Hi all,
I wanted to share some news. I will be stepping down as Chief Operating
Officer (COO) at the Wikimedia Foundation.
The past two years that I have served as COO have been a formative time in
my life, both personally and professionally. My time at the Foundation has
shaped me in many important ways, and I feel deeply connected to our shared
global mission--there is so much to learn and there are endless
possibilities to improve the world. Our movement is positioned on the cusp
of a more diverse and equitable future and I am so proud of the part I had
in that, and those of you I worked with to grow that vision.
I remain steadfast in my passion for sharing knowledge to any and everyone
for free, and supporting those who’ve been left out of structures of power
and privilege.
The weight of current US issues related to Black Lives Matter has had a
life changing impact on me. I am compelled to use my leadership platform to
address biases and injustices in technology. Closing the gaps in
diversity, equity, and inclusion in technology within the US is a mountain
that I want to have a greater impact in moving. After reflection on my
strengths and contemplation of the action required to make change, I intend
to find opportunities to focus solely on racial equity and technology in my
next venture.
I’ve dedicated my career to breaking down barriers, particularly in
technology, and you all gave me strength, stories and guidance on how to do
that as part of this movement. I am grateful for the many moments we have
shared, whether at community events from Wikimania in Sweden to Wikindaba
in Abuja, or at online gatherings and on-wiki. I am not planning to travel
far from this movement, and inviting more people to participate in our
projects is a cause I will continue to champion. #WhoTellsYourStory will
always be a part of my narrative.
My decision does not change the Foundation’s plans as we move into another
fiscal year this July. With our ongoing search for a new CEO, we currently
have a Transition Team in place to manage these changes, led by Amanda
Keton, General Counsel, Jaime Villagomez, Chief Financial Officer, and
Robyn Arville, Chief Talent and Culture Officer. Our new Executive Director
will then be able to decide what they would like to do with the COO
position.
I hope to see you all out in the world speaking on tech for good. We have a
lot of work to do, but it’s worth it.
Janeen
--
------------------------------
*Jáneen Uzzell*
Chief Operating Officer
Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/>
@janeenuzzell