Asian-American business leaders were honored in New York on Thursday for their leadership and contribution to their communities and beyond.

The 15th annual Outstanding 50 Asian Americans in Business Awards Dinner was held at Cipriani on Wall Street.

This year two business leaders were given the top Pinnacle Awards as acknowledgement of their leadership in their industries: Lisa Su, president and CEO of Advanced Micro Devices Inc, and Thai Lee, president and CEO of SHI International Corp.

"The award honors individuals and serves to encourage the development of talent and leadership of Asian Americans," said John Wang, president of the Asian American Business Development Center (AABDC), which hosts the Outstanding 50 dinner every year.

The 50 Asian Americans honored at the dinner are individuals who have built successful businesses or have distinguished themselves in their communities, according to AABDC.

"I'm honored. I didn't expect it, but I'm certainly honored to be here and be amongst these very distinguished Asian Americans who have done so well in their careers," Su told China Daily.

Su has been at AMD for four years and became CEO 18 months ago. The California-based AMD produces computer processors and technologies for various consumer goods like computers, cars, mobile phones and video game consoles.

Su's role keeps her busy in the semiconductor field, but an event like the Outstanding 50 dinner is diverse in its industry representation, Su said.

"I think it's a great way for us to meet each other, to help each other going forward, and also just recognize that there are extremely talented Asian Americans all over the world," she said.

Prior to her role at AMD, the 46-year-old Su spent 13 years at IBM and was responsible for the strategic direction of the company's silicon technologies and semiconductor research and development operations.

Su was born in Taiwan and immigrated to New York at 2, living there until she went to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology for her bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in electrical engineering.

She currently serves on the board of the US Semiconductor Industry Association.

amyhe@chinadailyusa.com