ASIA GAME
CHANGER AWARDS
Bill
Clinton Presents Indra Nooyi with Game Changer of the Year Award
in Dazzling Ceremony
In
a spectacular ceremony held at lower Manhattan's Cipriani on
Tuesday, Asia Society recognized Indra Nooyi, chairman and
former CEO of PepsiCo for her extraordinary tenure at the helm
of the iconic American corporation. Introduced by former U.S.
President Bill
Clinton — who called her "the real deal" —
the India-born Nooyi delivered an acceptance speech that cited her
pride in running an enterprise championing women, sustainability,
health, and wellness. "I believe that a company has to be more
than creating value for shareholders, but for society as a
whole," she said.
In addition to Nooyi, Asia Society honored eight other individuals
and groups: Wang
Shi, the Chinese real estate developer and advocate for
environmental sustainability; Mira Rai, child soldier
turned champion distance runner from Nepal; Munjed Al Muderis,
a doctor who fled Iraq only to become a pioneering surgeon in
Australia; the founders of Koolulam, a musical
initiative buildings bridges through song in Israel; the remarkable,
award-winning Afghan
Girls Robotics Team; heroes who saved lives during
Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster; the incomparably brave and
determined White
Helmets of Syria; and, in their first-ever appearance
on American soil, survivors from this summer’s incredible rescue at
Thailand’s Tham Luang caves.
The fifth annual Asia Game Changers awards were a celebration of
remarkable people from a vast array of ages, professions, and
nationalities. But, as President Clinton said: "Our differences
make life interesting — but our common humanity matters more."
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