Just months after we published our first news stories in August 2015, we tried something new: we listed and published brief biographies of the state’s 28 Most Influential Black Leaders. People really liked it, shared it on social media, told us who else should have been on that list. Many asked me if we’d do another list the next year; I said yes, we probably would.
We did more than that. That next year, we published another list of the state’s most influential Black leaders, as well as a list of the state’s most influential Latino leaders. Almost immediately, we started hearing an important and very reasonable question: What about the state’s Asian American and Indigenous leaders?
We wanted to do those lists, but we wanted to do them right. It took us some time to build the authentic relationships within those communities, and to gain their trust. I’m glad and proud that we took that time and did that work; it resulted in us publishing those lists for the first time in 2020.
This week we are proud to present the sixth annual edition of Wisconsin’s Most Influential Asian American leaders.
Every year, with every list, I’ve intended to highlight the beauty of the diversity across our state. I want kids here in Wisconsin to see role models of people who are succeeding, to know that it’s possible for people of color to achieve great things here.
This week, we shine a statewide spotlight on the dedicated leaders of Wisconsin’s Asian and Asian American communities. The people we highlight this week are elected leaders, business leaders and community leaders, doing difficult, important work, often in the face of discrimination.
We are also aware that this list, like every other, is not comprehensive. It’s obvious just from the number of nominations that there are far more than 20 influential Asian and Asian American leaders doing good work in Wisconsin. We hope you will let us know about people in your community who we can include on future lists. For now, though, we just want to introduce you to a few of the people doing the work, often behind the scenes and without the accolades, across Wisconsin.
You might know a few of these names, but there’s a good chance that most of them will be new to you. I urge you to get to know them. Reach out to those living and working in your communities. Learn from them, network, and create partnerships. And spread the word — let others in your network know that we have people of all ethnicities living and working across Wisconsin to make sure everyone here can thrive.
Henry Sanders
CEO, 365 Media Foundation
Publisher, Madison365
Dr. Ronak Mehta
Dr. Ronak Mehta is a family physician and founder of NerdBugs, which to makes intimidating medical concepts more approachable to kids through plushie organs inspired by a children’s book Dr. Mehta wrote while in medical school. With over 100,000 units sold worldwide, Dr. Mehta was named one of Inc.’s Female Founders 500 earlier this year. Since finishing her residency at Loyola University Chicago / Cook County Hospital in 2015, she has been an attending physician with the US Department of Veterans Affairs in Salt Lake City and a clinical assistant professor at UW-Madison, practicing with UW Health. A product of Marshfield, Wisconsin, Dr. Mehta earned her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, West Indies.
Melinda Osterberg
Melinda Osterberg is Regional Economic Development Director at the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation, where she supports communities and businesses in North Central Wisconsin by facilitating access to state and federal resources. With nearly two decades of experience, she has led initiatives in broadband expansion, school facility improvements, and comprehensive planning projects. Her leadership extends to serving on the board of Centergy, a regional economic development organization. She spent much of her career in land use planning, including five years as Shawano County’s planner and later launching her own planning firm to contract with other counties and entities. She earned a degree in Urban, Community and Regional Planning from the University of Washington.
Dr Maqsood Ahmed Khan
Dr Maqsood Ahmed Khan is a practicing gastroenterologist and chief of the GO section at Aurora West Allis Medical Center. He is also an assistant professor of medicine and the Des Moines School of Osteopathic Medicine. In 2021, he became the first American Muslim elected to the Franklin school board. He was reelected in 2024 and is currently the school board treasurer. He has served as president of the Wisconsin Civic Alliance since 2022. He is vice president of the Wisconsin Muslim Civic Foundation, an organization he helped establish to conduct research on issues vital to the Wisconsin Muslim community and broader society. He serves on the board of trustees of the Whitewater Islamic Center. He earned his medical degree at Danylo Halytsky Lviv State Medical University in Ukraine.
Edgar Lin
Edgar Lin is Wisconsin State Policy Advocate & Counsel at Protect Democracy, where he focuses on policy advocacy and litigation related to preventing election subversion. He previously worked at Ahmad & Associates and the Buting, Williams, & Stilling law firms, practicing civil rights and criminal law. Prior to private practice, he was a public defender in the Wisconsin State Public Defender’s Office, Milwaukee Trial Division. Before attending the University of Wisconsin Law School, he worked in the financial sector in Hong Kong and Tokyo. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin–Madison Law School.
Krissie Fung
Krissie Fung is associate director and program manager for Zero Youth Corrections at the civic engagement and social justice organization Milwaukee Turners, and, since January, a member of the Milwaukee Police and Fire Commission. She has also served as a Chief Election Inspector, board member of the Japanese American Citizens League of Wisconsin, a community advisory board member for he Medical College of Wisconsin’s Comprehensive Injury Center, and a legal observer with the ACLU. Milwaukee Business Journal named her to its 2025 40 Under 40 class. Fung completed two internships in Hong Kong while a student at New York University, where she earned a degree in economics.
Kerry Yang
Kerry Yang is the Community Liaison and Special Events Coordinator for the City of Green Bay Mayor’s Office. In this role, she is deeply engaged with the community as a member of the Brown County Refugee Taskforce headed by Catholic Charities, a Community Champion from Brown County United Way, and a member of the Be Safe Taskforce from Golden House. She also coordinates Hmong and Latino advisory councils, which engage the Mayor’s Office on how the City can better serve those populations. She is a big sister in Big Brothers Big Sisters, a member of the Greater Green Bay Chamber, and presented on civic engagement at the 2025 Hmong National Development Conference in Minneapolis. Through her role in the City, she saw that there was a greater need for a local center for the Hmong people and co-founded and is the President of Hmong Autism Neurodiverse Disability Support (HANDS) with her sisters Betsy Rotzenberg and Linda Yang. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from UW Madison.
Ali Khan
Ali Khan is a multimedia producer and digital strategist at PBS Wisconsin, where he creates stories for Wisconsin Life and Why Race Matters. His work centers historically underrepresented voices, with a focus on storytelling that bridges culture, identity, and community. He is the founder of Of The Diaspora, a community-driven brand that raised funds for global relief initiatives through content-led product campaigns. Ali has also shaped social media strategy for Congresswoman Ilhan Omar and led paid social analytics for clients at Ovative Group. As a student at University of Wisconsin–Madison, where he earned degrees in political science and digital cinema production, he passed divestment legislation within student government, organized with the Multicultural Student Center, and launched Home is Where WI Aren’t, a viral video campaign uplifting students of color at UW-Madison that gained national attention.
Ryan Estrella
Ryan Estrella is a social worker with Joining Forces for Families and co-president of the board of directors at Just Dane. He was the chair of Fitchburg’s Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative from its founding in 2018 until 2022, and spent two more years as vice chair. He has participated on a number of City of Fitchburg hiring committees and outreach efforts. Mayor Julia Arata-Fratta honored him with the Resident Award in 2024. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Dr. Dadit Gunarwanto Hidayat
Dr. Dadit Gunarwanto Hidayat currently serves as Director of the Wisconsin Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (WiscAMP), a statewide initiative led by UW–Madison that broadens participation in STEM education through collaboration with 18 higher education institutions across Wisconsin. A two-time Badger and first-generation immigrant from Indonesia, Dr. Hidayat bridges academia and grassroots advocacy through interdisciplinary, community-based research. For nearly two decades, he has led civic engagement and research partnerships connecting UW–Madison with local communities such as Monona, Madison, Milwaukee, and La Crosse, spanning both urban and smaller city contexts across Wisconsin. He holds a Ph.D. from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and an M.S. in Urban and Regional Planning.
State Representative Renuka Mayadev
State Representative Renuka Mayadev is a daughter of immigrants, a maternal child health advocate, and a mother. In January 2025, she made history as the first South Asian to serve in the Wisconsin State Legislature. Before taking office, she worked at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, focusing on maternal and child health. Her prior experience spans nonprofit and government sectors, including leadership roles at the Children’s Defense Fund, and as a policy advisor to former Ohio Governor Ted Strickland. For this legislative session, she serves as the first Ranking Freshman Representative of an Assembly Committee in over a decade, leading the Committee on Constitution and Ethics, in addition to serving on the Assembly Committees on Health, Aging, and Long-Term Care. She is also a founding member of the Wisconsin Legislative Asian American Caucus. She earned a B.A., Economics from Northwestern University and her Juris Doctor from Georgetown University.
Ziming Wu
Ziming Wu is president and CEO of the Wisconsin Chinese Chamber of Commerce, a statewide organization based in Wauwatosa dedicated to supporting and empowering Chinese, Asian, and AANHPI businesses across Wisconsin. He was on the founding board of directors when the organization was incorporated in 2017 and served in a number of volunteer roles before taking the helm in January 2024. His tenure as CEO of the WCCC comes after a long career in information technology, including 18 years as a software engineer at Northwestern Mutual. He earned a master’s degree in engineering from Northeastern University in Shenyang, China.
Zon Moua
Zon Moua is Director of Youth Organizing at Freedom Inc, where she has served in several roles over the past 18 years. She has worked on gender based violence, queer and youth justice issues since the age of 16. Her most innovated work has been connecting youth to social justice movements through art, music, and dance. Through her work, she hopes to raise the visibility of Queer, Trans, Black and Southeast Asian leadership and to make deep social changes within her community.
Tariq Saqqaf
Tariq Saqqaf is the City of Madison’s Racial Equity and Neighborhood Resource Team Coordinator, where he has been instrumental in revitalizing and leading the city’s Neighborhood Resource Teams (NRTs). These teams focus on underserved neighborhoods, addressing issues such as housing, transportation, and community development. Under his leadership, NRTs have facilitated significant improvements, including park enhancements, the establishment of a neighborhood center in Theresa Terrace, and the introduction of a new bus route serving the Owl Creek area. Saqqaf’s role extends to the City, County, Schools Collaborative Committee, where he fosters intergovernmental collaboration to address shared community concerns. His efforts are central to Madison’s Racial Equity & Social Justice Initiative, embedding equity considerations into city policies and practices. Beyond his official duties, Saqqaf is deeply engaged in community initiatives. He has contributed to youth programs through organizations like Nehemiah Community Development Corp. and Common Wealth Development. Additionally, he played a key role in establishing Madison’s first skate park, promoting inclusive recreational spaces and serves on the board of NAMI Dane County. Born in Trinidad & Tobago and raised across New Jersey, Madison, and Saudi Arabia, he earned a bachelor’s degree in zoology and began medical school at UW–Madison before transitioning to a career in social services.
Erika Gallagher
Erika Gallagher is a teacher of English at Verona High School and the winner of the 2024-25 Wisconsin Council of Teachers of English Diversity and Inclusion Award. She was recognized for leading the district’s Gender Inclusion & Equity Committee, supporting the Antiracist Teaching Coalition, mentoring student affinity groups, creating the district’s LGBTQ+ support page and serving as the adviser to the Gender Sexuality Alliance. Her work also focuses on ensuring equitable access to resources for students and families. Before moving to Verona in 2023, she taught at Capital High School, East High School and O’Keeffe Middle School in Madison. She earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UW-Madison.
Ker Vang
Ker Vang is senior planner for Brown County in Northeast Wisconsin, a role in which he has served for four years following seven years as a transportation planner. He joined the county after three years with the Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission in Green Bay. He previously led the Asian American Resource Center, formerly the Hmong Association of Green Bay, as executive director. He earned a bachelor’s degree in urban and regional studies from UW-Green Bay and a master’s degree in urban planning at UW-Milwaukee.
Huma Ahsan
Huma Ahsan is founder and owner of Madison Immigration Law, where she has helped businesses and people navigate the immigration system for more than 15 years. She has been an outspoken advocate for immigrants, especially during the second Trump administration, speaking out on the revocation of student visas and the arrest of Judge Hannah Dugan, who is accused of helping an undocumented immigrant evade federal agents. Attorney Ahsan earned a bachelor’s degree at Western Kentucky and both a law degree and MBA at Stetson University.
Bardi Lankella
Badri Lankella represents Madison’s west side on the Common Council, winning election earlier this year, and serves as a commissioner of the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District. Professionally, his information technology career spans 25 years, including 20 years as a computer engineer and systems architect with the state Department of Natural Resources. He has served on the City of Madison’s Transportation Planning and Policy Board, contributing to strategic decisions that shape the future of mobility and accessibility in the city. He is also a board member of the Madison Public Schools Foundation and the Ice Age Falls Homeowners Association. He holds a degree in civil engineering and an MBA from UW-Madison.
Mai Vang
Mai Vang is the director of recruitment and talent development at Green Bay Area Public School District and a business instructor at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. She is also a career strategist and diversity talent acquisition consultant. She joined the school district in 2024 after stints in talent acquisition and human resources at Sargento Foods, Redox, and Forward Service Corporation. She earned an associate’s degree at NWTC, a bachelor’s and master’s degree at Concordia University-Wisconsin, and a DEI Certificate at the University of South Florida Muma College of Business.
Emily Tau
Emily Tau is director of public affairs for Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a role she took on in 2023 after two and a half years as marketing and communications officer at the city’s health department and four years in similar roles at VISIT Milwaukee. In 2024, Milwaukee Community Foundation honored her with the Jackie Herd Barber Award for championing GMF’s vision of making Milwaukee a place where everyone can thrive. She serves on the board of directors for Arts Midwest and Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin and on GMF’s Marketing and Communications Committee. She previously served on GMF’s Community Advisory & Ambassador Network and the board of the Public Relations Society of America. She earned a degree in public relations and theatre arts at Marquette.
Laura Lahti
Laura Lahti is a Realtor with Badger Realty Team, a Branding Consultant with American Solutions for Business, and the Founder/President of AMASIAN, a Madison-based nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Asian-American professionals, businesses, and individuals interested in Asian culture and community. She also serves on the Dane County Equal Opportunities Commission and the Downtowners Social Club committee. She was named one of the Women to Watch in 2024 by Brava Magazine. When she’s not engaged in her philanthropy work, she enjoys gardening, golfing, spending time with her family and friends, and traveling.
Who’d we miss? Email [email protected] to tell us who in your community should make the list next year!
