Mellody Hobson

And so I always told people I was mentored by people I never met because I was reading about them. And so the reading is what brought me to have the ideas that I have because I didn't have that real life experience. I didn't grow up with any relationships. I didn't grow up with any entrees. I found all those things myself. And then I was a really good student.

And so I always told people I was mentored by people I never met because I was reading about them. And so the reading is what brought me to have the ideas that I have because I didn't have that real life experience. I didn't grow up with any relationships. I didn't grow up with any entrees. I found all those things myself. And then I was a really good student.

And what I mean by that is technically a good student at school, but I was a good study. So if I had the opportunity to observe something, I would study it really fast. So I would come here, furniture, how you looked, all sorts of things, and then take pieces of it and say, oh, that makes sense, or I want to do that, or look at how this was put together. And so that created an opportunity for me.

And what I mean by that is technically a good student at school, but I was a good study. So if I had the opportunity to observe something, I would study it really fast. So I would come here, furniture, how you looked, all sorts of things, and then take pieces of it and say, oh, that makes sense, or I want to do that, or look at how this was put together. And so that created an opportunity for me.

But I really spent a lot of my childhood in the library. I used to go to the library on Saturdays.

But I really spent a lot of my childhood in the library. I used to go to the library on Saturdays.

Like, what were you... Well, when I was really young, I used to read these biographies. They were these little red books. And they were in my school library at my public school, which is called the Ogden School. And they had a book on every person you could possibly imagine. And my goal was to read all of them. And so I read books on... How old were you at this point? I mean, I'm like...

Like, what were you... Well, when I was really young, I used to read these biographies. They were these little red books. And they were in my school library at my public school, which is called the Ogden School. And they had a book on every person you could possibly imagine. And my goal was to read all of them. And so I read books on... How old were you at this point? I mean, I'm like...

Nine, 10, 11, 12.

Nine, 10, 11, 12.

Well, this was a big deal because I told people this and, you know, sometimes they're a little surprised. I couldn't read until I was in second grade. I really struggled reading, which I can't explain it. No, and I have no issues reading. I mean, once it clicked, I had a math teacher in high school. He called me the second day girl. He was like, you get everything on the second day.

Well, this was a big deal because I told people this and, you know, sometimes they're a little surprised. I couldn't read until I was in second grade. I really struggled reading, which I can't explain it. No, and I have no issues reading. I mean, once it clicked, I had a math teacher in high school. He called me the second day girl. He was like, you get everything on the second day.

I have had one job since I graduated from college in 1991. And supposedly in my graduating class of 1,100 people, I'm the only person who has had the same phone number at work the entire time. Wow. Literally.

I have had one job since I graduated from college in 1991. And supposedly in my graduating class of 1,100 people, I'm the only person who has had the same phone number at work the entire time. Wow. Literally.

Now, remember, I'm rooted in a sense of... A lack of security. Yes. And moving constantly as a child. So when you move a lot as a child, what don't you do as an adult? You don't want to move. You want stability. So I never wanted to move. And so I didn't want to move at home, and I didn't want to move. I lived in my first apartment that was 850 square feet. for 14 years.

Now, remember, I'm rooted in a sense of... A lack of security. Yes. And moving constantly as a child. So when you move a lot as a child, what don't you do as an adult? You don't want to move. You want stability. So I never wanted to move. And so I didn't want to move at home, and I didn't want to move. I lived in my first apartment that was 850 square feet. for 14 years.

when I was in 1994. And so I lived there for this long period of time because I really liked this idea of just being very, very, very stable. So the same was true at Ariel. It was very, very stable, but I was constantly challenged with new things. and they always got harder to this day.

when I was in 1994. And so I lived there for this long period of time because I really liked this idea of just being very, very, very stable. So the same was true at Ariel. It was very, very stable, but I was constantly challenged with new things. and they always got harder to this day.

So one thing that I felt very strongly about, and I told this to a lot of young people, first of all, and it's very important, my career is anchored in an expertise. I am anchored in finance. And that is very, very important.

So one thing that I felt very strongly about, and I told this to a lot of young people, first of all, and it's very important, my career is anchored in an expertise. I am anchored in finance. And that is very, very important.