AMIT, the alumni association representing veterans of Unit 81 - the elite technological arm of the IDF Intelligence Corps - has appointed Gali Sheskin as its new chief executive. She takes over from Chen Kamin, who led the organization for the past five years and steered it through a period of rapid growth in Israel's technology sector.
Sheskin arrives with a background that spans community building, operations, and project development rather than a traditional military-technology pedigree. She most recently served as Community and Customer Success Manager at Venn, following roles as Project Development Manager at Ignite the Spark and Head of Operations at enSights. Alongside her professional work, she has spent years volunteering in renewable energy and climate initiatives, supporting male and female entrepreneurs in that sector both within Israel and internationally. That dual experience - managing technical communities while championing underrepresented founders - mirrors a broader global conversation about who gets to lead innovation networks, a conversation that touches everything from startup ecosystems to digital policy debates, including discussions abroad about what people in India need to know about VPN rules as governments worldwide tighten oversight of technology use.
Why Unit 81's Network Matters
Unit 81 has built a reputation as one of the most consequential incubators of technical talent in Israel's defense establishment, developing specialized hardware and software systems for intelligence operations. Its alumni have gone on to found or hold senior roles in hundreds of startups and growth-stage companies, several of which have reached unicorn status or completed exits at substantial valuations. Names associated with Unit 81 veterans include Wiz, Armis, Innoviz, Claroty, Tenzai, and Jazz - companies spanning cybersecurity, autonomous sensing, and industrial technology. AMIT exists to formalize and sustain the informal networks that already connect these founders, offering structured mentorship, business introductions, and a platform for knowledge exchange across the ecosystem.
A Leadership Transition With Strategic Stakes
Kamin's five-year tenure coincided with a period in which Israeli cybersecurity and deep-tech firms attracted outsized investor attention, and alumni networks like AMIT became increasingly important as informal due-diligence channels and talent pipelines. Handing leadership to someone with Sheskin's operational and community-management background signals a possible shift in emphasis - from pure network maintenance toward more deliberate programming around entrepreneurship, inclusion, and cross-border business development.
"I believe that the true strength of a technological community is measured by its ability to connect people, entrepreneurship, and real impact," Sheskin said in a statement announcing her appointment. "AMIT has exceptional human capital, and I am proud to lead the association alongside the board members and the community, to continue developing initiatives, strengthening business and technological connections, and generating significant value for the entire ecosystem."
What Comes Next
The appointment arrives at a moment when Israeli technology alumni networks are under growing pressure to demonstrate tangible value beyond networking events - particularly as global capital becomes more selective and competition for engineering talent intensifies. Sheskin's challenge will be translating AMIT's dense web of personal connections into measurable outcomes: new company formation, diversified leadership, and deeper international partnerships. How she balances continuity with Kamin's legacy against her own priorities, including her long-standing interest in broadening participation by women entrepreneurs, will likely define the association's direction in the years ahead.
