NEW YORK (TIP): On September 16, 2026, the Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC) celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Award at Cipriani Wall Street in New York City. The anniversary gala welcomed more than 1,000 guests, bringing together corporate executives, entrepreneurs, public officials, and community leaders to recognize this year’s honorees and celebrate a quarter century of Asian American achievement in business.
The evening marked two milestones: Outstanding 50 Awards’s 25th anniversary and the nation’s 250th anniversary. As an America250 Supporting Partner, AABDC brought these occasions together to recognize Asian Americans’ contributions to the country’s economic and social development. From the early Chinese immigrants who helped build the transcontinental railroad to today’s leaders in finance, technology, healthcare, and consumer products, generations of Asian Americans have helped shape the American story.
Since its establishment in 2001, Outstanding 50 Awards has recognized more than 1,200 Asian American executives and entrepreneurs. Their achievements span industries, career paths, and business models, from leading major divisions of global companies to bringing new technologies to market and building businesses from the ground up.
Over 25 years, the awards have also helped build a community. By bringing honorees together across industries and generations, Outstanding 50 Awards creates opportunities to exchange ideas, develop relationships, and share experiences with younger professionals. The anniversary gala celebrated that continuing connection alongside the accomplishments of the 2026 honorees.
The evening was hosted by Ramy Inocencio, CBS News correspondent and a 2016
Outstanding 50 Awards honoree. With a journalism career spanning the United States and Asia, including roles at Bloomberg Television and The Wall Street Journal, Inocencio returned to Outstanding 50 Awards as both the evening’s host and a member of its alumni community.
AABDC Founder and President John Wang delivered welcoming remarks. Since founding AABDC in 1994 and launching the Outstanding 50 Awards in 2001, John has worked to expand opportunities for Asian American businesses and bring greater public recognition to Asian American professionals. His longstanding commitment has helped Outstanding 50 Awards grow into a platform where recognition continues beyond the awards ceremony through relationships, mentorship, and support for emerging leaders.
The evening’s keynote address was delivered by Rosie Rios, Chair of America250 and the 43rd Treasurer of the United States. Her participation connected AABDC’s anniversary celebration with the national commemoration of 250 years of American independence. For AABDC, this connection offered an opportunity to place Asian American business achievement within the broader history of the nation. Recognizing today’s leaders also means acknowledging the generations whose work, determination, and entrepreneurship helped create opportunities for those who followed.
Jay Yu, Founder, Executive Chairman and President of NANO Nuclear Energy, delivered special remarks. A 2021 Outstanding 50 Awards honoree and a supporter of the Outstanding 50 Alumni Club, Yu represented the continuing involvement of past recipients in the Outstanding 50 Awards community. His participation reflected the role alumni can play in sustaining connections and supporting the program’s future.
AABDC presented the Pinnacle Award, the evening’s highest individual honor, to Ravi Saligram, Chairman of Church & Dwight. The award recognized his distinguished career and contributions to business leadership. Saligram previously served as Chief Executive Officer of Newell Brands, Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers, and OfficeMax. Across these companies, his leadership encompassed consumer products, auctions, and office supplies, with extensive experience in business transformation, operations, and global growth. His recognition celebrated a career of guiding organizations through change and building businesses across different markets.
The Visionary Impact Award was presented to The Asian American Foundation (TAAF), represented by CEO Norman Chen. Founded in 2021 amid rising anti-Asian hate, TAAF has worked to address longstanding gaps in philanthropic support for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Through initiatives supporting community safety, education, research, and economic opportunity, TAAF brings resources and partnerships to organizations serving AAPI communities. The award recognized its commitment to strengthening those communities, increasing public understanding, and creating opportunities for future generations.
Alongside these special recognitions, AABDC honored 49 outstanding leaders whose careers demonstrate the breadth of Asian American talent in business. This year’s honorees represented companies including PepsiCo, Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, Bank of America, IBM, Pfizer, EY, Deloitte, the New York Stock Exchange, and Colgate-Palmolive, as well as entrepreneurial ventures across investment, healthcare technology, and consumer brands.
In consumer products, PepsiCo Senior Vice President Mariko Roberts and Colgate-Palmolive Vice President of Global Innovation Implementation Shira Pilch exemplified leadership in supply chains, research, and innovation.
Financial services honorees included Jonathan Lam of Morgan Stanley, Julian Liau of JPMorgan Chase, Jehan Ilahi of Goldman Sachs, and Bonnie Hyun of the New York Stock Exchange. Their responsibilities span institutional securities, wealth management, investor relations, and capital markets.
Sid Khosla of EY and Neelam Sharma of Deloitte represented leadership in professional services, while Pfizer Vice President Pirada Suphaphiphat Allen and IBM Fellow Jerry Chow reflected advances in vaccine development and quantum computing. Together with their fellow honorees, they illustrated the many ways Asian American professionals contribute to business growth and technological progress.
Manish Panjwani, Senior Managing Director at Accenture, delivered closing remarks. His involvement in mentoring Asian American small business owners and startup founders echoed a central purpose of the Outstanding 50 Awards community: sharing experience and helping others move forward.
AABDC extends its heartfelt thanks to the honorees, sponsors, corporate partners, organizing committee members, staff, and guests who made this anniversary celebration possible. Their participation and support have helped sustain the Outstanding 50 Awards over 25 years.
As we look ahead, AABDC will continue to recognize outstanding Asian American business leaders and create opportunities for alumni and new honorees to connect, collaborate, and support younger generations. Thank you for being part of this milestone and for helping carry the Asian American community forward.
(Based on a press release issued by AABDC)
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