South Asian Leaders Shine in TIME100 2025 and TIME100 AI 2025: TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025 list celebrates global innovators, change-makers, and visionaries. This year, several South Asian leaders have earned prominent spots, spanning social entrepreneurship, biotechnology, artificial intelligence, climate action, creative tech, and inclusive language systems. Their contributions are shaping industries, communities, and global conversations.
TIME100 2025: Global Leaders
Muhammad Yunus — Champion of Social Business
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus continues to inspire with his groundbreaking work in microfinance and social entrepreneurship.
His initiatives empower marginalized communities worldwide, demonstrating the power of sustainable economic solutions. Yunus’s inclusion in TIME100 2025 honors decades of transformative impact.
Reshma Kewalramani — Pioneering Biotech Leadership
Reshma Kewalramani has made history as the first female CEO of a large, public U.S. biotechnology company. After immigrating from India at age 11, she climbed the ranks at Vertex Pharmaceuticals, serving as chief medical officer before becoming CEO. Her mantra, “If it sounds crazy or impossible, that’s OK—it’s only because no one has done it before,” epitomizes bold leadership in science and innovation.
TIME100 AI 2025: Innovators in Artificial Intelligence
Ravi Kumar S — Architect of Sentient Enterprises
As CEO of Cognizant, Ravi Kumar S is redefining organizational design with AI-led sentient enterprises—agile, networked teams guided by AI with humans in the loop.
By investing billions in generative AI and context engineering, Kumar is building adaptable organizations capable of evolving with shifting priorities.
Maithra Raghu — Transforming Finance with AI
Co-founder and CEO of Samaya AI, Maithra Raghu empowers Wall Street analysts with AI tools that generate reports, summarize decks, and analyze market impacts.
Her leadership ensures AI is trusted and scalable in finance, revolutionizing a sector long dependent on traditional methods.
Navrina Singh — Governing AI Responsibly
Founder of Credo AI, Navrina Singh ensures AI innovation goes hand in hand with governance. Her platform detects bias, compliance gaps, and security issues, helping businesses maintain trust.
Singh’s advisory roles at the U.S. Department of Commerce, OECD, and the U.N. AI Advisory Board underline her global influence in responsible AI deployment.
Priya Donti — AI for Climate Action
Priya Donti, co-founder of Climate Change AI, equips thousands of professionals to use AI in renewable energy integration and smarter power grids.
Her work addresses real-time climate challenges, emphasizing adoption and practical solutions over theoretical research.
Kakul Srivastava — Integrating AI with Musical Creativity
CEO of Splice, Kakul Srivastava ensures AI enhances rather than replaces artistry. Splice’s extensive library, used in hits like Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso, empowers musicians to experiment creatively.
Srivastava bridges technology with human creativity, offering tools that amplify artistic expression.
Mitesh Khapra — Democratizing AI for Indian Languages
Associate professor at IIT Madras, Mitesh Khapra leads AI4Bharat, collecting thousands of hours of voice data across India’s 500 districts to train AI for 22 official languages.
His research ensures AI inclusivity, helping underrepresented communities access language technology on par with English speakers.
A Collective Legacy
Together, these leaders demonstrate the global impact of South Asian innovators. From social entrepreneurship and biotechnology to AI governance, climate solutions, and creative technology, their inclusion in TIME100 2025 and TIME100 AI 2025 underscores the growing influence of Desi voices in shaping the future.
