2025 AAPI Power Players

For more than two decades, Shamina Singh has led the development and implementation of solutions to make the global economy work for everyone, everywhere. She is founder and president of the Center for Inclusive Growth, Mastercard’s social impact hub. Under Shamina’s leadership, the Center was named one of Fast Company’s Most Innovative Companies of 2024. She has also been recognized for her work and leadership by American Banker and the Financial Times.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
My childhood home was known as “the Global Village” because anyone from anywhere could sit and eat at my mother’s table to find common purpose, to engage in civil discourse and to be in community with one another. That sense of community and belonging fostered by my immigrant parents helped inspire the work we do at the Center for Inclusive Growth, to bring people together in pursuit of shared success and prosperity.

Is there a AAPI-owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) is working hard to help the AANHPI community achieve belonging and prosperity, free from hate, violence, and bias. I resonate strongly with their efforts, especially as a Board Member and a member of the AANPHI community – and simply because everyone deserves to have a safe space to reach their full potential.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
As part of Mastercard’s commitment to helping everyone participate in the digital economy, so they can chart pathways to prosperity for their families and communities, the Center is using philanthropy to test, iterate and scale new ways of connecting growth-oriented MSMEs to the know-how, tools and capital they need to survive and thrive in the digital economy. That’s where Mastercard Strive was born, which now has programs around the world to help small businesses succeed.

Andrew Sta. Ana is the deputy director of research and policy at the Asian American Federation (AAF). Andrew raises the influence and well-being of New York’s pan-Asian community. He directs the policy, research, and small business programs, which utilize data and deep community collaboration to advance AAF’s policy agenda. In May 2024, Governor Hochul appointed Andrew to New York’s first Commission to address the needs of Asian American communities.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
I am inspired by the generations of immigrant families that call New York home. While there are undoubtedly many very successful AAPI New Yorkers, I am just as inspired by the everyday families who are still on their journey to make it. Getting by, day to day, can be a real challenge; it is, and just as essential to destigmatize and uplift how AAPI New Yorkers struggle and have been made invisible.

Is there a AAPI-owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
I want to spotlight New York State’s first AAPI Commission, which is tasked with enhancing the community’s economic and social well-being and addressing the health and educational needs. As a commission member, I encourage New Yorkers to testify and share their stories, so we can develop a deeper understanding of our needs beyond stereotypes and oversimplified narratives about who we are and what we can be.

Albert Suh has always been dedicated to public service and civic engagement. He proudly served as a prosecutor for years before pivoting to politics. He has worked with nonprofits, strategized for campaigns from local to federal, and serves as an advisor and board member to various causes. In 2024, he was also national field director for Korean Americans for Harris. He has a B.A. from NYU, J.D. from Fordham Law, and MPA from Cornell University.

Is there a AAPI-owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
Organizations like the AAPI Victory Fund, APIAVote, Asian American Federation, and ASPIRE PAC are critical to advancing AAPI issues and empowering AAPI voters and candidates across America. In these times, it’s incredibly important to support these organizations and the work that they do as well as getting more civically engaged and building talent pipelines of staff and candidates.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
Incredibly proud of all the groundbreaking “first” AAPI candidates I have had the privilege of helping elect: Shekar Krishnan (1st Indian American Council Member), Grace Lee (1st Korean American Woman NYS Assembly Member), and Steven Raga (1st Filipino American elected in NYS)

Udai Tambar has served as the president and chief executive office of New York Junior Tennis & Learning (NYJTL) since August 2021. He most recently served as vice president of community health at Northwell Health. Previously, he was chief of staff for the New York City Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services. He graduated from Cornell University and received a master’s in public affairs from Princeton University.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
My wife. She embodies a lifetime commitment to fighting for the underdog and giving a voice to those who don’t have one. Through her personal and professional life she motivates me to level the playing field for those without access to opportunities for social mobility.

Is there a AAPI-owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
I’d like to spotlight SAYA (South Asian Youth Action) – an incredible organization that supports a diverse group of youth from South Asian backgrounds, including communities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Guyana, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tibet, and Trinidad and Tobago. Many of these young people are first- and second-generation immigrants who face systemic barriers to academic and social success. SAYA provides the support they need to thrive, graduate high school, and pursue higher education.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
Soon after I joined NYJTL, we made a financial investment to ensure all staff earned above the minimum wage. Also, during the pandemic, we were fortunate enough to be able to offer staff bonuses.  We did so in an equitable manner – frontline staff received larger bonuses than senior executives. It was important to recognize the essential contributions of team members doing direct service work during those challenging times.

Maf Misbah Uddin was born in Bangladesh. Uddin is the founder and national president of the Alliance of South Asian American Labor (ASAAL), the first and only national organization of the South Asian diaspora living in America and around the world. He is president of Local 1407, currently serving his ninth term, and is the only local president of Bangladeshi origin in the U.S. who has led a municipal labor union. Uddin is also treasurer of DC 37, an umbrella organization of 62 Local unions with 150,000 members and 60,000 retirees. Last year, Uddin was appointed as a member of The New York Asian American and Pacific Islander Commission.  

Who is your biggest inspiration, and why?
My inspiration is the American labor movement and American politics. Although I’m an actuary by profession, I joined my union and got involved from day one. 12 years later, I became the president of a municipal union, the first Bangladeshi in America. I was equally involved in local politics.

Is there an AAPI-owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight? 
The Alliance of South Asian American Labor, an organization that I am founder and national president of. ASAAL is very instrumental in helping to elect Asian people wherever possible.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
I have helped improve my union members’ lives across the City of New York. Every time we settle a contract and members ratify it by over 98%, that result is one of the proudest moments of my career!

Sandra Ung represents the 20th Council District, which includes Flushing, Mitchell-Linden, Murray Hill, Queensboro Hill, and Fresh Meadows. Before joining the City Council, Sandra worked as an attorney in a nonprofit defending survivors of domestic violence and advocating for their families. She later served in government on the municipal, state and federal level, including most recently in the office of Congresswoman Grace Meng where she assisted constituents with immigration, veteran affairs and social security cases.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
My greatest inspiration in life will always be my parents. As ethnic Chinese living in Cambodia during a time of violent persecution, they faced unimaginable hardship. We eventually arrived in the U.S. when I was just seven years old, where they worked long hours at demanding jobs to provide a better life for their children. Watching them persevere in the face of so many obstacles taught me the value of hard work, humility, and hope.

Is there a AAPI-owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
Hahm Ji Bach is a restaurant in the heart of a thriving district of Korean-owned businesses. When owner Younghwan Kim opened its doors in the 2000s, Murray Hill was still an emerging neighborhood, but his bold vision and hard work paid off. Today, Murray Hill is recognized as the heart of Koreatown in Queens, drawing visitors from across the city who come to experience its exceptional food, strong sense of community, and rich cultural traditions.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
We’re incredibly fortunate to have so many beautiful parks in my district, but for too long these green spaces have felt isolated and disconnected from each other. That’s why I’m so proud to have secured a transformative $25 million investment toward the development of the Eastern Queens Greenway. This project will bring our neighborhoods closer together, promote sustainability and healthy living, and help create a greener, more livable Queens for generations to come. 

Gaurav Vasisht is executive director and CEO of NYSIF, the first person of Asian descent to lead the New York State insurer in its 110-year history. He’s a member of Governor Hochul’s cabinet and chair of New York’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission. A former advisor to Fed Chair Paul A. Volcker, Gaurav has held leadership positions in financial services and spoken or testified before Congress and various authorities on financial system stability.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
My biggest inspiration is my mother, an immigrant who worked hard and sacrificed to become credentialed as a New York City school teacher.  She led her life in a way that keeps me anchored to what’s truly important.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
I’m most proud of working to help enact, enforce and safeguard state and federal banking and financial services laws that make the financial system safer for the benefit of workers and businesses in the real economy. 

Dr. Wang is a distinguished leader in higher education, driving academic excellence and student success. She led efforts to integrate AI into the curriculum, and spearheaded the reform of the First Year Experience program to enhance retention. Before joining Hostos, she held leadership roles at Harold Washington College, Queensborough Community College, and New York Institute of Technology. Dr. Wang has received multiple honors, including the United Federation of Fil-Am Educators’ Outstanding Leadership in Education Award.

Who is your biggest inspiration and why?
My biggest inspiration comes from both my family and my students. My family’s resilience, sacrifices, and belief in the power of education laid the foundation for my values. Equally inspiring are my students, whose perseverance, creativity, and drive to succeed – often despite significant barriers – remind me every day why I am committed to expanding access and advancing student success in higher education.

Is there a AAPI-owned business or organization that you would like to spotlight?
I’d like to spotlight the Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC), the largest Asian American social services organization in the U.S. Serving over 8,000 New Yorkers daily across 50+ programs, CPC provides education, workforce development, senior services, and family support. Their culturally responsive approach empowers immigrant and low-income communities to thrive. CPC exemplifies how community-rooted leadership can drive equity and opportunity in New York City.

What is the proudest moment of your career so far?
My proudest moment wasn’t marked by a title or award – it was watching one of our students, who had struggled with learning, overcome her challenges with the help of our student support services. With that support, she crossed the stage with her degree in hand and her proud grandmother in tears. That moment captured everything I stand for: education as transformation, leadership as service, and success measured in lives changed.

Dr. Eric Wei is CEO of NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue and a practicing emergency medicine physician. He also served as chief quality officer and has rotated through all 11 emergency departments. He’s led programs addressing provider trauma, launched a clinical leadership fellowship, created an Arts in Medicine department. He served as interim CEO at multiple hospitals and co-edited a COVID-19 textbook. Dr. Wei holds an M.D./MBA from UC Irvine.

Julie Won represents the 26th Council District in Western Queens covering the neighborhoods of Long Island City, Sunnyside, Astoria, and Woodside. She is the first woman and immigrant to represent this district in the city’s history. As a tenant and activist, Julie has committed to a new vision for her community with a deep focus on creating and preserving affordable housing, increasing access to city resources for all New Yorkers, ensuring that access to quality and affordable internet is guaranteed, and many other issues that are top of mind for her constituents. At the age of eight, Julie immigrated to New York City with her family looking for a new beginning, an experience she shares with over half of the constituency she represents.