Mellody Hobson

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President, Ariel Investments

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Mellody Hobson: Biography at a Glance

  • Mellody Hobson is President of Ariel Investments, a Chicago-based firm that serves investors and 401 (k) plans through its no-load mutual funds and manages separate accounts for institutional clients
  • Starbucks named Hobson as the chair of its board of directors, making her the first Black woman in that role at the company.
  • Chairman of DreamWorks Animation
  • Regular finance contributor and analyst for CBS
  • A director of The Estée Lauder Companies and Starbucks
  • Writes a weekly column for Black Enterprise magazine and featured in Money, Fortune, Fast Company and PINK magazine
  • Board member for the Chicago Public Library, Field Museum, Education Fund and Sundance Institute 

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Biography

Money-savvy expert Mellody Hobson has been educating viewers on important financial decisions since 2000. She is a regular contributor and analyst on finance, the markets and economic trends for CBS News. She also contributes weekly money tips on the Tom Joyner Morning Show.

Hobson is President of Ariel Investments, a Chicago-based money management firm that serves individual investors and 401(k) plans through its no-load mutual funds and manages separate accounts for institutional clients. As President, she is responsible for firmwide management and strategic planning, overseeing all operations outside of research and portfolio management. Additionally, she serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the mutual funds.

A nationally recognized voice on financial literacy and investor education, Hobson is a spokesperson for the annual Ariel/Schwab Black Investor Survey, which examines the influences and investing habits of Black and White Americans. 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.

Beyond Ariel Investments, Hobson works with a variety of civic, corporate and professional institutions. Starbucks named Hobson as the chair of its board of directors, making her the first Black woman in that role at the company. Her community outreach includes serving as a board member for the Chicago Public Library and its foundation, The Field Museum, The Chicago Public Education Fund and The Sundance Institute. She is also a director of three public companies: DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc., Groupon, Inc., The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and Starbucks Corporation.

Hobson earned her degree from Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of International Relations and Public Policy and is a former trustee of the university. She resides in Chicago, IL.

Everything went well with Mellody. She was so gracious and did a fantastic job. We had rave reviews!

Treasury Management Association of Chicago

FAQs

How do I book Mellody Hobson for my event?

Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Mellody Hobson to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances. 

Quick booking process
  1. Email CAA Speakers with event details
  2. Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
  3. Review speaking fee and contract terms
  4. Sign agreement and finalize logistics

As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.

Who is Mellody Hobson's booking agent?

CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Mellody Hobson’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Mellody Hobson in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.

Contact Mellody Hobson's agent

CAA Speakers can check Mellody Hobson's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Mellody Hobson, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.

What is Mellody Hobson's speaking fee?

Mellody Hobson's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Mellody Hobson's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.

Speaking fee factors:
  • Event type and audience size
  • Travel distance and logistics
  • Presentation length and customization
  • Virtual vs. in-person delivery

Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.

Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Mellody Hobson's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.

How much does it cost to book Mellody Hobson as a keynote speaker?

The cost to book Mellody Hobson as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.

Total booking cost includes:
  • Mellody Hobson's keynote speaking fee
  • Travel and accommodation
  • Technical requirements and A/V setup
  • Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
Cost-saving options:
  • Virtual presentations
  • Local/regional events
  • Off-peak booking periods
  • Flexible event dates

Email speakers@caa.com for Mellody Hobson's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.

How to contact Mellody Hobson for speaking engagements?

Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Mellody Hobson speaking engagements.

Official contact for Mellody Hobson bookings:

Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Mellody Hobson.

Is Mellody Hobson available for virtual speaking events?

Yes, Mellody Hobson speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.

Mellody Hobson's virtual event options:
  • Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
  • Interactive workshops and breakouts
  • Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
  • Pre-recorded presentations

Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Mellody Hobson's engaging presentation quality.

Contact CAA Speakers for Mellody Hobson's virtual event availability and technical specifications.

What events can I book Mellody Hobson for?

Book Mellody Hobson for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Mellody Hobson customizes content for any audience size or event type.

Event types:
  • Corporate meetings and conferences
  • Industry summits and trade shows
  • Private executive retreats
  • Educational institution events
  • Virtual and hybrid conferences

Mellody Hobson engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.

Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Mellody Hobson can customize their presentation for your specific event.

Mellody Hobson booking information and availability

Check Mellody Hobson's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).

Availability factors:
  • Event date and location
  • Speaking fee and budget
  • Lead time for booking
  • Peak conference seasons
Booking timeline:
    3-6 months: Best availability
  • 3-6 months: Best availability
  • 2-3 months: Good availability
  • 1-2 months: Select availability
  • Under 30 days: Limited availability

Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Mellody Hobson for your preferred event date.

Book Mellody Hobson keynote speaker through CAA

Book Mellody Hobson through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Mellody Hobson, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.

CAA booking advantages:
  • Direct access to Mellody Hobson's calendar
  • 24-hour availability confirmations
  • Professional contract negotiation
  • Full logistics coordination
  • Industry-leading client service

Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Mellody Hobson for your next event.

Will Mellody Hobson speak at private events?

Yes, Mellody Hobson speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.

Private event types:
  • Executive retreats and board presentations
  • Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
  • Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
  • Private dinners and exclusive functions

Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.

Contact CAA Speakers for Mellody Hobson's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.

How quickly will I get a response about booking Mellody Hobson?

CAA Speakers responds to Mellody Hobson booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.

Response timeline:
  • Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
  • Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
  • Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
  • Urgent requests: Same-day priority response

Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.

How far in advance should I book Mellody Hobson?

Book Mellody Hobson 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.

Recommended booking timeline:
  • 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
  • 2-3 months: Good availability
  • 1-2 months: Select availability
  • Under 30 days: Limited availability

Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.

How do I get Mellody Hobson pricing information?

Get Mellody Hobson pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.

For accurate pricing, include:
  • Event date and location
  • Audience size and type
  • Event format and duration
  • Budget parameters

CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.

Check Availability

For speaker-related inquiries, email speakers@caa.com, or send us a message using the form below.