AANHPI Heritage Month Spotlight: 10 Influential Leaders in Tech, Media And Cybersecurity

As the tech ecosystem reckons with representation and equity, these stories spotlight brilliance beyond code, showing how AANHPI leaders influence everything from product design to corporate strategy.

From pioneering subscription-based platforms to reshaping inclusive marketing strategies, these professionals are defining the future of digital innovation. Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is more than a moment. It’s an invitation to reflect on legacy, leadership, and the future we’re building together.

This month, I chose to celebrate 10 AANHPI professionals not solely for their achievements, but for how they redefine what it means to lead in tech. These are the architects of influence: executives, educators, and innovators who show us that success in technology isn't limited to writing code.

Their stories are rich with cultural identity, resilience, and a deep commitment to inclusive progress. By centering these leaders, we honor the full spectrum of excellence in our industry and the use of technology beyond the IT channel.

The Inclusive Leadership Newsletter is a must-read for news, tips, and strategies focused on advancing successful diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in technology and across the IT channel. Subscribe today!

Pei-Yuan “Perry” Wei

Industry: Software development

Major Contribution: Creator of ViolaWWW, one of the first web browsers, pioneer in early internet navigation

Creator behind one of the earliest geographical web browsers, Viola. While studying at UC Berkeley, Wei began developing Viola in 1991. What started as a personal hypertext project quickly evolved into a groundbreaking browser that influenced nearly every major browser that followed—from Mosaic and Netscape Navigator to Internet Explorer, Firefox, Safari, and Chrome. Wei’s contributions helped shape the user experience of the modern web and laid the groundwork for generations of web developers and digital entrepreneurs.

Steve Chen

Industry: Consumer tech

Major Contribution: Co-founder of YouTube, revolutionizing digital video sharing and consumption.

Best known as the co-founder and former chief technology officer of YouTube, Chen played a central role in designing and building the multinational platform’s early infrastructure. Chen led the development of YouTube’s scalable video sharing architecture, enabling fast uploads, reliable streaming, and mass user adoption. Following the platform’s acquisition by Google in 2006, Chen continued to innovate through ventures like AVOS Systems and the video-sharing app MixBit. His work has shaped how modern video content is created, distributed and monetized on the internet.

Ming Chow

Industry: Cybersecurity education

Major Contribution: Professor at Tufts University, advancing ethical hacking and cybersecurity education.

As a professor at Tufts University, Ming Chow has shaped the next generation of cybersecurity professionals through his accessible, hands-on curriculum. He emphasizes ethical hacking, cyber policy, and real-world application of security principles. Chow is also widely respected for his efforts to democratize cybersecurity education, making it more inclusive to students from underrepresented backgrounds. His leadership in academia bridges the gap between technical rigor and ethical responsibility.

Michelle Lee

Industry: Design and innovation

Major Contribution: Integrating play and empathy into product strategy and inclusive design.

Michelle Lee serves as VP at IDEO, where she leads teams that blend play, empathy, and design thinking to build human-centered tech solutions. With a background in mechanical engineering and product design, Lee has influenced how companies develop inclusive and accessible technologies. Her projects often focus on how design can solve real-world problems, particularly for underserved communities. As a leader in design, she continues to push the boundaries between creativity and technology.

Connie Chan

Industry: Venture capital, marketing strategy

Major Contribution: General partner at Andreessen Horowitz, bridging U.S. and Asian mobile tech markets

Connie Chan is a general partner at Andreessen Horowitz, one of Silicon Valley’s leading venture capital firms. She is known for her deep expertise in consumer tech and product growth, particularly in bridging innovations between Asian and Western markets. Chan has helped scale companies by focusing on mobile-first design and user experience strategies rooted in Asian tech ecosystems. Her background informs her global perspective on product-market fit and growth hacking.

Michelle Phan

Industry: Digital media and e-commerce technology

Major Contribution: Founder of Ipsy, innovating influencer-based business models and subscription services

Michelle Phan revolutionized beauty and influencer marketing by launching one of YouTube’s first successful beauty channels and later founding Ipsy, a subscription-based beauty tech platform. She transformed how consumers interact with products through digital storytelling and algorithm-driven personalization. Phan’s work laid the foundation for today’s creator economy and direct-to-consumer models, bringing visibility to Asian American innovation in both media and tech.

Ann Miura-Ko

Industry: Venture capital

Major Contribution: Floodgate venture capital firm co-founder investing in early-stage tech companies like Lyft, Twitter, and Okta. Often called "the most powerful woman in venture capital," she has a sharp eye for technical founders and disruptive innovations. Miura-Ko teaches entrepreneurship at Stanford, blending practical insight with academic rigor. She has a commitment to mentorship, having helped diversify the face of venture investing and repeatedly appearing on the Forbes Midas List .

Chris Yeh

Industry: Tech startup strategist and author

Major Contribution: As the co-author of “Blitzscaling” and leading thinker on startup growth and leadership, Chris Yeh advises tech founders on how to rapidly scale operations while maintaining organizational culture and ethical decision-making. By emphasizing storytelling, brand alignment, and the importance of inclusive teams, Yeh’s made significant contributions on how startups grow with sustainable impact.

Barbara Peng

Industry: Digital media

Major Contribution: The CEO of Business Insider, where she has overseen innovations in AI-powered news search, personalized content, and subscription-based business models. Under her leadership, the publication has expanded its global footprint and audience engagement. Peng is a champion for data-driven decision-making, helping transform digital journalism for the modern age while maintaining a commitment to representation in media leadership.

Sonita Lontoh

Industry: Green tech and corporate strategy

Major Contribution: Serving on the boards of Sunrun and TrueBlue, Sonita Lontoh has held executive roles at companies like HP Inc. and Siemens, where she focused on smart grid and sustainability solutions. She is an advocate of women and underrepresented groups in STEM and corporate leadership. Her work connects emerging technologies with environmental impact and social equity.