John W. Rogers Jr.

John W. Rogers Jr.

Ariel Investments

John W. Rogers, Jr. is Founder, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of Ariel Investments. Headquartered in Chicago, the firm offers six no-load mutual funds for individual investors and defined contribution plans as well as separately managed accounts for institutions and high net worth individuals.

After working for 2½ years as a stockbroker at William Blair & Company, LLC, John founded Ariel Investments in 1983 to focus on undervalued small and medium-sized companies. Patience served as the cornerstone of a disciplined approach that still drives the firm today.

John’s passion for investing started when he was 12 years old when his father bought him stocks, instead of toys, for every birthday and Christmas. His interest grew while majoring in Economics at Princeton University. In addition to following stocks as a college student, John also played basketball under Hall of Fame coach Pete Carril. He was captain of Princeton’s Varsity Basketball Team his senior year. There, Carril’s courtside lessons on teamwork profoundly shaped his views of entrepreneurship and investing.

Early in his career, John’s investment expertise brought him to the forefront of media attention, including being selected as Co-Mutual Fund Manager of the Year by Sylvia Porter’s Personal Finance magazine as well as an All-Star Mutual Fund Manager by USA TODAY. Furthermore, he has been highlighted alongside legendary investors Warren Buffett, Sir John Templeton and Ben Graham in the distinguished book: The World’s 99 Greatest Investors by Magnus Angenfelt. Today, he is regularly featured and quoted in a wide variety of broadcast and print publications and is a contributing columnist to Forbes.

Beyond Ariel, John is a board member of Exelon, McDonald’s, The New York Times Company and serves as trustee to the University of Chicago. Additionally, he is a trustee of Rush University Medical Center and a life trustee of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Nationally, John is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and a director of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights.

In 2008, John was awarded Princeton University’s highest honor, the Woodrow Wilson Award, presented each year to the alumni whose career embodies a commitment to national service. Following the election of President Barack Obama, he served as co-chair for the Presidential Inaugural Committee 2009, and more recently, he joined the Barack Obama Foundation’s Board of Directors.

We invite you to read John’s personal story to find out how his life experiences have shaped his approach to investing. Please click here to read “Stocking up for Christmas.”

2023 Speakers

Past Speakers

Soren Aandahl
Soren Aandahl Glaucus Research Group
William Ackman Pershing Square Capital
Alaina Anderson
Alaina Anderson William Blair & Company
John-Armitage
John Armitage Egerton
Vivien Azer
Vivien Azer Cowen and Company
Dmitry Balyasny
Dmitry Balyasny Balyasny Asset Management LP
Kyle Bass
Kyle Bass Hayman Capital Management, LP
Steve Berg
Steve Berg Lytical Ventures
Rupal J. Bhansali Ariel Investments
Neil G Bluhm
Neil G. Bluhm Rush Street Gaming, JMB Realty, Walton Street Capital
Frank-Brosens
Frank Brosens Taconic Capital Advisors LP
William Browder
William Browder Hermitage Capital Management
John-Burbank
John Burbank Passport Capital
Debra A. Cafaro
Debra A. Cafaro Ventas, Inc.
John A. Canning Jr.
John A. Canning Jr. Madison Dearborn Partners
Kelly Cardwell
Kelly Cardwell Central Square Management LLC
Richelle Carey
Richelle Carey Emmy Award-winning Broadcaster
James-Chanos
James S. Chanos Kynikos Associates LP
Nehal Chopra
Nehal Chopra Tiger Ratan
Leon Cooperman
Leon Cooperman Omega Advisors
Keating-Crown
Keating Crown Sterling Bay
Maria Jelescu Dreyfus
Maria Jelescu Dreyfus Ardinall Investment Management
Richard H. Driehaus
Richard H. Driehaus Driehaus Capital Management LLC
Arnie_Duncan
Arne Duncan Emerson Collective
David Einhorn
David Einhorn Greenlight Capital
Steve Eisman
Steve Eisman Emrys Partners
Henry-Ellenbogen
Henry Ellenbogen Durable Capital Partners
Michael Elrad GEM Realty Capital
brian-feltzin
Brian J. Feltzin Sheffield Asset Management LLC
Scott Ferguson
Scott Ferguson Sachem Head Capital Management
James E. Flynn
James E. Flynn Deerfield Management
Contance_Freedman
Constance Freedman Moderne Ventures
Joshua Friedman
Joshua S. Friedman Canyon Partners, LLC
Ed-Garden
Ed Garden Trian Partners
Andy-Gloor
Andy Gloor Sterling Bay
David Golub
David Golub Golub Capital
James-Grant
James Grant Grant’s Interest Rate Observer
Jon Gray
Jonathan Gray Blackstone
Ivelina Green
Ivelina Green Pearlstone Alternative
Andy-Greenberg
Andy Greenberg Saker Management LP
Ken Griffin
Ken Griffin Citadel Investment Group, LLC
Jeffrey E. Gundlach
Jeffrey E. Gundlach DoubleLine Capital LP
Matt-Halbower
Matt Halbower Pentwater Capital Management
Andy Hall
Andy Hall Astenbeck Capital Management LLC
Mason Hawkins
Mason Hawkins Southeastern Asset Management
william-heard
William Heard Heard Capital LLC
David-Heller
David Heller Cloud Gate Capital
David Herro
David Herro Harris Associates
Bruce Heyman Uncharted LLC
Mark Hoplamazian
Mark S. Hoplamazian Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Tiffany Hsiao
Tiffany Hsiao Artisan Partners
Tim Hurd
Tim Hurd BlueSpruce Investments
Jean Hynes
Jean M. Hynes Wellington Management
Rajiv-Jain
Rajiv Jain GQG Partners
Jay Kahn Light Street
arthur-kaz
Arthur Kaz Greenbriar Asset Management LP
John L. Keeley Jr. Keeley Asset Management Corp.
Chris Keogh
Chris Keogh Goldman Sachs
Brad Keywell Uptake Technologies
Mark Kingdon
Mark Kingdon Kingdon Capital Mangement, LLC
Alex Klabin
Alex Klabin Senator Investment Group LP
Mathew-Klody
Mathew Klody MCN Capital Management LLC
Jonathan Kolatch
Jonathan Kolatch Redwood Capital
Peter-Kolchinsky
Peter Kolchinsky RA Capital
Steve Kuhn
Steve Kuhn Pine River Capital Management
Mark-Lampert
Mark Lampert BVF Partners L.P.
Marc Lasry Avenue Capital Group
Lau-Vivian
Vivian Lau One Tusk Investment Partners
Jimmy-Levin
Jimmy Levin Sculptor Capital
Ari Levy
Ari Levy Lakeview Investment Group
James Litinsky
James Litinsky JHL Capital Group
Alec_Litowitz
Alec Litowitz Magnetar Capital
Jonathan Litt
Jonathan Litt Land and Buildings Investment Management
John-Lykouretzos
John Lykouretzos Hoplite Capital Management, L.P.
Peter-Lynch
Peter S. Lynch The Lynch Foundation
Steve Mandel
Steve Mandel Lone Pine Capital LLC
Mick McGuire
Mick McGuire Marcato Capital Management
Amos-Meron
Amos Meron Empyrean Capital Partners
Michael Milken The Milken Institute
Amir Mokari
Amir Mokari Emerson Point Capital
Dan Morehead
Dan Morehead Pantera Capital
Edward Mule
Edward A. Mulé Silver Point Capital
Daniel-O'Keefe
Daniel O’Keefe Artisan Partners
Philip-Ordway
Philip C. Ordway Anabatic Investment Partners
Rebecca-Pacholder
Rebecca Pacholder Snowcat Capital Management LP
Hank Paulson Paulson Institute
Nelson Peltz
Nelson Peltz Trian Fund Management LP
Richard Perry Perry Partners
Jon Pollock
Jonathan Pollock Elliott Management Corporation
Nancy Prial
Nancy Prial Essex Investment Management
Albert Rabil
Albert Rabil Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors
Josh Resnick
Josh Resnick Jericho Capital
David Richter
David S. Richter GCM Grosvenor
Rick-Rieder
Rick Rieder BlackRock
Larry Robbins
Larry Robbins Glenview Capital Management
Collin Roche
Collin Roche GTCR
Steven Romick
Steven Romick First Pacific Advisors LLC
Barry Rosenstein JANA Partners
Randall Rowe
Randall Rowe Green Courte Partners, LLC
Jacob Rubin
Jacob Rubin Philosophy Capital Management LLC.