Reshma Kewalramani, who was born in Mumbai and is now the CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals, has been named one of the 100 Most Powerful People in Business by Fortune magazine for 2025. She ranks number 62 on the list and is the only Indian-origin woman leading a major biotechnology company in the US to be included this year.
The list also features well-known business leaders like Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadella, and Mukesh Ambani. Reshma’s inclusion is a big achievement for women in science and healthcare industries.
Who is Reshma Kewalramani?
Reshma moved from Mumbai to the United States when she was 11 years old. She became a doctor and worked at famous hospitals like Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Her experience as a doctor helped her understand patient care deeply.
In 2020, she became the first woman to lead a major US biotechnology company. She joined Vertex Pharmaceuticals in 2017, became Chief Medical Officer in 2018, and was made CEO in 2020. This was a major step for women in a field mostly led by men.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals’ Growth Under Reshma
Since Reshma became CEO, Vertex Pharmaceuticals has grown to be worth $110 billion. The company is famous for its work on cystic fibrosis treatments and is working on new medicines for rare diseases.
In 2025, Vertex received FDA approval for a new non-opioid pain medicine called Journavx. This is important because it helps fight the opioid crisis, which has affected millions of people worldwide.
Reshma’s background as a doctor gives her a special advantage. She understands both medicine and business, which helps her make better decisions that focus on patients first.
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Fortune’s List of Powerful Business Leaders
Fortune’s list highlights people who influence the business world and bring new ideas. Some of the top leaders this year are:
- Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia (Rank 1)
- Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft (Rank 2)
- Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google (Rank 6)
- Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries (Rank 56)
- Neal Mohan, CEO of YouTube (Rank 83)
- Gautam Adani, Industrialist (Rank 96)
Although Reshma Kewalramani is not yet a widely known name, her work is changing many lives. Her leadership is quiet but powerful, focusing on important science, global health, and promoting diversity in business leadership. This is her first time on Fortune’s list, showing that her impact is being recognized worldwide—not just in business, but also in helping humanity through science.
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