The 2025 Banyan Tree Award honors individuals whose leadership, vision, and commitment have created lasting impact in lives across the globe. Named after the banyan tree, a symbol of strength, growth, and shelter, the award recognizes those who, like the tree’s expansive roots, uplift communities and inspire others to do the same. This year, Easterseals Central Illinois is proud to present the Banyan Tree Award to Asha Varghese, whose work exemplifies these values in every sense.
Asha Varghese
Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Caterpillar and President of the Caterpillar Foundation
Asha Varghese is the Head of Corporate Social Responsibility at Caterpillar Inc. and the President of the Caterpillar Foundation, the philanthropic organization of Caterpillar Inc. In her role, Asha leads Caterpillar Inc.’s global corporate social responsibility strategy to help build resilient communities by investing in two critical areas: the skills people need to thrive in the modern workforce and the natural and vital infrastructure communities depend on to thrive and succeed.
Under her leadership, Caterpillar’s philanthropic strategy has sharpened its focus on investments that create long-term, sustainable change. She oversees a global portfolio of programs and partnerships that address workforce development, education, environmental sustainability, and community infrastructure — all aligned with Caterpillar’s purpose of helping people build a better, more sustainable world.
Prior to joining Caterpillar, Asha spent 15 years at General Electric, where she held leadership roles across multiple business units, including the GE Foundation—the company’s philanthropic arm. Her tenure at GE culminated in her role as Director of Global Health, where she led impactful initiatives to improve health outcomes across Sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, and the United States. In this role, she focused on strengthening health systems, expanding access to care, and addressing disparities in underserved communities. Her work included major collaborations with international governments, NGOs, and multilateral institutions—driving scalable solutions to some of the world’s most pressing health challenges.
Asha’s cross-sector experience spans philanthropy, public-private partnerships, and corporate strategy. She is recognized for her ability to develop innovative, measurable solutions that empower individuals and communities. She brings a unique combination of technical training and social impact expertise to her work.
Asha holds a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and computer science from the University of Louisville and an MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. She is also a 2018 graduate of the Presidential Leadership Scholars Program, a joint initiative of the presidential centers of George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush, and Lyndon B. Johnson, designed to cultivate values-based leadership among accomplished professionals from across the country.
In addition to her professional work, Asha is passionate about serving vulnerable youth and has served on numerous nonprofit boards. She resides in Washington, D.C.
A dynamic and mission-driven leader, Asha continues to champion inclusive economic growth, community resilience, and sustainable development through her role at Caterpillar and beyond.
