At its annual Holiday Party, the South Asian Business Council of Virginia gathered community leaders, professionals, and members of its Chair and Advisory Committee to toast the year’s achievements and map out a plan for their next year's endeavors.
Under the leadership of Governor of Virginia Glenn Youngkin's advisor Mansoor Qureshi, the South Asian Business Council of Virginia began as a vision shared by two people and has now grown into a 16-member advisory committee, with plans to expand to 50 advisors in the near future.
“The South Asian Business Council of Virginia started with a simple dream—to uplift our community through opportunity, leadership, and collaboration,” said Mansoor Qureshi. “Today, that dream has become a powerful movement. Our mission is clear: when one of us rises, we all rise together. We are building pathways for our youth, entrepreneurs, and professionals not just in Virginia, but across America.”
In a single year, the South Asian Business Council of Virginia has deployed 35 internships in the high-stakes arenas of Artificial Intelligence and Mobile Development and also facilitated high-level networking events, cross-industry collaborations, professional workshops, and joint venture sessions.
Clearly not content to rest on its current achievements, the South Asian Business Council of Virginia used the holiday party to outline an ambitious slate of initiatives for 2026, including a Women’s Empowerment Event and Workshop, a Youth Entrepreneur Summit, a Business Summit, a plan to offer 100 summer internships in AI, cybersecurity, and leadership, and workshops on running for public office.
Virginia's Secretary of Commerce and Trade Juan Pablo Segura, acknowledging the council’s sensational achievements, hailed the South Asian Business Council of Virginia for transforming the Commonwealth into a "hub for diverse talent" and for fostering entrepreneurship, innovation, and inclusive growth. But for Qureshi and his cohort, Virginia is merely the launchpad. Their ambitious vision involves a strategic expansion that will eventually encompass the entire American landscape.
The evening also gave space to express gratitude to Nupur Panjabi, an IT staffing company founder and Chief Volunteer at the nonprofit Anna Sudha Community Kitchen, for her sustained support and for her organization's efforts in catering the event.
As a 501(c)(3) organization where 100% of donations are funneled back into creating impactful infrastructure, funding mentorship initiatives, internship pathways, and empowerment programs, the South Asian Business Council of Virginia has reinforced that it prioritizes purpose over profit and their growth is intended to serve the community. If 2025 was the year SABCVA proved it could grow, 2026 looks to be the year it scales.