Indian Americans Tara Raghuveer and Aadith Moorthy, along with filmmaker Payal Kapadia, British-Indian actress Ambika Mod, and British-Indian physician Dr. Mehreen Datoo, have been named in this year’s TIME100 Next, a prestigious annual list spotlighting emerging global leaders who are shaping the future. Joining them are Nepali LGBTQ activist Rukshana Kapali and Bangladeshi student activist Nahid Islam.
The TIME100 Next list, now in its fifth edition, was conceived to acknowledge the influence of leaders who are making significant impacts at an early stage in their lives. According to TIME, these leaders aren’t waiting for traditional power structures to dictate their influence. They are, instead, forging new paths and redefining what leadership looks like today. The list also highlights how leadership and influence no longer fit old molds. TIME emphasized that there are no age requirements for the list, just as leadership has no boundaries, noting that most of the honorees are people of color, and more than half are women.
Tara Raghuveer, the founding director of KC Tenants, is a prime example of this modern leadership. KC Tenants is a tenants’ union based in Kansas City, Missouri, focused on protecting the rights of poor and working-class renters. Raghuveer also serves as the Homes Guarantee Campaign Director for People’s Action, a national network of grassroots organizations advocating for racial, economic, gender, and climate justice. Born in Australia to Indian parents, Raghuveer moved to the U.S. with her family in 1995 and grew up in Kansas City.
Sara Nelson, the international president of the Association of Flight Attendants, described Raghuveer’s work as “remarkable.” Nelson explained that Raghuveer began her efforts by organizing with her neighbors in Kansas City and created a tenants union that has become a national leader in advocating for better renter protections. This year, Raghuveer expanded her influence by launching the Tenant Union Federation, which aims to support the development of similar tenant unions across the U.S. Nelson wrote, “Her organizing could impact millions and shift our national conversation about housing. And just as important—Tara has helped thousands embrace the power that’s available to all of us through solidarity.”
Aadith Moorthy, the founder and CEO of Boomitra, has gained recognition for his work tackling climate change while improving the livelihoods of farmers. Boomitra operates a verified carbon credit marketplace, which incentivizes farmers to restore their land and remove carbon emissions. Using advanced AI and satellite technology, the startup has achieved measurable results in both emission reductions and financial support for farmers. Moorthy, who is a Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholar and holds graduate degrees from Stanford University and bachelor’s degrees from the California Institute of Technology, founded Boomitra as a student at Stanford.
Jeremy Gantz, a writer and editor, highlighted Boomitra’s success, noting that the company has already helped farmers remove 10 million metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere. Moorthy aims to double this impact soon and distribute $200 million to marginalized farmers by 2025. A notable recent achievement was Boomitra’s partnership with the Mongolian government to sequester 1.3 million metric tons of CO2 annually, while also addressing desertification across 3 million acres. Gantz remarked, “Moorthy knows that change often begins with an uphill battle, but says the pursuit of solutions that could move the climate needle on a ‘planetary scale’ keeps him motivated.”
British-Indian actress Ambika Mod also earned a spot on the list for her portrayal of Emma Morley in Netflix’s popular adaptation of David Nicholls’ 2009 bestseller, One Day. The 14-episode series, which captures the slow-burning relationship between Emma and Dexter Mayhew, resonated with global audiences. In her essay about Mod, writer and producer Mindy Kaling praised the actress for her multifaceted performance. Kaling noted, “Ambika’s character, Emma, is at the heart of this sweeping love story, which had the distinction of making millions of people weep uncontrollably, internationally.” Beyond the emotional impact, Kaling was also struck by Mod’s humor, describing her portrayal of Emma as “cynical, goofy, vulnerable, and sexy.” Kaling concluded, “I was immediately googling Ambika to find out more. And I think that’s when I knew I was a fan for life.”
Indian filmmaker Payal Kapadia has made a significant mark with her film All We Imagine as Light, which won the Grand Prix at the Cannes Film Festival. The Malayalam-Hindi film explores themes of sisterhood in contemporary Mumbai and follows the intertwined lives of two women navigating personal and societal challenges. Actor Ayushmann Khurrana, who contributed to TIME’s essay on Kapadia, described her as a “trailblazer” and said her film was a “master class of emotions—deeply reflective, philosophical, and meditative.” Khurrana also expressed his admiration for Kapadia’s ability to depict authentic human experiences, stating, “Her authenticity and her lens on reality are part of what makes her work so rare.” Khurrana also pointed out that Kapadia’s Cannes win was a significant milestone for Indian cinema, which he believes will inspire many filmmakers to pursue their dreams.
Dr. Mehreen Datoo, a British-Indian physician, played a pivotal role in the clinical development of the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine, which is now being administered to children in sub-Saharan Africa. This vaccine is expected to be a “game-changer” in the fight against malaria, a disease that claimed 608,000 lives in 2022, three-quarters of whom were children under five. Dr. Adrian Hill, director of the Jenner Institute, praised Datoo’s contributions, noting that her work with teams across multiple continents has been central to the vaccine’s success. Hill emphasized that the vaccine would have a transformative impact on global health, particularly for children and their communities in malaria-endemic regions. He wrote, “Her team’s efforts will help reduce the incidence of malaria globally, as well as have a direct impact on the health and quality of life of children and their families.”
Nepali LGBTQ activist Rukshana Kapali is also among the emerging leaders recognized by TIME. A transgender woman and law student from the Newa Indigenous nation, Kapali has been at the forefront of legal battles to secure greater protections for Nepal’s transgender community. Since 2021, she has filed over 50 cases against the Nepalese government, pushing for policy changes. While many of these cases remain unresolved, her first victory in 2022 granted her full legal recognition as a woman, setting a legal precedent for future cases. Kapali remarked, “Suing them and holding them accountable in the court of law is also saying that we are not stoppable and we’ll keep on fighting.”
Finally, Bangladeshi student activist Nahid Islam is recognized for his role in mobilizing protests against Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Islam, who became a well-known figure after enduring torture by the country’s intelligence services, was instrumental in the student movement that called for Hasina’s resignation. Following weeks of protests, Hasina fled Bangladesh in August 2024. Islam is now serving as one of two Gen Z ministers in the interim government, where he is working to repair Bangladesh’s democratic system. “We should understand the pulse of the new generation,” Islam said, emphasizing the need to end political violence in the country and focus on moving forward.
These individuals, each in their own field, represent the next generation of global leadership, as highlighted by the TIME100 Next list. They are reshaping the future and proving that leadership today is more diverse, inclusive, and impactful than ever before.