The Andrew Carnegie Foundation has named four Indian-origin leaders among its 2026 “Great Immigrants, Great Americans” honourees, recognising their contributions to business, medicine, academia and science in the United States. The annual awards celebrate immigrants whose work has made a lasting impact on American society.
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The four Indian-origin honourees are Palo Alto Networks chairman and CEO Nikesh Arora, Harvard University professor Mahzarin Banaji, Harvard Medical School professor Sanjiv Chopra and Vertex Pharmaceuticals president and CEO Reshma Kewalramani. They feature alongside 22 other immigrants from countries including Scotland, Argentina, Sudan, Belgium and Canada.
The foundation announced the list on Tuesday, describing the award as a celebration of immigrants whose achievements have enriched the United States across fields ranging from technology and healthcare to education, arts and public service. This year's class also includes Citi CEO Jane Fraser, fashion designer Gabriela Hearst and Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Hernan Diaz and Cristina Rivera Garza.
Foundation president Dame Louise Richardson said the awards, first launched in 2006, were never intended to be political. However, she said recognising immigrants carries particular significance at a time when immigration has become a deeply contested issue in the US.
"We're not articulating it in response to this moment," Richardson told the Associated Press. "But it seems especially important at this moment that we celebrate immigrants and their contributions and also that we present a view of immigrants different from the ones so often portrayed in the media."
Richardson, herself a naturalised American born in Ireland, also voiced concern over growing opposition to legal immigration, particularly for highly skilled workers.
"That just strikes me as an act of self-harm on a national level," she said. "Because so many of these people are the engines of the economy."
The announcement comes amid continuing debate over US immigration policy under President Donald Trump, with the foundation maintaining that its focus remains on recognising the positive contributions immigrants have made to the country.
