Timeline Mellody Hobson

Chicago investor who rose from intern to co-CEO of Ariel Investments. She chaired Starbucks, became a part-owner of the Denver Broncos and is married to George Lucas.

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Dashed left edge = started before this timeline · Dashed right edge = still ongoing

Mellody Hobson 15

1969 Mellody Hobson born in Chicago Mellody Hobson is born in Chicago, the youngest of six children.
1991 Mellody Hobson joins Ariel Investments After graduating from Princeton, Hobson joins the Chicago investment firm.
2000 Mellody Hobson becomes president of Ariel Hobson is named president of Ariel Investments.
2013 Mellody Hobson marries George Lucas Hobson marries the filmmaker at Skywalker Ranch.
2014 Mellody Hobson gives her Color Brave talk Hobson's TED talk on race in business becomes one of the site's most watched.
2016 Mellody Hobson sells DreamWorks Animation As chair, Hobson oversees the sale of DreamWorks Animation to NBCUniversal.
2017 Mellody Hobson heads the Economic Club of Chicago Hobson is the first Black woman to lead the club.
2018 Mellody Hobson named Starbucks vice chair Hobson becomes vice chair of the Starbucks board.
2019 Mellody Hobson becomes co-CEO of Ariel Hobson shares the top job with founder John Rogers.
2021 Mellody Hobson becomes Starbucks chair Hobson is the first Black woman to chair an S&P 500 company.
2022 Mellody Hobson buys into the Denver Broncos Hobson joins the Walton-Penner group that buys the NFL team.
2024 Mellody Hobson steps down as Starbucks chair Hobson becomes lead independent director.
2026 Mellody Hobson backs Denver Summit FC Project Level holds a stake in the new NWSL team in its first season.
2026 Mellody Hobson backs League One Volleyball Project Level invests in LOVB, whose championship viewership rises 50 percent.
2026 Mellody Hobson's Project Level raises $250 million Hobson's fund, investing only in women's sports, closes its raise.