Compiled From News Dispatches
Chicago: TIME magazine has unveiled its 2025 TIME100 Next list, a showcase of 100 emerging leaders around the world who are shaping innovation, advocacy, culture, health, and business. Among the global honorees are three Indian-Americans whose groundbreaking work in technology, climate innovation, and health has placed them on a global platform: Shreya Murthy, Shantanu Agarwal, and Neil M. Vora. Each of them represents the spirit of resilience, creativity, and forward-looking leadership that the TIME100 Next list celebrates.
Shreya Murthy, co-founder and CEO of the New York-based startup Partiful, has been honored in the innovators category. Her company, launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, has quickly become a favorite among young people seeking easier ways to plan and attend social gatherings. The app streamlines invitations and event coordination through simple text messaging and has already attracted millions of users, establishing itself as one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies of 2025. A Princeton graduate and first-generation American, Murthy has been praised for reimagining digital tools to encourage real-life social connections in an era where technology often keeps people apart. Her work underlines how innovation can restore community bonds at a time when digital fatigue is widespread.
Shantanu Agarwal has been recognized in the leaders category for his pioneering climate solutions. As the founder of Houston-based Mati Carbon, Agarwal has been working to revive and modernize ancient soil practices to capture carbon while boosting agricultural yields. His approach has the potential to not only mitigate climate change but also support farming communities across the globe. An alumnus of IIT Roorkee and Harvard Business School, Agarwal recently secured a $50 million XPRIZE for carbon removal, an achievement that puts him and his company at the forefront of global decarbonization efforts. His recognition signals the importance of scalable, nature-inspired technologies in the fight against climate change, positioning him as a vital leader in the ongoing transition to a sustainable future.
Neil M. Vora, a physician and senior director for One Health at Conservation International, has been honored for his role in integrating human, animal, and environmental health into a unified strategy against pandemics. A Florida native with extensive experience advising U.S. government agencies, Vora co-founded the Preventing Pandemics at the Source Coalition, an organization that advocates for proactive conservation measures to stop outbreaks before they begin. His approach emphasizes how human health cannot be separated from the environment we live in, highlighting the connections between deforestation, wildlife, and zoonotic diseases. At a time when the world is still recovering from the COVID-19 crisis, Vora’s leadership represents a vital shift toward prevention and global preparedness.
The TIME100 Next list this year also celebrates three Indians for their contributions in sports, fintech, and culture: cricketer Yashasvi Jaiswal, Groww CEO Lalit Keshre, and designer Kartik Kumra. Their inclusion further highlights the global reach of Indian talent and its growing influence across industries. Together, the honorees represent not only professional excellence but also the ability to bridge cultures and inspire communities across continents.
TIME describes the list as an expansion of its flagship TIME100 franchise, aiming to recognize those who are not only shaping the present but also defining the future. “Everyone on this list is poised to make history, and many already have,” said Dan Macsai, editorial director of the TIME100. The magazine frames the honorees as visionaries and change-makers who embody the promise of the next generation.
The recognition of Murthy, Agarwal, and Vora underscores the deep impact of Indian-American voices in shaping technology, sustainability, and health on a global scale. They stand alongside a diverse group of leaders, from actors and advocates to entrepreneurs and scientists, all united by their ability to rethink traditional systems and chart new pathways. In honoring them, TIME is not only spotlighting individual achievement but also emphasizing the interconnectedness of innovation, culture, and human progress.
The presence of Indian-Americans in such influential spaces reflects a broader narrative of resilience and leadership across diasporic communities. Whether through Murthy’s effort to rebuild human connection in a digital world, Agarwal’s drive to heal the planet with ancient wisdom reimagined through modern science, or Vora’s commitment to a healthier, safer future for all, these honorees embody the values of adaptability, creativity, and responsibility. Their inclusion in the TIME100 Next list is both a recognition of their individual accomplishments and a reminder of the global impact of the Indian-American community.
In celebrating these three changemakers, the TIME100 Next list affirms that leadership is not confined to borders but rather thrives in the crosscurrents of cultures and ideas. As Murthy, Agarwal, and Vora continue their journeys, they stand as powerful examples of how innovation, rooted in empathy and vision, can reshape the world.
