Indian-Origin Women Recognised at 2025 Global Changemaker Awards
San Francisco, California, USA: The 2025 Women Changing the World Awards celebrated remarkable women making an impact in leadership, health, innovation, education, entrepreneurship, and social change, highlighting several achievers of Indian descent.
Among this year’s honorees, Indian-American leaders Inika Mehra and Jyothi Vemu received notable recognition for their contributions to public health advocacy and STEM education.
Inika Mehra, who currently holds the title of Miss San Francisco and founded the PCOS Alliance, earned an honorable mention in the “Emerging Leader of the Year” category. A graduate of UC Irvine, Mehra is certified in Ayurveda and energy kinesiology and has developed transformative programs serving over 100 patients at The Sanctuary. She is also preparing to release an eBook addressing stress, anxiety, and self-healing.
Mehra claimed the Miss San Francisco crown in her very first pageant, after less than a month of preparation. Since then, she has become a prominent advocate for women’s health, speaking at conferences, raising more than $6,000 through a handmade cosmetics line and Bollywood dance fundraisers, and leading initiatives to integrate PCOS education into schools. Her long-term mission is to bring global attention to PCOS as a public health priority rather than a misunderstood condition.
Jyothi Vemu, founder and CEO of Futurebytes, was also recognized in this year’s awards. As a STEM educator and community leader, Vemu has received accolades including Success Magazine’s 2024 Top 25 Change Makers. She has guided Futurebytes in expanding hands-on programs in robotics, coding, and AI for students across California and launched a $50,000 scholarship program supporting girls in STEM, especially in underserved communities.
With professional experience spanning teaching, research, and entrepreneurship in both India and the United States, Vemu continues to advocate for equitable access to technology education while mentoring young learners.
Other Indian-origin women honored at the 2025 awards include:
Romaa Rajadhyaksha – 3rd Place, Emerging Entrepreneur of the Year
Vani K Nades – 3rd Place, Emerging Leader of the Year; 1st Place, Tech Leader of the Year
Anjlee Prakash – 3rd Place, Global Impact
Farzia Khan, CISSP – 2nd Place, Tech Leader of the Year
Geeta Sidhu-Robb – 2nd Place, Woman of the Year Award
Ruby Sibal – 3rd Place, Women in Health
Manasi Murthy Mittinty – Honourable Mention, Wellness & Wellbeing Services
The awards honor women driving meaningful change across diverse sectors and provide regional winners the chance to compete on a global stage at the Paris ceremony in April 2026. The program emphasizes its commitment to “elevate, celebrate, connect, and support women as changemakers, trailblazers, and leaders,” in alignment with the United Nations’ goals for gender equality and global development.
