’s husband George Lucas’s company, Lucas Films was sold to Disney. 
• The sale of DreamWorks (Ms. Hobson what Chair of the Board) to Comcast. Characteristics of George Lucas that would surprise most people.  
• How Ms. Hobson was selected to join the board of Starbucks. 
• Why Mellody believes her board service has made her a better investor. 
• And much more...

Biography

As Co-CEO, Mellody is responsible for all firm-wide management, including strategic planning and growth as well as every aspect of Ariel’s business beyond research and portfolio management. Prior to her formal appointment to Co-CEO, Mellody served as Ariel’s President for nearly two decades and functions as chairman of the board of trustees for Ariel Investment Trust.

Ariel Investments is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, and has offices in New York City and Sydney, Australia.  The firm manages assets of retirement plans, college saving accounts, and personal investment accounts.  With strong ties to the community, Ariel is focused on making investing accessible for everyone.  Individuals are able to invest $1000 in the firm’s mutual funds.  

She is Vice Chair of the Board of Starbucks Corporation, and also serves as a director of JPMorgan Chase and Quibi, a short-form video content company. Mellody is former Chair of the Board of DreamWorks Animation.  As a Chicago-native, Mellody is involved in numerous organizations that focus on improving the city.  She serves as Chair of After School Matters, a non-profit that provides Chicago teens with high-quality, out-of-school time programs.  In 2017, Mellody became the first African-American woman to become Chair of the Economic Club of Chicago in its 90-year history, a two-year term which ended in 2019.

To read the transcript of this interview click here.


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