Several Indian-origin women have been celebrated among this year’s winners of the 2025 Global Changemaker Awards, an international program honoring women making significant impacts in areas such as leadership, health, innovation, education, entrepreneurship, and social change. These awards spotlight women driving transformational progress across industries and regions.
Two Indian-American women who stood out are Inika Mehra and Jyothi Vemu. Inika Mehra, who is the reigning Miss San Francisco and founder of the PCOS Alliance, received an honorable mention in the ‘Emerging Leader of the Year’ category. A graduate of UC Irvine with certifications in Ayurveda and energy kinesiology, Mehra has designed transformation programs helping over 100 patients and authored an upcoming eBook addressing stress, anxiety, and self-healing. Remarkably, she won the Miss San Francisco title in her very first pageant after less than a month of preparation, becoming a prominent advocate for women’s health. Her initiatives include speaking at key panels, raising funds through handmade cosmetics and Bollywood dance events for underserved communities, and campaigning to include PCOS education in school curriculums. Her long-term goal is to elevate PCOS from a misunderstood condition to a global public health priority.
Jyothi Vemu, founder and CEO of Futurebytes, was also honored for her contributions. Recognized among Success Magazine’s 2024 Top 25 Change Makers, Vemu leads Futurebytes in offering hands-on STEM education programs in robotics, coding, and AI across California. Her organization has launched a $50,000 scholarship dedicated to supporting girls pursuing STEM education, particularly from underserved communities. With a background in teaching, research, and entrepreneurship spanning both India and the United States, Vemu remains a vocal advocate for equitable access to technology education, partnering with schools and organizations to foster this cause.
Additional Indian-origin women were recognized across various award categories, underscoring the breadth of impact by this community. Among them are Romaa Rajadhyaksha, who secured 3rd place in Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year; Vani K Nades, awarded 3rd place Emerging Leader of the Year and 1st place Tech Leader of the Year; Anjlee Prakash for 3rd place in Global Impact; Farzia Khan (CISSP) for 2nd place Tech Leader of the Year; Geeta Sidhu-Robb, 2nd place Woman of the Year; Ruby Sibal, 3rd place Women in Health; and Manasi Murthy Mittinty, who received an honorable mention in Wellness & Wellbeing Services.
The Women Changing the World Awards aim to elevate, celebrate, connect, and support women leaders in their journeys as changemakers, trailblazers, and pioneers. This global recognition program aligns with the United Nations’ emphasis on gender equality as a vital pillar for achieving sustainable development goals worldwide. Winners of regional awards will have the opportunity to represent their areas at the global ceremony scheduled for April 2026 in Paris.
