About Naina
Naina Bajekal is a writer and editor based in New York. She spent the past decade in journalism, primarily at TIME Magazine. She began her career in 2014 at TIME’s London bureau, reporting from France, Germany and Greece on refugee issues, extremism and world affairs. After editing stints at Newsweek, Magnum Photos, and the Fuller Project—a nonprofit newsroom reporting on issues impacting women—she returned to TIME in 2018.
Over the course of six years, she held various leadership positions, including International Editor, Editorial Director for Newsroom Development, and Executive Editor. She guided journalists around the world on news coverage and ambitious features, led efforts to improve transparency and foster stronger communication across the newsroom, and was part of the senior leadership team making strategic decisions about editorial priorities and coverage.
While at TIME, Naina edited more than 30 cover stories, including in-depth profiles of politicians, athletes, and business leaders. She co-led three editions of Women of the Year, oversaw the inaugural TIME100 AI, and spearheaded several special issues on topics such as climate change, the art of optimism, and the experiences of Afghan women after the fall of Kabul. She also contributed occasional pieces to the magazine, interviewing world leaders, CEOs, actors, activists and fashion designers. Naina was part of a team that won an Emmy in 2020; in 2021, she was recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 and as a Top Women in Media honoree.
Naina graduated from the University of Oxford with a first-class degree in English Literature and Modern Languages.