Successful and Influential African Americans You Should Know

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

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

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

  1. This is dope and I love how you highlight some African Americans that are really mentioned so great post and keep the content coming!

    1. 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.

  2. 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!

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