Barbara Landers Bowles ’68

In 2007, Barbara Landers Bowles retired as Vice-Chair of Profit Investment Management where she managed its midcap portfolios. After an illustrious career in the investment management arena, she left to pursue her longtime goal of establishing and funding the Landers Bowles Family Foundation that focuses on charity related to education. She was the founder and served as Chief Executive Officer and Chief Investment Officer of The Kenwood Group, Inc. from 1989 until it was acquired by Profit in January of 2006. From 1984 to 1989, Bowles served as Corporate Vice President of Kraft, Inc. and headed the investor relations department.

Bowles, a Nashville native, holds an M.B.A. degree in Finance from the University Of Chicago Graduate School of Business and a B.A. degree in Mathematics with Honors from Fisk University in 1968. She received the Chartered Financial Analyst designation in1977.

She serves as a director of several corporations and organizations including WEC Energy Group, the Museum of Science and Industry, Council of the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago, and the Chicago Urban League (senior director). Barbara served as Chair of the Board of Trustees for Fisk University from October 2013 - October 2017.

Barbara was named a HistoryMaker in 2002. In 2003, Barbara was honored with the Alumni of the Year Award from the African American MBA Association of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and in February 2008, received the Chicago African American History Maker Award from the DuSable Museum of Chicago. She received the Midwest Regional UNCF award in 2015. In addition to mentoring young people, Barbara enjoys bridge and tennis. She and her husband, Earl, are residents of the Hyde Park-Kenwood Community of Chicago.