25 Manhattan influencers you need to know

Behind every elected official is a team of advisers and appointees. Take a closer look at the biggest legislative battles, and there are often well-connected industry executives seeking to shape or stall the final bill. Follow the flow of taxpayer dollars and you’ll find an array of nonprofit service providers carrying out much of the on-the-ground work of government.

These individuals are not elected, but often they are just as powerful as the officials that voters put into office. In this list, we put the spotlight on these behind-the-scenes players – “The Influentials.”

The first installment of a borough-by-borough breakdown, this list of Influentials focuses on five of the most important sectors in Manhattan: banking and finance, law and lobbying, nonprofits and philanthropy, real estate and technology. In the coming weeks and months, we’ll turn our attention to their counterparts in the other four boroughs.

RELATED: 25 Brooklyn influencers you need to know

In Manhattan, you’ll meet Mayor Bill de Blasio’s most trusted legal advisers, top aides to the city’s most well-known executives, the most politically connected bankers on Wall Street, and more. We recognize their accomplishments, their dedication and their drive.

– Five Manhattan tech and start-up influencers you need to know.

– Five Manhattan real estate influencers you need to know.

– Five Manhattan nonprofit and philanthropy influencers you need to know.

– Five Manhattan law and lobbying influencers you need to know.

– Five Manhattan banking and finance influencers you need to know.