Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Balen Shah has been included in the 2023 TIME100 Next list that recognizes the 100 emerging leaders from around the world who are shaping the future and defining the next generation of leadership.
The 2023 TIME100 Next list features several US political figures including: JD Vance, Shalanda Young, Zooey Zephyr, David Holt, Anna Paulina Luna and more.
Athletes featured on the 2023 TIME100 Next list include: Jalen Hurts, Harmanpreet Kaur, Angel Reese, Ronald Acuña Jr., Rose Zhang, Salma Paralluelo and Sophia Smith.
Artists, entertainers and storytellers creating impactful work that are spotlighted on this year's list include: Kelsea Ballerini, Tyler James Williams, Alexandra Cooper, Lily Gladstone, Corey Hawkins, Emma Corrin, Paul Mescal, Tems, Kali Uchis, Celine Song, Noah Kahan, Peso Pluma and more.
There are over 50 women on this year's list: Mira Murati, Stephanie Hsu, Rachel Zegler, Megan Davis, Hailey Bieber, Alexandra Cooper, Emily Henry, Pinky Cole, Yulia Svyrydenko, Kate Ryder, Celine Song, R.F. Kuang, Ice Spice and more.
TIME has posted an effusive profile about Mayor Shah for the list. It states:
When Balendra Shah emerged as the unlikely winner of Kathmandu’s mayoral election in May 2022, his trademark square, black-and-gold sunglasses quickly began selling out in Nepal’s capital. The 33-year-old, who has a master’s degree in structural engineering, ran as an independent and used TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram to harness voter anger over the status quo—sparking a “Balen effect” that saw as many as 385 independent candidates triumph over veteran politicians in last spring’s local elections. In a city still reeling from a deadly 2015 earthquake, Shah’s campaign promises were simple but offered desperately needed fixes: better waste disposal and sanitation, safe drinking water, clean roads, and the preservation of cultural heritage alongside urban development. His efforts to make good on these promises have been met with scrutiny, including in regard to their impact on the city’s poor and their reliance on demolishing buildings deemed illegal. Since coming into power, Shah has also signed agreements with officials to utilize landfill sites and announced plans to separate and dispose of nondegradable waste.
