While today we are a successful growth company executing on a powerful vision, not so long ago, SAP was faced with the very unpleasant task of cutting 3000 people from its payroll worldwide when software sales dropped sharply during the economic crisis in 2009.

FORBES: To Hire or Fire, that is the Question

Bill Gates, Microsoft's chairman and software boss, regards this interface crisis as one of the biggest challenges for his firm, alongside the security holes in Windows and, perhaps, the threat from Linux, an open-source operating system.

ECONOMIST: Metaphorically speaking

The Wall Street Journal has reported that the electricity grid in the United States has been infiltrated by "cyperspies, " in an attempt to map the infrastructure, leaving behind software that could pose potential threats in times of crisis.

ENGADGET: U.S. electrical grid penetrated by spies, hackers, or something unfathomably more terrible (update: China responds)

Okolloh, 31, created the site using Ushahidi, a free piece of software that quickly creates Web sites to which eyewitnesses of war and crisis in out-of-reach places can send news by e-mail or text and have it attached to a Google map.

FORBES: Magazine Article