The activist: John W. Rogers Jr.

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Title: Chairman and CEO, Ariel Capital Management L.L.C.

Boards: McDonald's Corp., Exelon Corp., Aon Corp.

When John W. Rogers Jr. performs his duties as a corporate director, one of his guides is the copy of Martin Luther King Jr.'s Letter From A Birmingham Jail that let. True to the activist philosophy espoused in that document, the top-ranked money manager asserts: "I'm going to help with the diversity initiatives of the corporate boards I'm on because it is not only the morally right thing to do. but it is also going to enhance the success of the business."

That passion led Rogers to co-found the Black Corporate Directors Conference six year, ago and last year's introduction of the "Corporate Diversity Call To Action," a charge for black directors to discuss how corporations can increase inclusive practices throughout an organization.

He has also pressed for greater African American participation in 401(k) plans. "I'm on [McDonald's] compensation committee. and they talk about benefits," he says. "As they looked at the data and realized this was an issue, they thought out solutions. The participation of African American managers within the 401 (k) plan went from the fiftieth percentile to 90%." That's an example of Rogers' brand of leadership.