Neal Mohan: — Indian-origin executive named Time’s 2025 CEO of the Year

Neal Mohan, YouTube’s CEO, was named Time’s 2025 CEO of the Year for his steady leadership and influence over global digital culture. Born in Indiana and educated at Stanford, he built a career across Accenture, Microsoft, DoubleClick, and Google before leading YouTube. He also serves on major corporate boards, shaping technology and media worldwide.

YouTube’s chief executive Neal Mohan has been named Time’s 2025 CEO of the Year, a recognition that spotlights not only his leadership but also the platform’s outsized cultural influence. The honor places the soft‑spoken, methodical, and steady‑handed executive among the most impactful figures steering today’s digital landscape.

Time noted that YouTube has become a global arena where creators of every kind sow ideas, trends, and conversations that ripple across continents. As the publication put it, the platform has evolved into a kind of shared ecosystem—one that nourishes or disrupts depending on what takes root. In this metaphor, Mohan is the steward guiding that environment, shaping what billions of people ultimately consume each day.

From Indiana Roots to Silicon Valley Heights

Mohan’s story begins in Lafayette, Indiana, where he was born to Indian parents who instilled the value of excellence early on. His academic path led him to Stanford University, where he completed a degree in electrical engineering in the mid‑1990s. While there, he earned membership in Tau Beta Pi, a testament to his academic rigor and technical skill.

Stanford proved to be more than a school—it was the ecosystem that nurtured his early interest in innovation and strategic leadership. He later returned to the university for an MBA in General Management, graduating as an Arjay Miller Scholar, an honor reserved for top‑performing students.

A Career Built on Strategy and Innovation

Mohan’s professional journey has consistently blended engineering insight with business acumen. He began at Accenture before taking on formative roles at Microsoft and DoubleClick, experiences that deepened his understanding of the digital advertising world just as it was beginning to transform global media.

His move to Google in 2008 marked a turning point. As Senior Vice President overseeing display and video advertising, he helped shape key revenue‑driving products that remain central to the company’s operations today.

In 2015, Mohan transitioned to YouTube as Chief Product Officer, where he guided major product decisions for the platform’s rapidly expanding global audience. His elevation to CEO in February 2023 made him one of the most prominent Indian‑origin executives leading a major tech company.

Influence Beyond YouTube

Mohan’s impact extends well beyond the world of online video. He sits on the boards of companies such as Starbucks and 23andMe, lending his strategic perspective to industries far outside the tech sphere. His career reflects the value of lifelong learning and an ability to navigate—and shape—technology’s rapid evolution.

As YouTube continues to set the tone for global content consumption, Mohan’s steady leadership will help determine not just what the platform becomes, but how it influences the cultural diet of billions.