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Indian-origin women shine in 2025 Global Changemaker Awards
The international program honors women driving impact in leadership, health, innovation, education, entrepreneurship, and social change.
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Staff Reporter - Thu, 13, Nov 2025
- 16:07 EST
- 14
Inika Mehra/ Jyothi Vemu / inikamehra.com/ LinkedIn
The Women Changing the World 2025 Awards announced this year’s global cohort of winners, with several Indian-origin achievers earning distinctions across categories.
The international program honors women driving impact in leadership, health, innovation, education, entrepreneurship, and social change.
Also Read: Indian-origin researchers win Schmidt Sciences AI2050 fellowships
Among the honorees, two Indian-American winners—Inika Mehra and Jyothi Vemu—stood out for their work in public health advocacy and STEM education.
Inika Mehra, reigning Miss San Francisco and founder of the PCOS Alliance, received an honorable mention in the ‘Emerging Leader of the Year’ category.
Mehra, a UC Irvine graduate certified in Ayurveda and energy kinesiology, has designed transformation programs for more than 100 patients at The Sanctuary and authored an upcoming eBook on stress, anxiety, and self-healing.
She captured the Miss San Francisco title in her first-ever pageant, held after less than a month of preparation, and has since become a visible voice in women’s health.
Mehra has spoken at major panels and conferences, raised over $6,000 through her handmade cosmetics line and Bollywood dance fundraisers for underserved communities, and launched campaigns to integrate PCOS education into schools.
Her long-term objective is to reposition PCOS from a misunderstood disorder to a global public health priority.
Jyothi Vemu, founder and CEO of Futurebytes, was also honored in this year’s cohort. A STEM educator, community leader, and recipient of Success Magazine’s 2024 Top 25 Change Makers recognition, Vemu has led Futurebytes in expanding hands-on programs in robotics, coding, and AI for young learners across California.
Her initiative has introduced a $50,000 scholarship to support girls in STEM and has extended learning access to underserved communities.
With experience spanning teaching, research, and entrepreneurship in India and the United States, Vemu continues to work as a STEM advocate and mentor, collaborating with schools and organizations to promote equitable access to technology education.
The 2025 list also includes other Indian-origin winners across multiple categories:
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Romaa Rajadhyaksha – 3rd Place, Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year
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Vani K Nades – 3rd Place, Emerging Leader of the Year; 1st Place, Tech Leader of the Year
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Anjlee Prakash – 3rd Place, Global Impact
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Farzia Khan, CISSP – 2nd Place, Tech Leader of the Year
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Geeta Sidhu-Robb – 2nd Place, Woman of the Year Award
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Ruby Sibal – 3rd Place, Women in Health
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Manasi Murthy Mittinty – Honourable Mention, Wellness & Wellbeing Services
The Women Changing the World Awards recognize women leading meaningful change across industries and regions. Winners of regional awards will have the opportunity to represent their regions at the global ceremony in Paris in April 2026.
The program notes that its mission is to “elevate, celebrate, connect, and support women in their journey as changemakers, trailblazers, and leaders,” aligning with the United Nations’ emphasis on gender equality as essential to achieving global development goals.
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