New York City -- Six extraordinary Asian women received the 2006 Asian Women In Business Leadership Awards as they were feted at the group’s Eleventh Anniversary Gala on Tuesday, October 17^th. Over 650 attended AWIB’s annual event, which highlights the tremendous contributions of Asian women as entrepreneurs and corporate leaders.

The six women were selected from hundreds of candidates.  From an immigrant who came to this country as an adult without speaking English, to a structural engineer from an Ivy League college, these women have achieved success while overcoming gender or economic barriers and share a philanthropic spirit, which makes them truly inspiring role models.

Recipients of the 2006 Corporate Leadership Award are Judy Hu, Global Executive Director – Advertising and Brand for GE and Chairperson of the Advertising Council, who spearheaded GE’s highly successful ‘Imagination at work’ campaign; and Victoria Chu Pao, President, Platts, The McGraw Hill Companies, who led several breakthrough re-branding and re-positioning efforts at the company. 

The recipients of the 2006 Entrepreneurial Leadership Award are women who have carved out a niche for themselves in highly competitive industries. Betty Park, President and Founder of Pier 2110 Restaurant and Manna’s Soul Food Restaurants has added hundreds of jobs in Harlem and has single handedly improve race relations. Dr. Zenaida Santos, Founder and Vice President, United Home Care & United Medical Clinic is a highly respected member of the community – she’s medical doctor, owns and runs a nursing staffing agency and offers regular free health fairs for the public. SawTeen See, Managing Partner at Leslie E Robertson Associates, R.L.L.P. holds her own in the male-dominated world of structural engineers, and for her work which ranges from the Sony Building in New York to the Shanghai World Financial Center. Dr. Rani Thukral, Founder and Chairperson, Rani Salons & Spas, has built a mini-empire in Queens and Long Island with a loyal following for her affordable skin and hair care spas.

VIPs in attendance at the AWIB Eleventh Annual Leadership Awards Dinner on October 17th, 2006 included Harold McGraw III, Chairman & CEO, The McGraw Hill Companies; Mark Goodman, EVP, SAM’S Club, Frank Lombardi, Chief Engineer, Port Authority of NY/NJ; Honorable Cecile Rebong, Consul General of the Philippines; and many others.

Vivian Lee, WNBC, News Channel 4, was emcee for the evening, which included a Silent Auction, entertainment and raffle draw.

AWIB’s Leadership Awards have received much critical acclaim, resulting in an unprecedented number of corporate sponsors, which attests to their positive experience working with and investing in AWIB.  AWIB’s top sponsors this year are General Electric/NBC Universal and SAM’S CLUB/Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., followed by AT&T, The Bank of New York, Bloomberg, Con Edison, Credit Suisse, Deloitte, The McGraw-Hill Companies, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Prudential Financial and many more.  

Proceeds from the Leadership Dinner will go towards supporting AWIB’s 2007 programs and services.