Issue link: https://nebusinessmedia.uberflip.com/i/1544198
HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | APRIL 6, 2026 25 POWE R 50 | ENTREPRENEURS & INNOVATORS A l Subbloie is founder and CEO of Budderfly, an energy-as-a-service company that provides efficien- cy and energy management services to commercial customers. Since launching Budderfly in 2017, he has grown it from a startup into a national company backed by private equity. Prior to Budderfly, he founded and led Tangoe for 16 years, taking the communications software and service man- agement company public and expanding its operations globally. Over the past 12 months, Subbloie said Budderfly achieved significant revenue and A bul Islam founded AI Engineers Inc. in 1991 as a two-person firm operating out of his Cromwell basement. Today, the Middletown-based consulting engineering firm employs more than 350 staff in the U.S. and more than 70 internationally, generating about $90 million in annual revenue. During his 40-year career as a professional engineer and executive, he has led large infrastructure projects involving railroads, bridges, highways, airports, transit facili- ties and utilities. D r. Reid Waldman is CEO and a board member of Veradermics, a Connecticut-based biopharma- ceutical company focused on therapies for aesthetics and dermatology, including an oral treatment for hair loss. A board-cer- tified dermatologist, he founded the company and has led it through multiple equity financings, including a $150 million customer growth, scaled deployment of advanced energy technologies and closed major funding transactions. He said those accomplishments position the company for continued expansion. Looking ahead, he cited opportunities to grow revenue, expand behind-the-meter storage and efficiency services, reduce grid stress and enter new market seg- ments as part of a broader plan to build a multibillion-dollar business. What qualities are most essential for effective leadership today? Effective leadership today comes down to a few key things; having vision, com- munication, motivation and discipline — what you see in a winning sports team. A vision that aligns performance with meaning is simple and highly rewarding, but it frankly eludes most companies because profit alone isn't enough. When economic success and real-world impact move together, you inspire your team and achieve results. Today's pace of change favors leaders who trust their people and lead decisive- ly with creative, yet practical, business models that work. Over the past year, Islam cited success recruiting new talent while retaining expe- rienced engineers and managers. He said the firm has also expanded its technology department by developing AI-oriented skill sets among younger staff. Looking ahead, he identified geographic growth and expansion into new engi- neering disciplines as both challenges and opportunities, emphasizing col- laboration across multiple offices and knowledge-sharing between senior and emerging leaders. What qualities are most essential for effective leadership today? You're better off being over-communi- cative than under. Treating your staff, and especially those in the middle tier and entry-level, with a serious degree of sincere respect as genuine partners in your organization's growth. If you know how to treat people as your equal, with shared goals, and have the self-humility to leave the skewed power dynamics of 'boss' hierarchy at the door, you will 100% succeed as an effective leader. What do you value most about living or doing business in Connecticut? From a business perspective as a CEO, given the small geographic footprint of the state, it's an easy state to traverse fairly quickly; our Middletown head- quarters is strategically located and accessible within a reasonable driving distance between two of the country's major metropolitan areas — New York City and Boston. Central Connecticut's general cost-of-living when compared to those metro areas is also significantly better. Series C round and an upsized initial public offering. Veradermics now trades under the ticker symbol MANE. Over the past year, the company initiat- ed three clinical trials and advanced its lead drug candidate, VDPHL01, into a Phase 2/3 trial for female pattern hair loss, while completing enrollment in two Phase 3 trials for male pattern hair loss. Preliminary Phase 2 data indicated visible and measurable hair growth in male and female participants. Looking ahead, Waldman said the company is preparing to transition from a clinical-stage to a commercial-stage organization, a shift that will require scaling operations, hiring tal- ent and maintaining culture while continuing to execute on late-stage trials. What qualities are most essential for effective leadership today? Effective leadership today is about a re- lentless commitment to performance and progress, always finding a way to move the business forward. Leaders cannot have all the answers. Leaders are curious, listen deeply, seek answers and are willing to learn from the people around them. Progress often means making decisions with imperfect information, and taking action before everything feels perfect, while other times progress requires evolving a plan in real time, or adjusting course based on new learnings, information or feedback. Al Subbloie Founder & CEO Budderfly Industry: Energy No. of employees: 470+ Annual revenue: $250 million Education: Bachelor's degree in economics, Trinity College Birthplace: New Haven Abul Islam President & CEO AI Engineers Inc. Industry: Engineering No. of employees: 350+ (U.S.), 70+ (internationally) Annual revenue: $90 million Education: Bachelor's degree in civil engineering, NED University (Karachi, Pakistan); master's in civil engineer- ing, City College of New York Birthplace: Karachi, Pakistan Dr. Reid Waldman CEO & Board Member Veradermics Industry: Dermatology & Pharmaceutical No. of employees: 23 Education: Bachelor's degree and medical degree, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 6-Year BA/ MD Program; dermatology residency, UConn Birthplace: Overland Park, Kansas Book recommendation: "Table for 5: A Father's Story of Life, Love and Loss" by Ted Yang Hobby or leisure activity: Spending time with family and friends, boating, snowmobiling and working out. NOMINATION DEADLINE: JULY 10 Celebrate the exceptional leaders in the healthcare industry by nominating them for the prestigious Health Care Heroes Awards! These statewide honors shine a spotlight on individuals and organizations who embody the true spirit of heroism in healthcare. MAJOR SPONSORS NOMINATIONS OPEN! NOMINATIONS OPEN! SCAN TO LEARN MORE & NOMINATE OR VISIT HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM/HBJ-EVENTS RECOGNIZE A HERO TODAY!