Fortune has unveiled its inaugural 2024 list of the 100 Most Powerful People in Business, and six Indian Americans have secured their place among the world’s top leaders.

This prestigious ranking celebrates influential individuals across 40 industries whose decisions and innovations have significantly shaped the global business landscape.

Indian American leaders such as Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai were recognized for their strategic vision and impactful contributions. 

Joining them on the list are Adobe CEO Shantanu Narayen, YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, Khosla Ventures founder Vinod Khosla, and e.l.f. Beauty CEO Tarang Amin.

The list, topped by Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, honors leaders who, according to Fortune, possess the ability to shape the thoughts and actions of those around them through their words, deeds, and wealth.

Indian industrialist Mukesh Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries, is the only India-based business leader on the list.

1) Satya Nadella: Leading Microsoft Through Transformations

Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO of Microsoft, has been instrumental in steering the tech giant through two major transitions: moving from personal computing to the cloud and now focusing on artificial intelligence.

Fortune credits Nadella’s early investment in OpenAI as a game-changer, positioning Microsoft as a global leader in AI. Under his leadership, the company’s market capitalization has surged to $3.1 trillion.

Products like Azure and GitHub Copilot have redefined productivity and innovation, cementing Microsoft’s dominance in cloud and AI markets.

2) Sundar Pichai: Shaping Alphabet’s Future

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai oversees a conglomerate that includes Google, YouTube, Android, and Waymo, with a market valuation exceeding $2 trillion. Despite regulatory challenges and the rapid rise of generative AI, Pichai has taken bold steps to keep Alphabet ahead of the curve.

In 2023, Alphabet generated $74 billion in profits. Pichai’s recent reorganization of the company’s AI teams and a $2.7 billion acquisition of Character.AI underscore his commitment to innovation and adaptability in an evolving tech landscape.

3) Shantanu Narayen: Redefining Creativity at Adobe

As CEO and Chairman of Adobe, Shantanu Narayen has transformed the company into a leader in creative software and AI-driven tools. Adobe introduced over 100 new AI features across its creative cloud suite this year, reinforcing the company’s commitment to empowering creators.

Under Narayen’s leadership since 2007, Adobe’s annual revenue has grown from $3 billion to $19 billion, making it a key player in both creative and AI technology sectors.

4) Neal Mohan: Driving YouTube’s Growth

Neal Mohan, who became YouTube’s CEO in 2023, has made significant strides in expanding the platform’s influence. He has championed YouTube Shorts, introducing AI features and revenue-sharing programs to compete with TikTok and Instagram Reels.

YouTube Music and Premium now boast over 100 million subscribers, and YouTube TV has surpassed 8 million paid subscribers, solidifying Mohan’s leadership in the digital content arena.

5) Vinod Khosla: A Visionary Investor in AI and Sustainability

Vinod Khosla, the founder of Khosla Ventures, is a Silicon Valley icon known for his foresight in investing in transformative technologies. His firm’s $50 million investment in OpenAI in 2019 has paid off as AI becomes a driving force in global innovation.

Khosla, who co-founded Sun Microsystems, remains an influential voice in predicting AI’s impact on the workforce and advocating for sustainability-focused startups.

6) Tarang Amin: Disrupting the Beauty Industry

Tarang Amin, CEO and Chairman of e.l.f. Beauty, has redefined the beauty industry by making high-quality products affordable and accessible.

Under his leadership, the company has achieved 22 consecutive quarters of sales growth and generated over $1 billion in revenue in fiscal 2024.

Amin’s acquisition of skincare brand Naturium for $355 million highlights his strategic approach to growth in a competitive market.

How does the Selection of These Indian-Americans Impact the South Asian community?

The recognition of six Indian Americans in Fortune’s 2024 list of the 100 Most Powerful People in Business marks a proud moment for the South Asian community in the USA.

It underscores the community’s significant contributions to diverse fields such as technology, venture capital, and beauty, reinforcing their reputation as innovators and leaders on a global scale.

This achievement inspires the younger generation of South Asians, providing them with influential role models who exemplify the rewards of hard work, resilience, and ambition.

As the achievements of these leaders gain international attention, they spotlight the transformative role of the South Asian community in America’s success story.

This recognition serves not only as a moment of celebration but also as a call to action for greater contributions to the global stage.