Recently named one of TIME magazine’s ‘Woman of the Year’, Mumbai-born physician-turned-CEO Reshma Kewalramani has emerged as one of the most influential leaders in global biotechnology sector.
At just 11 years old, Kewalramani moved to the United States with her family, who left Mumbai in search of better opportunities and eventually settled in Long Island.
Her father managed a small clothing and electronics shop in Manhattan, where a young Reshma would often spend time helping behind the counter.
Academically gifted, she graduated with top honours from Boston University in 1998 and went on to train as a kidney specialist.
She later pursued medical research at institutions affiliated with Harvard Medical School, building a strong foundation in both medicine and science.
In 2004, Kewalramani was offered a role with the research and development team at Amgen in California. Moving for the job meant being away from her six-month-old twin sons.
Nevertheless, she chose to pursue the opportunity and spent the next 12 years at Amgen, where her work and leadership earned her the role of vice president.
A major milestone in her career came in April 2020, when she was appointed as CEO of Vertex Pharmaceuticals.
Since then, Vertex has seen remarkable growth. The company’s market value has risen significantly from about USD 69 billion to nearly USD 120 billion in just five years.
Beyond financial success, Vertex has also played an important role in advancing scientific breakthroughs in biotech treatments worldwide.
Reshma Kewalramani has also been featured on Fortune’s list of 100 most powerful women.
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