Each year members, constituents and collaborators of the World
Economic Forum nominate 100 new GLTs. The list for 2003 contains
people from 49 nations. Of the 100 names, 46 are in business.
Shwed, 35, is chairman and chief executive of Check Point, which
achieved the highest market valuation ever reached by an Israeli
company - $30 billion, before sliding to its current level because of
the hi-tech crash and the resulting IT spending crunch. Shwed holds
about 10% of the company's equity. His holding is worth about $480
million today.
The World Economic Forum, which is an independent international
organization that defines its goal as improving the state of the
world, started the Global Leaders for Tomorrow Program in 1993. The
program's aim is "to provide an informal, efficient framework for an
ongoing exchange of opinions on strategic issues of concern to this
younger generation of decision-makers," the forum describes.
"The GLT Community represents the new generation of global leaders,
nearly 500 individuals from business, politics, public interest
groups, the media, the arts and the sciences, who have demonstrated
responsible leadership vis-a-vis society, business developments, the
environment and socially responsible initiatives," the Geneva-based
forum said.
The criteria for making the list include being under 37 years old,
proving a commitment to public affairs, and demonstrating leadership
in addressing issues beyond their immediate professional interest.
Gil Shwed, the founder and leader of Israeli data security company
Check Point Software Technologies (NASDAQ:CHKP), has been named one
of the 100 young leaders selected for the World Economic Forum's
Global Leaders for Tomorrow Program 2003.