The Hill’s Changemakers: Neal Patel, president of the Asian American Pacific Islander Leadership Association

Neal Patel has nurtured an unofficial pandemic-era network into a fast-growing community of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) leaders in Washington, D.C. 

Patel, a Capitol Hill and Trump White House Office of Management and Budget alum who recently launched his own lobbying firm, Patel Partners, coordinated Zoom calls with AAPI leaders on Capitol Hill and K Street when COVID-19 shut down the District. 

He teamed up with Democratic Hill and lobbying veteran Jed Bhuta to formally launch the Asian American Pacific Islander Leadership Association (AAPILA) last November. The AAPILA has since grown its events calendar and professional development opportunities as part of its mission to develop a pipeline of AAPI talent between Capitol Hill and K Street. 

“We found out what there was a need for, and just tried to fill the niche,” Patel told The Hill. 

“We’re seeing in real time the growth of our own community, but we’re highlighting people on the up-and-coming list and making sure they have a platform for others to see them.” 

That community has put in significant “sweat equity” to help the organization grow, spearheaded by Patel and Bhuta, who serves as AAPILA vice president, as well as treasurer Will Le and director of external affairs Lauri Ng. 

“This core group has allowed us to get through year one, and I think at this stage now we’re open to having others come in on the board,” Patel said. 

That hard work culminated in a Diwali event headlined by Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-Mich.) at the end of October, which Patel called his proudest moment of the organization’s first year. 

“To get what you want in this town, you gotta deserve what you want,” Patel said many times. 

“I’m still thinking there’s more to be done,” he added. “If we’re being seen as the ones that can execute, I will take that role all day long.”