The list below highlights successful and accomplished African American leaders that have used their talents and gifts to make an impact in the world and achieve financial success. This list does not include entertainers or celebrities, but those mostly entrepreneurs and corporate careerist.
Regardless of the path they chose, they share this in common – they solved a problem and provided significant value which in turn rewarded them accordingly.
Carla Harris
Vice Chairman and Managing Director at Morgan Stanley, Author, and Accomplished Singer
- Born in Port Arthur, Texas
- Graduated from Harvard Univerisity with a degree in Economics and an MBA from Harvard Business School
- Author of Strategize to Win and Expect to Win
- Singer of several albums to include Carla’s First Christmas, Joy is Waiting, Unceasing Praise
- Chaired National Women’s Business Council under President Obama’s administration
- More Information: www.carlaspearls.com
Robert F. Smith
Founder and Chairman of Vista Equity Partners, LLC
- Born in Colorado
- Graduated from Cornell University with a degree in Engineering and an MBA from Columbia Business School
- Ranked as the 163rd richest person in America
- Gave $20 million to the African American Museum in Washington, DC; the largest donation from an individual
More Information: www.vistaequitypartners.com
Robert (Bob) Johnson
Co-Founder of Black Entertainment Television
- Born in Hickory, Mississippi
- Graduated from the University of Illinois and Princeton University
- First African American owned company traded on the New York Stock Exchange
- Chairman of RLJ companies, an asset management firm
More Information: www.rljcompanies.com
Mellody Hobson
President of Ariel Investments, largest African-American owned money management fund
- Born in Chicago, Illinois
- Graduated from Princeton University
- Manages $13 billion in assets
- Vice Chairman of Starbucks
More Information: www.arielinvestments.com
Les Brown
Motivational speaker, Author, Radio DJ, Former Politician
- Born in Miami, Florida
- Elected to Ohio House of Representative from 1976 to 1981
- Author of Live Your Dreams, It’s Not Over Until You Win, Laws of Success
More Information: www.lesbrown.com
Shelia Johnson
Co-founder of Black Entertainment Television, CEO of Salamander Hotel & Resorts
- Born in McKeesport, Pennsylvania
- Graduated from University of Illinois
- Part owner of Washington Wizards & Washington Mystics
- First women to be worth $1 billion
More Information: www.salamanderresorts.com
Earl Stafford
CEO of The Wentworth Group, a management consulting group
- Born in Mount Holly, NJ
- Graduated from University of Massachusetts
- Former Air Force Officer
- Founder of the Stafford Foundation; a faith-based organization
- Hosted “The People’s Inaugural Ball” for 400 disadvantaged youth for President Obama’s inauguration.
More Information: The Stafford Foundation
Janice Bryant Howroyd
Founder and CEO of the ACT-1 Group, largest woman and minority workforce solutions group in the US
- Born in Tarboro, NC
- Graduated from North Carolina A&T
- Author of The Art of Work and How to Make Work, Work for You
- First African American women to own a billion dollar company
More Information: www.act1group.com
John Rodgers, Jr
Founder of Ariel Capital Management, the largest minority-run investment firm
- Born in Chicago, IL
- Graduated from Princeton University in Economics
- Board Member of Exelon, McDonald’s, NIKE and The New York Times Company
More Information: www.arielinvestments.com
Thasunda Brown Duckett
President and Chief Executive Officer of TIAA, Fortune 100 provider of secure retirements
- Born in Texas, lives in Connecticut
- Graduated from University of Houston in Finances and Marketing, Baylor University – MBA
- Board Member of NIKE, Brex Inc, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, Sesame Workshop, National Medal of Honor Museum, Economic Club of New York, University of Houston Board of Visitors and Dean’s Advisory Board of Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business.
- Member of the Executive Leadership Council, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, and Jack and Jill of America Inc.
More Information: TIAA
Marvin Ellison
President, Chief Executive Officer, Chairman of Lowes
- Grew up in Brownsville, Tennessee
- Graduated from University of Memphis n Business Marketing and MBA from Emory University
- Board Member of FedEx Corporation, Board Member, Retail Industry Leaders Association, The University of Memphis, Board of Trustees, The Business Council
More Information: Lowes
6 thoughts on “Successful and Influential African Americans You Should Know”
This is dope and I love how you highlight some African Americans that are really mentioned so great post and keep the content coming!
Thank you so much Presley! Yes, I wanted to highlight people who are not the typical famous or celebrities to show alternative ways to wealth.
It’s great to see success of people who aren’t famous. & it’s black history love to see successful African Americans. Like you said it’s attainable for anyone. Great read!
Thank you so much for reading Racee! It’s important that we highlight more than just celebrities.
Great article thanks for the insight!
Thanks Tiffany!