Half of World Economic Forum's 2015 chosen future leaders from emerging economies

The World Economic Forum (WEF) announced Tuesday the top leaders under 40 shaping the future of industry and society and about half of them come from emerging economies, according to a press release published by the organization.

A total of 187 people were chosen as this year's Young Global Leaders (YGLs), which cover all sectors including business, civil society, social entrepreneurship, politics and government, arts and culture, opinion and media.

Li Na, a former professional Chinese tennis player who kept a career-best ranking of world No. 2 on the WTA tour and Hugo Barra, the former Google executive who is vice-president of China's biggest smartphone maker Xiaomi, are among the list of YGLs.

A third of the selected leaders this year come from Asia and about half come from emerging economies. The list of YGLs has a strong representation from women leaders and is split equally between business and non-profit sectors.

"The class of 2015, together with the community over the past 10 years, shows how the future of business and public leadership is becoming more gender equal, more geographically diverse, more varied in its expertise and is challenging established ways to get things done," said John Dutton, director and head of the Young Global Leaders community at the WEF.

Every year, the Forum of Young Global Leaders, which was founded by the WEF in 2004, honors about 200 outstanding young leaders from around the world for their professional accomplishments, commitment to society, and potential to contribute to shaping the future of the world.

Current and former YGLs include heads of state and government, heads of Fortune 500 companies, UN Goodwill Ambassadors, Guinness World Record holders, Oscar winners, Olympic gold medallists, Nobel Prize winners and an astronaut. Enditem