I want to say basically the same what Jan-Bart and Bishakha said, but
from different perspective.
The first three years of my involvement in the global community passed
in constant worries about the future of Wikimedia. Options like "we
don't have enough money for the bills" were the constant threat.
And not just that. All of the instances of movement instability were
nothing in comparison to the years when Wikimedia was so fragile, that
just a number of very fortunate circumstances made it to survive.
It was the feeling when you are willing to opt in for a fascist
government just because you are in a spaceship, there is no atmosphere
outside and you know that there is not a lot of space for complaining
about lack of coffee.
6-7 years later we have very different situation. I could complain
about a number of things. But I can't explain how content and relieved
I am just because of the fact that I am able to complain here.
As someone who knows all Wikimedia structures very well, I know that
Sue is the most responsible person for that.
In comparison to the years before her appointment, it was quite
relieving to know that there was at least one person who knew what
she's doing and that she was ED.
There is one thing which should be always in our minds. Sue became ED
after the culmination of our online movement. Instead of having just
debris of once great idea, our movement is still vital. The only
reason why it is so is because of the stable finances; and the only
significant change before and after is the fact that Sue was ED.
I am eager to see the next phase of our development, lead by Lila. I
am sure that Lila is capable to make Wikimedia fancy and exciting like
it was during the first years of its existence. But we should remember
that it is possible now just because of Sue.