Reshma Kewalramani, born in Mumbai and now leading Vertex Pharmaceuticals, has been honored by Fortune magazine as one of the 100 Most Powerful People in Business. Making her debut on the prestigious list, she secured the 62nd position, standing among a select group of global leaders shaping the future of industries.
Kewalramani holds the distinction of being the first woman to head a major biotechnology company in the United States. Trained as a physician, she transitioned from her role as Chief Medical Officer, which she held from 2017, to become CEO in April 2020. Fortune praised her for bringing a doctor’s insight into corporate leadership, highlighting her ability to bridge medical expertise with strategic business decisions.
Since she assumed leadership, Vertex—valued at over $110 billion—has marked several groundbreaking achievements. Most notably, the firm recently gained FDA approval for Journavx, the first opioid-free pain medication in more than 20 years, setting a new milestone in pain management. The company is also widely respected for its innovative treatments for cystic fibrosis and for advancing cutting-edge gene-editing solutions for conditions such as sickle cell disease and beta thalassemia.
Kewalramani’s inclusion in the Power 100 list places her alongside other high-profile Indian and Indian-origin executives, including Microsoft’s Satya Nadella at number 2, Google’s Sundar Pichai at number 6, YouTube’s Neal Mohan at number 83, Reliance Industries’ Mukesh Ambani at number 56, and Adani Group’s Gautam Adani at number 96. The ranking is led by Nvidia’s Jensen Huang.
Relocating to the United States at the age of 11, Kewalramani pursued her medical degree at Boston University, followed by medical training at Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Further strengthening her business acumen, she completed the General Management Program at Harvard Business School.
Her journey reflects not only professional excellence but also the growing influence of diverse leaders at the forefront of global innovation.
