10 Indian American Women On Forbes 50 Over 50 List

NEW YORK, NY (IANS) – As many as 10 Indian American women have earned their place on the Forbes 50 Over 50 List, showcasing their accomplishments across diverse domains such as gender equality, financing book clubs, and investing in sustainable seafood extraction. They share the space with notable achievers like Oscar-winning Hollywood star Jamie Lee Curtis, US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, Republican Party presidential hopeful Nikki Haley, and Adena Friedman, Chair and CEO of Nasdaq.

The list comprises 200 women categorized into groups of 50, each representing four distinct areas: Lifestyle, featuring Jamie Lee Curtis as a prominent figure.

Impact, led by Raimondo and Harvard University President Claudine Gay. Innovation, headlined by Peggy Whitson, the first woman to command the International Space Station and holder of the record for the most days (675) spent in space. Investment, topped by Nancy Pfund, an early supporter of electric-car manufacturer Tesla.

The largest representation of Indian American women appears in the Investment list, including:

Geeta Aiyer, founder and president of Boston Common Asset Management, a sustainable investment firm with $5 billion in assets under management (AUM).

Mala Gaonkar, founder of SurgoCap Partners, a New York investment firm focusing on disruptive technologies.

Ranji Nagaswami, chief strategy officer of Strategic Value Partners, a global investment company managing nearly $18 billion in private credit.

Purnima Puri, governing partner at HPS Investment Partners, a $100 billion-AUM global investment firm, where she leads the company’s $22-billion liquid credit business.

In the Impact category, where well-known figures such as feminist writer Gloria Steinem and Fulton County District Attorney Fanni Willis are featured, the three Indian Americans honored are:

Sarita Mohanty, CEO and president of The SCAN Foundation, a California-based healthcare nonprofit.

Ghazal Qureishi, founder of UpBrainery Technologies, expanding online education through AI and machine learning.

S. Mona Sinha, global executive director of Equality Now, an NGO advocating for women’s and girls’ rights and protection worldwide.

On the Lifestyle list, Alka Joshi shares recognition with notable figures such as Jamie Lee Curtis, Viola Davis, Annie Leibowitz, and Lisa Vanderpump. Notably, Alka Joshi gained prominence in 2020 when her debut novel, ‘The Henna Artist,’ became a global phenomenon, earning a spot on the ‘New York Times’ bestseller list and being adapted into a television series by Netflix.

In the Innovation category, which includes Nobel Prize winner Carolyn Bertozzi and Oracle CEO Safra Catz, two Indian Americans are celebrated:

Monica Jain, founder and executive director of Fish 2.0 and Manta Consulting Inc., fostering a network focused on ocean conservation and sustainable seafood.

Padmasree Warrior, founder-CEO of Fable, a platform for social reading and book clubs, who also serves on the boards of Microsoft and Spotify and maintains a significant presence on Twitter.