Sharon Assa, the curator of the Tel Aviv “Global Shapers” community, participated in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) annual conference last week in Davos, hosted by the forum’s leadership.
One of WEF’s flagship initiatives, the Global Shapers community unites over 10,000 young leaders aged 18–30 worldwide, striving to create a positive social impact in their communities. Each year, 50 representatives are fully funded to attend the conference. Assa proudly represented Israel for the first time in over a decade, with no Israeli representation in the community.
“The journey here was anything but easy,” Assa reflects. “I faced boycotts from the BDS movement and criticism from my community, urging me to withdraw as an Israeli representative. Despite the pressure, I made it here and was honored to represent the youth of Israel on such an influential stage.”
Assa brought a unique perspective that combines social impact with technological innovation. As a Senior Operations Manager at mavens, a company under the gaming giant Zynga, and as a social entrepreneur, she leveraged her experience to bridge the worlds of high-tech and community engagement.
In the early days of the war in southern Israel, when government agencies struggled to respond, Assa spearheaded a project to provide immediate psychological support to survivors from parties and communities in the Gaza envelope who were grappling with trauma. She enlisted the parent companies of mavens—Zynga and Take-Two Interactive—which donated over 1 million NIS to this initiative and other efforts to support Israeli society during the crisis.
During the conference, Assa shared her story and initiatives in a personal and inspiring conversation with Melanie B, a former Spice Girl who has dedicated recent years to trauma recovery initiatives based on her personal experiences. In an interview with CNBC, Melanie later mentioned Assa’s work, emphasizing the global relevance of such community-driven efforts.
Additionally, Assa engaged in discussions on some of the most pressing global challenges, including the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the workforce. Industry leaders such as Google, Pfizer, and Uber shared insights on adapting to this revolution, emphasizing that companies failing to embrace AI risk being left behind.
Assa also had a significant meeting with Jordan’s Deputy PM and Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, who spoke during a panel about the Middle East’s prospects for peace. In a private discussion, Assa asked Safadi how he envisions addressing the intense hatred facing the younger generation in the region. Safadi acknowledged the issue’s urgency, stating, “This is a deeply concerning challenge that requires substantial changes and decisive actions to alter the current trajectory.”
