Represents IT and the Philippines as he joins elite to chart the 2030 Initiative  

Forty as they say is when life begins. I can personally attest to this as this was the age I experienced so much life.  For G2iX’s ceo and co-founder for Exist, Winston Damarillo, it is not just a beginning but a year that his altruistic and selfless efforts are recognized in the global stage.  

Winston Damarillo, our chief executive officer  has recently been honoured among the 197 young global leaders from diverse backgrounds and disciplines under the age of forty. In a global announcement made March 3 in Switzerland, the new set of Young Global Leaders have been invited to be active members to the World Economic Forum to help chart the 2030 Initiative where young leaders engage in the creation of an action plan for ways to reach the vision of what the world could be like in 20 years.   

Last year, Winston was also given a recognition from eServices for his numerous contributions as a key driver for the development of the Philippine IT industry as board member and international marketing director for the Philippine Software Industry Association, a non-profit organization that aims to promote the growth and global competitiveness of the Philippine software industry.  He is also a trustee of the Ayala Foundation USA, an organization committed on delivering social development initiatives for the Filipino in the Philippines and around the world.  

“This honor is a testament to how Filipinos can help shape the future of the world. It is also a good opportunity for information technology to be in the forefront of global development”, Damarillo mentions. He is honored to be among 3 Filipinos in the elite 2010 group.  Together with ABS-CBN Anchor, Karen Davila and Founder of Hometown Corp, Major Dennis Eclarin, a graduate of US Military Academy at West Point, they join past Filipino honorees which include Senators Mar Roxas and Chiz Escudero as well as social entrepreneur Iliac Diaz and Paolo Benigno ‘Bam’ A. Aquino IV, who at 26 years old became the youngest to handle a major government position as head of the National Youth Commission.  

“The recognition is based on your record of professional accomplishments, commitment to society and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world through your inspiring leadership”, cites Klaus Schwab, Executive Chairman and Founder of The Forum of Young Global Leaders in a congratulatory letter to Winston. Since 2005, the World Economic Forum recognizes 100-200 of the most exceptional young leaders worldwide as Young Global Leader honourees. This year from a pool of almost 5,000 candidates, the Young Global Leaders 2010 were chosen by a selection committee, chaired by H.M. Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and comprised of eminent international media leaders.  

Winston now joins IT members to YGL which include Google co-Founders, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, YouTube co-Founder Chad Hurley, Twitter and Blogger founder, Ev Williams as well as Mark Benioff, CEO of Salesforce.com. 


The first meeting will be a YGL Event at the World Economic Forum on Latin America at Cartagena, Colombia on April 6 to 8, 2010 and the YGL Annual Summit at Dar es Salaam, Tanzania on May 2-7, 2010.  

Winston, may your tribe increase!  Can I tag along the meetings, just to be up close with co-honorees Alain de Botton and Kevin Federer?  :)