Published September 11, 2025

Introducing the 2025 Power 100 Business Leaders of Color

Buffalo Business First celebrates the men and women on this list who have risen to the top as leaders of Western New York companies and organizations. They foster creativity and inclusion in their organizations, act as role models for future generations and recognize that diverse viewpoints breed success.

The fourth annual list spotlights men and women from underrepresented groups who continue to face additional barriers on the way to the boardroom, from access to capital to a lack of relationships with those already in power to biases, unconscious and otherwise.

BEP is proud to have supported several of this year's leaders:

  • James Giles, Viridi
  • Andy Hakes, AireXpert 
  • Irfan Khan, Circuit Clinical and PhysicianX
  • Shantelle Patton, That Brown Bag / Urban Chamber of Commerce
  • Ashok Subramanian, Centivo
  • Thurman Thomas, 34 Group Inc.

Congratulations also to UB President Satish Tripathi and at UB Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences faculty Adnan Siddiqui and Leonard Egede for this recognition. 

See the full list in Publication name (paid subscription required).