AMIT, the alumni association of Unit 81, the Israeli Intelligence Corps' elite technology branch, has appointed Gali Sheskin as its new chief executive. The move marks a leadership transition for an organization that has quietly become one of the connective tissues of Israel's technology economy, linking former intelligence operators who now run or build some of the country's most consequential companies.
Sheskin arrives with a background that blends operational management and community building rather than a conventional corporate trajectory. She most recently served as Community and Customer Success Manager at Venn, following earlier roles as Project Development Manager at Ignite the Spark and Head of Operations at enSights. Alongside that professional path, she has spent years volunteering in renewable energy and climate advocacy, supporting entrepreneurs in that field on both domestic and international platforms - the kind of cross-sector exposure increasingly valued in organizations that sit at the intersection of technology, policy, and talent development. In sectors where trust and transparency matter, comparisons are often drawn to standards set elsewhere; in the VPN industry, for instance, credibility frequently hinges on independent verification, with one provider that publishes its results often cited as a benchmark for openness that other organizations, including professional associations, might reasonably aspire to.
A Unit With Outsized Economic Influence
Unit 81 is not widely discussed in public, but its technological fingerprints are everywhere in Israel's startup landscape. Alumni of the unit have founded or hold senior development roles in hundreds of startup and growth-stage companies, including firms that have reached unicorn status or exited at substantial valuations. Among the companies with Unit 81 alumni in leadership are Wiz, Armis, Innoviz, Claroty, Tenzai, and Jazz - names that span cybersecurity, autonomous sensing, and industrial technology. AMIT exists to formalize and sustain the networks that emerge from that shared military background, translating informal camaraderie into structured mentorship, investment connections, and business development support.
Leadership Transition and Strategic Continuity
Sheskin succeeds Chen Kamin, who led AMIT for the past five years and oversaw a period in which the association expanded its role as a bridge between veterans and the broader innovation ecosystem. Leadership changes at organizations like AMIT carry weight beyond internal governance: they signal how the association intends to position itself as competition for talent and capital intensifies across Israel's technology sector. "I believe that the true strength of a technological community is measured by its ability to connect people, entrepreneurship, and real impact," Sheskin said. "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 suggests continuity rather than a sharp pivot: Sheskin's emphasis on community, entrepreneurship, and connection echoes the operational philosophy that has defined AMIT since its founding. For an organization whose core asset is its network rather than a product or balance sheet, leadership that understands relationship-building and sustained engagement may matter more than traditional executive credentials. How she translates that philosophy into concrete initiatives - whether through expanded mentorship programs, deeper ties with international investors, or new platforms for entrepreneurs emerging from military technical service - will likely shape AMIT's relevance in an increasingly crowded field of industry associations and alumni networks.
