Mumbai-born woman among Fortune’s 100 most influential business leaders with Satya Nadella, Jensen Huang

Dr Reshma Kewalramani joined Vertex Pharmaceuticals in 2017 and was named the company’s Chief Medical Officer a year later.

Dr Reshma Kewalramani, the Mumbai-born physician-turned-pharmaceutical executive, has been named among the 100 most powerful figures in global business by Fortune magazine. Her inclusion places her in the company of such high-profile leaders as Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani.

The list, released by Fortune for only the second time, recognises individuals who are not only active in business but also wield measurable influence over their industry and beyond. Kewalramani, who ranked 62nd on this year’s list, became the first woman to lead a major US biotechnology firm when she was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in April 2020. This is her first appearance on the influential ranking.

Born in Mumbai, Kewalramani relocated to the United States with her family at the age of 11. She began her professional journey in medicine, practising at prestigious institutions including Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. After several years in clinical care, she transitioned to the pharmaceutical sector, where she held key leadership roles in research and development.

She joined Vertex Pharmaceuticals in 2017 and was named the company’s Chief Medical Officer a year later. In 2020, she was elevated to the position of CEO and also became a member of the company’s board of directors. Vertex, a Boston-based biotech firm, is currently valued at approximately $110 billion.

Kewalramani’s medical background has informed her leadership style and strategic vision for the company. Her impact was especially notable this year as Vertex secured approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its non-opioid pain medication, Journavx. The milestone was acknowledged by Fortune, which wrote:

“Reshma Kewalramani, who brings her experience as a licensed doctor to her leadership, took the helm as CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals in 2020, having previously served as the biopharma company’s chief medical officer.”

The Fortune 100 list aims to identify leaders who are actively shaping their organisations and, by extension, the future of business and technology. According to the magazine, inclusion is based not solely on financial metrics such as net worth, but more significantly on the capacity to influence decision-making, innovation, and societal impact.

“This list measures power and influence—and though net worth is a factor, we’re much more concerned with a leader’s ability to shape the thoughts and actions of those around them,” Fortune explained in its editorial note. “Billionaires no longer active in business, business unit leaders, politicians and regulators, as well as loud voices who don’t run substantive businesses do not qualify.”

Topping this year’s list is Jensen Huang, co-founder, president, and CEO of Nvidia, followed by Microsoft’s Satya Nadella, whose early investment in OpenAI has positioned Microsoft at the forefront of the artificial intelligence sector.

Other notable Indian and Indian-origin business leaders included on the list are Google CEO Sundar Pichai (ranked 6th), Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani (56th), YouTube CEO Neal Mohan (83rd), and industrialist Gautam Adani (96th).