Time magazine has selected 16 women for its 2026 Women of the Year project, recognising leaders who are working to build a more equal world and address some of the most pressing challenges faced by women and girls. Among those honoured this year are three women of Indian and Indian-origin background whose work spans education, healthcare innovation, and childcare advocacy. The initiative highlights both globally known personalities and grassroots leaders driving transformative change.
The Women of the Year project, launched in 2020, celebrates individuals who are shaping society through resilience, leadership, and impact. Actress Teyana Taylor appears on the cover following her performance in the film One Battle After Disrespect. The list also includes figures such as Isata Dumbuya, who led the creation of Sierra Leone’s first maternity centre, and Sister Norma Pimentel, known for humanitarian work along the US–Mexico border. The 2026 edition underscores the diversity of leadership, drawing attention to women working across continents and sectors.
Among the honourees, Safina Hussain, Reshma Kewalramani, and Reshma Saujani stand out for their contributions rooted in personal experience and professional determination. Each has translated individual challenges into large-scale impact, influencing policy, science, and social systems.
Safina Hussain: Expanding educational access for millions of girls
Safina Hussain’s journey from a childhood marked by poverty, violence, and interrupted schooling to becoming a nationally recognised education advocate is central to her story. She founded Educate Girls in Mumbai with the mission of bringing out-of-school girls back into classrooms, particularly in rural and underserved regions of India. Her work is grounded in the belief that education is the most powerful tool for social transformation.
Last year, her organisation succeeded in bringing 2 million girls from Indian villages back to school, surpassing its target of 1.5 million. This milestone earned global recognition and the Ramon Magsaysay Award, often referred to as Asia’s Nobel Prize, making Educate Girls the first non-governmental organisation to receive the honour. Hussain’s advocacy extends beyond enrolment numbers; she focuses on community engagement, behavioural change, and long-term educational retention.
In her book Every Last Girl, she introduces the character Antimbala as a symbolic representation of girls whose voices have been ignored or silenced. Hussain has often said that no girl aspires to a life of early marriage or child labour, but instead seeks the opportunity to learn and build a future. Her approach blends grassroots mobilisation with measurable outcomes, demonstrating how targeted intervention can shift deeply entrenched social norms.
Reshma Kewalramani: Transforming biotechnology and expanding global healthcare access
Reshma Kewalramani has redefined leadership in the biotechnology sector as the first female chief executive officer of Vertex Pharmaceuticals. Trained as a kidney specialist, she moved from clinical medicine into corporate leadership with a focus on translating scientific breakthroughs into accessible treatments.
Under her leadership, Vertex has expanded free access to its costly cystic fibrosis medicines in 14 countries, including India, broadening the reach of life-saving therapies. The company also introduced the first CRISPR-based gene-editing therapy for sickle cell disease, marking a significant milestone in medical innovation. This breakthrough represents a new frontier in treating inherited conditions at the genetic level.
Kewalramani has emphasised that the purpose of medicine extends beyond profit margins to the fundamental goal of saving lives. Her current work includes advancing treatments aimed at curing diabetes and kidney disease, conditions that affect millions worldwide. By combining scientific rigor with social responsibility, she exemplifies a model of corporate leadership that integrates innovation with ethical commitment.
Reshma Saujani: Advocating for childcare reform and empowering young women
Reshma Saujani’s career bridges politics, technology, and social activism. The daughter of refugees, she became the first Indian-American woman to run for US Congress, challenging traditional political boundaries. Although she did not win the election, her campaign amplified conversations about representation and systemic reform.
Saujani went on to found Girls Who Code, an organisation dedicated to closing the gender gap in technology. Through coding programs and community initiatives, the organisation has supported 760,000 girls, equipping them with digital skills and confidence. Recognising the structural barriers that women face beyond education, she later launched Moms First, an initiative advocating for affordable childcare policies across the United States and universal childcare in New York City.
Her advocacy challenges societal expectations that encourage perfection in girls while celebrating risk-taking in boys. Saujani argues that genuine equality requires teaching girls to embrace courage and resilience rather than fear failure. She often states that real strength lies not in constant victory but in the determination to stand up after setbacks. Her work connects economic policy, gender equity, and cultural transformation.
A broader vision of leadership and equality
The 2026 Women of the Year list reflects a wide spectrum of influence, from entertainment and humanitarian aid to education reform and biomedical innovation. By recognising leaders from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds, Time underscores the interconnected nature of global challenges. Whether expanding access to schooling, advancing gene-editing therapies, or advocating for childcare reform, the honourees share a common commitment to equity and empowerment.
The inclusion of three Indian-origin women highlights the global footprint of the Indian diaspora in shaping social progress. Their achievements span continents but remain deeply connected to questions of inclusion, access, and dignity. The recognition affirms how leadership rooted in lived experience can translate into measurable change at scale.
Through this annual project, Time continues to spotlight stories that challenge barriers and reimagine systems. The 2026 list serves as both recognition and reminder that progress often begins with individuals who transform adversity into action and extend opportunity to those left behind.
