Jon M. Chu, Bong Joon Ho, Charli xcx and More Honored on Gold House’s 2025 A100 List

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Jon M. Chu, Bong Joon Ho, and Charli XCX are some of the individuals recognized in Gold House’s 2025 list of the 100 Most Influential Asians.

The A100 List recognizes groundbreaking figures from various sectors and applauds the most influential Asian Pacific leaders, chosen by prominent Asian Pacific groups, creative minds, business leaders, and cross-cultural supporters.

The A100 List showcases exclusive Gold Legend awards for lifetime accomplishments, as well as 10 new Gold recipients, highlighting the emerging pioneers of the Asian Pacific community. Gold House is set to honor these achievers with a series of events from May 9 to 10. These include the A100 Celebratory Reception in collaboration with the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures and East West Bank, as well as an exclusive A100 Honorees Dinner for previous and current honorees and judges. The festivities will reach their peak on May 10 at the annual Gold Gala, held downtown Los Angeles.

Bing Chen and Jeremy Tran, heads of Gold House, commented: “The A100 List showcases the deep cultural influence of the Asian Pacific community. This year’s honorees aren’t just being celebrated for their achievements; they’re being recognized as brave pioneers who blaze trails when there are no obvious paths, serving as our ‘First Lights’, lighting the way for all of us.

Ramin Setoodeh, who serves as co-editor in chief at EbMaster’s, has been selected as an A100 honoree for his contributions to the entertainment and media industries. Bowen Yang from “Saturday Night Live” is being recognized on the list not once, but twice – first for his work on the production of “Wicked,” along with Jon M. Chu and Michelle Yeoh, and secondly as a member of the cast for “The Wedding Banquet.

Moreover, we have Drew Afualo, the first Samoan woman to make it onto the New York Times bestseller list, as well as Anita Dongre, who was the first to design Barbie dolls, joining our list of honorees.

In the realms of sports and gaming, Shohei Ohtani, the remarkable designated hitter for the Los Angeles Dodgers who reached the extraordinary 50/50 MLB milestone, will be honored alongside Torri Huske, a distinguished Asian American athlete who earned the most accolades at the Paris Olympics, and Jordan Mailata, an impressive first from Samoa as he won the Super Bowl representing Australia.

100 trailblazers in tech fields have been recognized, with Demis Hassabis (CEO and co-founder at Google DeepMind), Sridhar Ramaswamy (CEO of Snowflake), Mark Chen (Chief Research Officer at OpenAI), Liang Wenfeng (CEO at Deepseek) and Jay Graber and Rose Wang (CEO and COO at Bluesky) being among them. The A1 honor is bestowed upon individuals who have made the greatest impact within their industries during the past year. This year’s honorees include Aravind Srinivas (CEO and co-founder of Perplexity AI), Jon M. Chu (a renowned filmmaker), Sabyasachi Mukherjee (the founder and creative director of a fashion label), heroes from the Los Angeles wildfire teams, and Suni Lee, Lee Kiefer, Torri Huske, and Chuck Aoki – outstanding athletes who set new records for Team USA at the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Three distinguished individuals from the Asian Pacific community will receive recognition for their lifelong accomplishments: filmmaker Ang Lee in the field of entertainment, novelist Min Jin Lee in the realm of fine arts, and Tsunekazu Ishihara, CEO of Pokémon Company, in business and technology.

Moreover, three individuals who have been on the A100 List for over three years each have been honored with induction into the Hall of Fame. These individuals are Eric Kim, co-founder and managing partner at Goodwater Capital, Melanie Perkins, CEO of Canva, and Ronny Chieng, a stand-up comedian and actor.

Lastly, to acknowledge the upcoming pioneers of culture, 10 emerging leaders have been selected as the A100 New Gold honorees. This prestigious list includes K-pop sensation Aespa, investor and entrepreneur Ankur Jain, football player Nikko Remigio, fashion designer Sohee Park, climate activist Sophia Kinna, and several others who are making a significant impact in their respective fields.

In the digital realm, the A100 Honorees will be celebrated in a moving video titled “Tiny Hopes.” This video showcases how small beginnings, fostered with resilience and determination, can blossom into extraordinary, world-altering phenomena that surpass all predictions. The production of this video is the work of creative agency Team One, and it includes narration by A100 Honoree Darren Criss, who is also a multi-talented individual. Additionally, Carol Kuswanto has crafted an original score specifically for this video.

The full A100 List and Selection Committee can be found below.

In this list, we have a collection of influential individuals from the fields of Business and Technology. Here are their roles and affiliations:

1. Aaron Yang & Albert Yang (Co-CEOs, Din Tai Fung North America)
2. Andrea Cherng (Chief Brand Officer, Panda Restaurant Group)
3. Ashok Sinha & Mae Cheng (Chief Communications Officer & EVP and GM of Events and Luxury, Dow Jones)
4. Barbara Peng (CEO, Business Insider)
5. Ben Sun (Co-Founder, Primary Venture Partners)
6. Chris Suh (CFO, Visa)
7. Demis Hassabis (Co-Founder and CEO, Google DeepMind)
8. Hiroki Asai (Global Head of Marketing, Airbnb)
9. Hock Tan (President and CEO, Broadcom)
10. Jay Puri (EVP of Worldwide Field Operations, NVIDIA)
11. Karthik Rao (CEO, Nielsen)
12. Kaz Nejatian (COO, Shopify)
13. Kevan Parekh (CFO, Apple)
14. Krishna Rao (CFO, Anthropic)
15. Mamoon Hamid (Partner, Kleiner Perkins)
16. Mark Chen (Chief Research Officer, OpenAI)
17. Matt Madrigal (CTO, Pinterest)
18. Melody Lee (CMO, Mercedes-Benz USA)
19. Pali Bhat (Chief Product Officer, Reddit)
20. Pejman Nozad (Partner, Pear VC)
21. Shyam Sankar (CTO, Palantir Technologies)
22. Sridhar Ramaswamy (CEO, Snowflake)
23. Uvashni Raman (CFO, Booking.com)
24. Walter Wang & Shirley Wang (Chairman and CEO, JM Eagle & Founder and CEO, Plastpro Inc.)
25. Wang Ning (CEO, Popmart)

These individuals are leaders in various sectors of Business and Technology, such as Co-CEOs, Chief Officers, Founders, and Partners, working for companies like Visa, Google DeepMind, Airbnb, Broadcom, and more.

Here are some key figures in the Entertainment and Media industry:

1. Abdullah Saeed, Asif Ali, Saagar Shaikh, Poorna Jagannathan (Deli Boys cast & creators)
2. Alex Yee (Co-creator and screenwriter of Arcane, Riot Games)
3. Amy Homma (Director and President of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures)
4. Andrew Ahn, Anita Gou, Bowen Yang, Han Gi-Chan & Kelly Marie Tran (The Wedding Banquet cast & creators)
5. Anjali Sud (CEO, Tubi)
6. Auli’i Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson, Dave Derrick Jr., Dana Ledoux Miller (Moana 2 lead cast & directors)
7. Bong Joon Ho (Director)
8. Bruno Mars (Music Artist)
9. Charli xcx (Music Artist)
10. Darren Criss & Helen J. Shen (Maybe Happy Ending lead actors)
11. David Henry Hwang & Daniel Dae Kim (Playwright & Lead Actor, Yellow Face)
12. Derek Chang (President and CEO, Liberty Media)
13. Han Kang (Author)
14. Imran Majid (Co-Chairman and CEO, Island Records)
15. Jon M. Chu, Michelle Yeoh & Bowen Yang (Director & Actors, Wicked)
16. Junkoo Kim & David J. Lee (Founder and CEO & CFO and COO, WEBTOON Entertainment)
17. Laufey (Grammy Award-winning Music Artist)
18. Lee Byung-hun, Lee Jung-jae & Hwang Dong-hyuk (Lead Cast & Creator, Squid Game Season 2)
19. LISA (Rapper, Singer, Dancer, Actress, and member of BLACKPINK)
20. Maer Roshan (Co-Editor-in-Chief, The Hollywood Reporter)
21. Mike Van (CEO, Billboard)
22. Nicole Scherzinger (Grammy-nominated, Platinum-selling Singer, Actress, and Dancer)
23. Nihar Malaviya (CEO, Penguin Random House)
24. Rahul Purini (President, Crunchyroll)
25. Ramin Setoodeh (Co-Editor-in-Chief, EbMaster)
26. Ravi Ahuja (President and CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment)
27. ROSÉ (Music Artist)
28. Samantha Quan (Academy Award-winning Producer)
29. Sarlina See (CFO, Penske Media Corporation)
30. SEVENTEEN (K-pop Group)
31. Tyla (Music Artist)
32. Will Lee & Ryan Joe (CEO & Editor-in-Chief, ADWEEK)

1. Anita Dongre – Chairwoman, Founder, and Creative Director at Anita Dongre House
2. Drew Afualo – Content Creator, Women’s Rights Advocate, Podcast Host, and New York Times Best-Selling Author
3. Earl Ninsom – Chef and Owner
4. Imran Amed – Founder, CEO, and Editor of The Business of Fashion
5. Jennifer Wong – CEO at Aritzia
6. Jenny Ming – CEO at Rothy’s
7. Joyce Kim – Chief Product Officer at Rare Beauty
8. Michael Mente, Divya Mathur & Raissa Gerona – Co-Founder and Co-CEOs, Chief Merchandising Officer, Fashion Director, and Chief Brand Officer at REVOLVE Group Inc.
9. Michelle Kuo – Curator at Large and Publisher at Museum of Modern Art
10. Peggy Roe & Jennifer Hsieh – Executive Vice President and Chief Customer Officer and Managing Vice President and Global Category Leader of Endorsed Brands and Experiences at Marriott International
11. Priya Krishna – New York Times Best-Selling Author, Restaurant Critic, and New York Times Reporter
12. Sandeep Seth & Joon Silverstein – Chief Growth Officer and President at Tapestry International and Chief Marketing Officer at Coach
13. Trisha Ayyagari & Amy Whang – Global Brand President and President of Maybelline New York and President of Maybelline New York, Garnier, essie USA

Participants in Social Impact Discussion Andy Kim (U.S. Senator), Cathy Cha (President and CEO, Haas, Jr. Fund), Chris Leong (Chief Sustainability Officer, Schneider Electric), Don Chen (President, Surdna Foundation), Dr. Mariko Silver (President and CEO, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts), Dr. Rajiv J. Shah (President, Rockefeller Foundation), Malala Yousafzai (Nobel Laureate), Meroë Park (Executive Leader and Public Servant), Neil G. Ruiz (Research Initiatives Head, Pew Research Center), Olivia Munn (Actor, Activist, Mother), Shyla Raghav (Chief Climate Officer, TIME), Terumi Tanaka (Nihon Hidankyo Co-Chairperson), Vedika Bhandarkar (Water.org President and COO), Versha Sharma (Teen Vogue Editor-in-Chief)

or

Participants in Social Impact Dialogue Andy Kim (Senator, United States), Cathy Cha (President & CEO, Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund), Chris Leong (Chief Sustainability Officer, Schneider Electric), Don Chen (Surdna Foundation President), Dr. Mariko Silver (Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts President & CEO), Dr. Rajiv J. Shah (President, The Rockefeller Foundation), Malala Yousafzai (Nobel Prize Winner), Meroë Park (Executive Leader and Public Servant), Neil G. Ruiz (Head of New Research Initiatives, Pew Research Center), Olivia Munn (Actor, Activist, Mother), Shyla Raghav (Chief Climate Officer, TIME), Terumi Tanaka (Co-Chairperson, Nihon Hidankyo), Vedika Bhandarkar (Water.org President & COO), Versha Sharma (Editor-in-Chief, Teen Vogue)

or

Participants in the Social Impact Roundtable Andy Kim (U.S. Senator), Cathy Cha (President and CEO of Haas, Jr. Fund), Chris Leong (Schneider Electric Chief Sustainability Officer), Don Chen (Surdna Foundation President), Dr. Mariko Silver (Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts President & CEO), Dr. Rajiv J. Shah (The Rockefeller Foundation President), Malala Yousafzai (Nobel Laureate), Meroë Park (Executive Leader and Public Servant), Neil G. Ruiz (Pew Research Center Head of New Research Initiatives), Olivia Munn (Actor, Activist, Mother), Shyla Raghav (Chief Climate Officer, TIME), Terumi Tanaka (Nihon Hidankyo Co-Chairperson), Vedika Bhandarkar (Water.org President & COO), Versha Sharma (Editor-in-Chief, Teen Vogue)

or

Social Impact Gathering Attendees Andy Kim (U.S. Senator), Cathy Cha (Haas, Jr. Fund President and CEO), Chris Leong (Schneider Electric Chief Sustainability Officer), Don Chen (Surdna Foundation President), Dr. Mariko Silver (Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts President & CEO), Dr. Rajiv J. Shah (The Rockefeller Foundation President), Malala Yousafzai (Nobel Laureate), Meroë Park (Executive Leader and Public Servant), Neil G. Ruiz (Pew Research Center Head of New Research Initiatives), Olivia Munn (Actor, Activist, Mother), Shyla Raghav (Chief Climate Officer, TIME), Terumi Tanaka (Nihon Hidankyo Co-Chairperson), Vedika Bhandarkar (Water.org President & COO), Versha Sharma (Editor-in-Chief, Teen Vogue)

or

Individuals at the Social Impact Conference Andy Kim (U.S. Senator), Cathy Cha (President and CEO of Haas, Jr. Fund), Chris Leong (Schneider Electric Chief Sustainability Officer), Don Chen (Surdna Foundation President), Dr. Mariko Silver (Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts President & CEO), Dr. Rajiv J. Shah (The Rockefeller Foundation President), Malala Yousafzai (Nobel Laureate), Meroë Park (Executive Leader and Public Servant), Neil G. Ruiz (Pew Research Center Head of New Research Initiatives), Olivia Munn (Actor, Activist, Mother), Shyla Raghav (Chief Climate Officer, TIME), Terumi Tanaka (Nihon Hidankyo Co-Chairperson), Vedika Bhandarkar (Water.org President & COO), Versha Sharma (Editor-in-Chief, Teen Vogue)

or

Attendees of the Social Impact Meeting Andy Kim (U.S. Senator), Cathy Cha (Haas, Jr. Fund President and CEO), Chris Leong (Schneider Electric Chief Sustainability Officer), Don Chen (Surdna Foundation President), Dr. Mariko Silver (Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts President & CEO), Dr. Rajiv J. Shah (The Rockefeller Foundation President), Malala Yousafzai (Nobel Laureate), Meroë Park (Executive Leader and Public Servant), Neil G. Ruiz (Pew Research Center Head of New Research Initiatives), Olivia Munn (Actor, Activist, Mother), Shyla Raghav (Chief Climate Officer, TIME), Terumi Tanaka (Nihon Hidankyo Co-Chairperson), Vedika Bhandarkar (Water.org President & COO), Versha Sharma (Editor-in-Chief, Teen Vogue)

As a passionate advocate for the dynamic world where Sports and Gaming collide, I’m thrilled to be associated with some extraordinary individuals who are shaping this fascinating domain:

1. Charlie Wen, the visionary Chief Creative Officer at Epic Games, leading the charge in the gaming realm.
2. Clara Wu Tsai and Joseph Tsai, the dynamic duo behind the 2024 WNBA Champions, New York Liberty, and the Brooklyn Nets, making a significant impact on basketball.
3. Dave Roberts, Shohei Ohtani, Tommy Edman, and Yoshinobu Yamamoto – the LA Dodgers’ manager and players, reigning supreme in Major League Baseball.
4. FAKER, the prolific gamer from T1 Entertainment & Sports, dominating the esports scene.
5. Jordan Mailata, the powerful Offensive Tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles, showcasing his prowess on the football field.
6. Lydia Ko, the Olympic Golfer whose skill and grace have captured the hearts of golf enthusiasts worldwide.
7. Maya Yoshida, the defender for LA Galaxy, demonstrating resilience in the world of soccer.
8. Michele Kang, the visionary Founder and CEO of Kynisca, bridging the gap between sports and technology.
9. Shams Charania, the insightful Senior NBA Insider at ESPN, keeping us updated on all basketball-related news.
10. Tagu Kato, the Chief Design Officer at Roblox, revolutionizing the gaming industry with innovative designs.
11. Uzma Rawn Dowler, the CMO and SVP of Global Corporate Partnerships at MLB, connecting brands and sports in creative ways.
12. Virat Kohli, the professional Cricket Player whose talent and dedication have made him a global sensation.

Together, these individuals are pushing the boundaries of what’s possible at the intersection of Sports & Gaming, and I’m excited to witness their continued success!

HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES FROM THE A100 LIST: – These individuals are chosen to be inducted into the Hall of Fame as a way to honor their ongoing and consistent influence. This includes:

– Eric Kim (Co-Founder and Managing Partner, Goodwater Capital)
– Melanie Perkins (Co-Founder and CEO, Canva)
– Ronny Chieng (Actor and Comedian)

The inductees have previously appeared on the A100 list. Their continued impact is being recognized with this special induction into the Hall of Fame.

RECOGNITION OF GOLDEN LEGENDS: – This accolade is given to individuals who have made a lifelong impact, shaping the achievements and image of the Asian Pacific community.
– In Business & Technology, the Gold Legend goes to Tsunekazu Ishihara (CEO, The Pokémon Company).
– In Entertainment & Media, the Gold Legend is bestowed upon Ang Lee (Filmmaker).
– In Literary Arts, Min Jin Lee (Author) receives the Gold Legend.

HONOREES OF THE NEW GOLD AWARD: This award honors emerging influencers who will shape the narrative for the Asian Pacific community. The recipients include:
– aespa (K-pop Group)
– Ankur Jain (Founder and CEO, Bilt)
– Dominic Fike (Actor and Music Artist)
– James Sweeney (Filmmaker)
– Jay Graber & Rose Wang (CEO & COO, Bluesky)
– Liang Wenfeng (CEO, Deepseek)
– Nikko Remigio (Wide Receiver, Kansas City Chiefs)
– Sohee Park (Fashion Designer)
– Sophia Kianni (Founder, Climate Cardinals and Phia)
– Zaria Parvez (Senior Global Social Media Manager, Duolingo)

2025 A100 Selection Committee

As a strong advocate, I’m proud to highlight the esteemed group of individuals who serve as Icon Judges for various initiatives:

1. Andrew & Peggy Cherng (Co-Founders and Co-CEOs, Panda Restaurant Group) – Trailblazing entrepreneurs in the culinary world.
2. Apolo Anton Ohno (8x Olympic Medalist and Investor) – An inspiring athlete and shrewd businessman.
3. Ben Fong-Torres (Journalist) – A respected journalist with a rich history in media.
4. Bill Imada (Chairman and Chief Connectivity Officer, IW Group) – A visionary leader in the advertising industry.
5. Cris Abrego (Co-Founder and CEO, Hyphenate Media Group) – A dynamic force in the entertainment world.
6. Cynthia Erivo (Grammy, Emmy, Tony-winning, and Oscar-nominated Actress, Singer, Songwriter, and Producer) – A multi-talented artist with a stellar career.
7. Dado & Maria Banatao (Founders and Managing Partners, Tallwood Venture Capital) – Innovative entrepreneurs making waves in the tech industry.
8. David Ono (News Anchor, ABC7) – A trusted voice in news broadcasting.
9. Far East Movement (Multi-Platinum Music Group) – Trailblazers in the music scene, breaking barriers and setting trends.
10. Janet Yang (Award-winning Producer and President of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences) – A trailblazer in Hollywood, championing diversity and excellence.
11. Jeff Rosenthal (Co-Founder and Managing Partner, CIV; Co-Founder, Summit; and Co-Owner, Powder Mountain) – An entrepreneur with a diverse portfolio of successful ventures.
12. Jessica Sibley (CEO, TIME) – A dynamic leader guiding one of the world’s most influential media outlets.
13. Julia S. Gouw (Trustee of the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures) – A visionary philanthropist supporting the arts and culture.
14. Lisa Ling (Journalist and Host) – A respected journalist and storyteller, shedding light on important issues.
15. Kristi Yamaguchi (Founder, Always Dream and Olympic Gold Medalist) – An inspiration in sports and philanthropy.
16. Martin Yan (Chef and Host, Yan Can Cook) – A celebrated chef and ambassador of Asian cuisine.
17. Rich Ross (Entertainment Executive) – A respected figure in the entertainment industry.
18. Shelley Zalis (CEO and Founder, The Female Quotient) – A champion for gender equality and diversity in business.
19. Steve Chen (Co-Founder, YouTube) – An innovator who revolutionized online video sharing.
20. Tiffany R. Warren (EVP, Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Sony Music Group Founder and President, ADCOLOR Board Chair, American Advertising Federation) – A champion for diversity and inclusion in the music industry.

3AFAct to Change represents the following organizations:

1. Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) – Advocating for Political Empowerment
2. Apex for Youth – Youth Leadership Development in Asian Communities
3. Asian American Voices for Education – Advocacy for Quality Education
4. Asian Business Association – Promoting Business Growth and Networking
5. Asian Mental Health Collective – Supporting Mental Health within the Asian Community
6. CAPE (Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment) – Advancing Asian Representation in Media
7. Center for Asian American Media (CAAM) – Producing and Showcasing Asian American Stories
8. Council of Korean Americans (CKA) – Strengthening the Korean-American Community
9. Cutfruit Collective – Empowering Queer Asian Artists
10. East West Players – Advancing Asian Pacific Islander Voices in Entertainment
11. Every Voice Texas: Asian Texans for Justice – Advocating for Equality and Justice for Asian Texans
12. ICAN (International Children Assistance Network) – Helping Children Worldwide
13. Korean American Artist Collective – Empowering Korean Artists
14. Kua’aina Ulu Auamo – Protecting Hawaiian Culture and Environment
15. Lavender Phoenix – Supporting LGBTQ+ Asian Americans
16. LEAP (Leadership Education for Asian Pacifics) – Developing Asian American Leaders
17. Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) – Advocating for the Rights of Muslim Americans
18. NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) – Advancing Civil Rights and Equality for African Americans
19. NALIP (National Association of Latino Independent Producers) – Supporting Latino Content Creators
20. NCAPA (National Council of Asian Pacific Americans) – Unifying Asian American Organizations
21. PEAK (Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti) – Empowering Pacific Islander Artists and Entertainment Professionals
22. Pop Culture Collaborative – Promoting Social Justice through Media and Culture
23. Purple Mai’a Foundation – Supporting Native Hawaiian Health and Education
24. Red Canary Song – Advocating for the Rights of Asian Sex Workers
25. The Asian American Foundation – Investing in the Future of Asian Americans
26. The Legal Clinic (Immigration Law & Justice Network-Hawaiʻi) – Providing Immigration Legal Services
27. The Salon – Supporting Asian Artists and Creatives
28. Transplanting Traditions Community Farm – Cultivating Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security
29. USPAACC (U.S. Pan Asian American Chamber of Commerce) – Promoting Business Opportunities for Asian Americans
30. Visual Communications – Advancing Asian Pacific Islander Media Arts and Culture

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2025-05-01 16:22