TIME recognizes Yunus as one of the 100 most 'Influential People' of 2025

At 84, most people are thinking about retirement. Not Muhammad Yunus. The Bangladeshi Nobel Peace Prize winner just landed a spot on "TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2025" and for good reason.

Image Source: ROBERT F. KENNEDY HUMAN

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Already known for inventing microfinance and founding Grameen Bank (remember: small loans, big impact), Yunus is now being recognized for stepping into an even bigger role. After a student-led revolution ousted Bangladesh’s previous regime, Yunus was chosen as Chief Adviser to the interim government - basically, the wise captain steering the ship toward democracy.

Hillary Clinton, writing for TIME, called him the figure “restoring human rights, demanding accountability and laying the foundations for a just and free society.” Not a bad encore for someone who redefined global poverty solutions.

The TIME100 list, which includes leaders from 32 countries, 16 CEOs, and even six members of the Trump administration, celebrates those shaping our world. As TIME CEO Jessica Sibley put it, it honors people “defining the future.” No pressure.

It’s worth noting that this year’s TIME100 featured fewer South Asians than previous editions. In 2024, the list included powerhouses like Alia Bhatt, Satya Nadella, Dev Patel, and Marina Tabassum.

While 2025 saw fewer South Asian names on the list compared to recent years, the ones who did make it, like Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus and Vertex Pharmaceuticals CEO Reshma Kewalramani - are seismic in their influence. But if 2025’s list teaches us anything, it’s that influence doesn’t always need a crowd.