Dear fellow Wikimedians,
It is with great respect that I have tendered, and the board has accepted, my resignation as Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation earlier this week. I am both inspired by, and proud of, the many great things we have all accomplished at the Foundation over the last two years, most significantly reversing the loss of our editorial community. I would like to thank our Board of Trustees https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Board_of_Trustees and Advisors https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Advisory_Board, our Foundation staff https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Staff_and_contractors, as well as the many outstanding community members https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/The_Wikipedia_Community for their support and encouragement on this journey. I remain passionate about the value and potential of open knowledge and Wikimedia to change the world. My last day at the Foundation will be March 31, 2016.
Wikimedia occupies a special place in the world. It is a cultural and technological revolution. Change is necessary to keep it thriving. In bringing me in as the Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation the Board tasked me with making changes https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Lila_Tretikov%27s_statement_on_Why_we%27ve_changed to serve the next generation and ensure our impact in the future. Driving these changes has been challenging, and I have always appreciated the open and honest discourse we have had along the way. However, I am moved by the accomplishments we have achieved during this time:
-
Strategically, we laid out our summary of the vision for united in knowledge https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:WMF_Strategy_Preview,_WMF_Metrics_Meeting_June_2015.pdf&page=50 and future of Wikimedia last June. -
Operationally, we have reformed our procedures and initiated key performance metrics and reviews http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/10/20/foundation-quarterly-report-july-september-2015/.
-
Technologically we have introduced innovative approaches such as machine learning http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/11/30/artificial-intelligence-x-ray-specs/ and mobile http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/01/15/immersive-mobile-experience/ applications, started improvements in search http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/12/23/search-and-discovery-on-wikipedia/, grew translations http://blog.wikimedia.org/2016/01/29/content-translation-50000-articles/ and dramatically improved website performance http://blog.wikimedia.org/2014/12/29/how-we-made-editing-wikipedia-twice-as-fast/. In 2015, we made visual editor the default for all new users on English Wikipedia. -
We united our community support departments and created a new community tech team to address community needs https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/2015_Community_Wishlist_Survey/Status_report_1.
-
Profoundly, for the first time in seven years, highly active editor numbers have increased http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/09/25/wikipedia-editor-numbers/ and overall editor decline has stopped. -
Equitably, I am proud of our efforts to address the gender gap http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/03/04/inspire-campaign-funds-gender-diversity/, our growing focus on site safety and anti-harassment http://blog.wikimedia.org/?s=harassment initiatives and child protection -- I believe these are essential to protecting the fundamental principles of tolerance, open discourse and mutual respect -- our greatest strengths. -
We fought against censorship and surveillance http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/10/opinion/stop-spying-on-wikipedia-users.html?_r=0, which pose severe existential threats to our mission of free knowledge. -
Financially, we grew rapidly in 2014 to seed and launch the Wikimedia Endowment https://15.wikipedia.org/endowment.html and secure our future for years to come.
I move on with confidence that the Foundation can meet new challenges in a challenging environment. I believe in our ability to continue to lead through this change. At this critical juncture for the Foundation, and for the free and open knowledge movement as a whole, solidarity, creativity, adaptability and passion will continue to propel our movement forward, and empower our vision towards our future.
I will support the process of identifying our new leadership in every way that I can, and offer my assistance to the Board as they conduct their search for my successor. It has been an honor to serve and to contribute to our great movement.
With warm regards,
Lila
Thank you, Lila.
Pine On Feb 25, 2016 10:46, "Lila Tretikov" lila@wikimedia.org wrote:
Dear fellow Wikimedians,
It is with great respect that I have tendered, and the board has accepted, my resignation as Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation earlier this week. I am both inspired by, and proud of, the many great things we have all accomplished at the Foundation over the last two years, most significantly reversing the loss of our editorial community. I would like to thank our Board of Trustees https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Board_of_Trustees and Advisors https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Advisory_Board, our Foundation staff https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Staff_and_contractors, as well as the many outstanding community members https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/The_Wikipedia_Community for their support and encouragement on this journey. I remain passionate about the value and potential of open knowledge and Wikimedia to change the world. My last day at the Foundation will be March 31, 2016.
Wikimedia occupies a special place in the world. It is a cultural and technological revolution. Change is necessary to keep it thriving. In bringing me in as the Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation the Board tasked me with making changes < https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Lila_Tretikov%27s_statement_on_Why_we%27ve_c...
to serve the next generation and ensure our impact in the future. Driving these changes has been challenging, and I have always appreciated the open and honest discourse we have had along the way. However, I am moved by the accomplishments we have achieved during this time:
Strategically, we laid out our summary of the vision for united in knowledge < https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:WMF_Strategy_Preview,_WMF_...
and future of Wikimedia last June.
Operationally, we have reformed our procedures and initiated key performance metrics and reviews < http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/10/20/foundation-quarterly-report-july-septem...
.
Technologically we have introduced innovative approaches such as machine learning < http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/11/30/artificial-intelligence-x-ray-specs/%3E and mobile http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/01/15/immersive-mobile-experience/ applications, started improvements in search < http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/12/23/search-and-discovery-on-wikipedia/%3E, grew translations < http://blog.wikimedia.org/2016/01/29/content-translation-50000-articles/%3E and dramatically improved website performance < http://blog.wikimedia.org/2014/12/29/how-we-made-editing-wikipedia-twice-as-...
.
In 2015, we made visual editor the default for all new users on English Wikipedia.
We united our community support departments and created a new community tech team to address community needs < https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/2015_Community_Wishlist_Survey/Status_report...
.
Profoundly, for the first time in seven years, highly active editor numbers have increased http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/09/25/wikipedia-editor-numbers/ and overall editor decline has stopped.
Equitably, I am proud of our efforts to address the gender gap < http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/03/04/inspire-campaign-funds-gender-diversity...
,
our growing focus on site safety and anti-harassment http://blog.wikimedia.org/?s=harassment initiatives and child protection -- I believe these are essential to protecting the fundamental principles of tolerance, open discourse and mutual respect -- our greatest strengths.
We fought against censorship and surveillance < http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/10/opinion/stop-spying-on-wikipedia-users.htm...
,
which pose severe existential threats to our mission of free knowledge.
Financially, we grew rapidly in 2014 to seed and launch the Wikimedia Endowment https://15.wikipedia.org/endowment.html and secure our future for years to come.
I move on with confidence that the Foundation can meet new challenges in a challenging environment. I believe in our ability to continue to lead through this change. At this critical juncture for the Foundation, and for the free and open knowledge movement as a whole, solidarity, creativity, adaptability and passion will continue to propel our movement forward, and empower our vision towards our future.
I will support the process of identifying our new leadership in every way that I can, and offer my assistance to the Board as they conduct their search for my successor. It has been an honor to serve and to contribute to our great movement.
With warm regards,
Lila _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Lila,
I don't want to get into what or who is right. The things I had to say I already said in private forums. The discussions here and in others places were already to heated and too longs to add more words.
Before we are movement, we are people. with feelings, with soul. I can not even imagine how it was to be in your position during the last few months. Reading the thing people wrote, the blames, the personal attacks. Some people had right and justified concerns to raise, but sadly, we are great movement, with great achievements, but we do not always treat and speak to people with the respect they are entitled to.
I know many people disagreed with your strategy and your decisions, but as I had the privilege to knew your personally during the last 2 years, I know each one of them were truly in the favor of the movement in your personal point of view.
Thank you for all the works during the last two years. For being available to speak personally with each one of us. I learned a lot for each meeting or conversation with you.
Thank you Lila, and good luck whatever will the roads will take you.
*Regards,Itzik Edri* Chairperson, Wikimedia Israel +972-(0)-54-5878078 | http://www.wikimedia.org.il Imagine a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge. That's our commitment!
On Thu, Feb 25, 2016 at 8:51 PM, Pine W wiki.pine@gmail.com wrote:
Thank you, Lila.
Pine On Feb 25, 2016 10:46, "Lila Tretikov" lila@wikimedia.org wrote:
Dear fellow Wikimedians,
It is with great respect that I have tendered, and the board has
accepted,
my resignation as Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation earlier this week. I am both inspired by, and proud of, the many great things we have all accomplished at the Foundation over the last two years, most significantly reversing the loss of our editorial community. I would like to thank our Board of Trustees https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Board_of_Trustees and Advisors https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Advisory_Board, our Foundation staff https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Staff_and_contractors, as well as the many outstanding community members https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/The_Wikipedia_Community for their support and encouragement on this journey. I remain passionate about the value
and
potential of open knowledge and Wikimedia to change the world. My last
day
at the Foundation will be March 31, 2016.
Wikimedia occupies a special place in the world. It is a cultural and technological revolution. Change is necessary to keep it thriving. In bringing me in as the Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation the Board tasked me with making changes <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Lila_Tretikov%27s_statement_on_Why_we%27ve_c...
to serve the next generation and ensure our impact in the future. Driving these changes has been challenging, and I have always appreciated the
open
and honest discourse we have had along the way. However, I am moved by
the
accomplishments we have achieved during this time:
Strategically, we laid out our summary of the vision for united in knowledge <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:WMF_Strategy_Preview,_WMF_...
and future of Wikimedia last June.
Operationally, we have reformed our procedures and initiated key performance metrics and reviews <
http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/10/20/foundation-quarterly-report-july-septem...
.
Technologically we have introduced innovative approaches such as
machine
learning <
http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/11/30/artificial-intelligence-x-ray-specs/%3E
and mobile http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/01/15/immersive-mobile-experience/ applications, started improvements in search < http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/12/23/search-and-discovery-on-wikipedia/ , grew translations < http://blog.wikimedia.org/2016/01/29/content-translation-50000-articles/
and dramatically improved website performance <
http://blog.wikimedia.org/2014/12/29/how-we-made-editing-wikipedia-twice-as-...
.
In 2015, we made visual editor the default for all new users on
English
Wikipedia.
We united our community support departments and created a new
community
tech team to address community needs <
https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/2015_Community_Wishlist_Survey/Status_report...
.
Profoundly, for the first time in seven years, highly active editor numbers have increased http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/09/25/wikipedia-editor-numbers/ and overall editor decline has stopped.
Equitably, I am proud of our efforts to address the gender gap <
http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/03/04/inspire-campaign-funds-gender-diversity...
,
our growing focus on site safety and anti-harassment http://blog.wikimedia.org/?s=harassment initiatives and child protection -- I believe these are essential to protecting the fundamental principles of tolerance, open discourse and mutual respect -- our greatest strengths.
We fought against censorship and surveillance <
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/10/opinion/stop-spying-on-wikipedia-users.htm...
,
which pose severe existential threats to our mission of free
knowledge.
Financially, we grew rapidly in 2014 to seed and launch the Wikimedia Endowment https://15.wikipedia.org/endowment.html and secure our future for years to come.
I move on with confidence that the Foundation can meet new challenges in
a
challenging environment. I believe in our ability to continue to lead through this change. At this critical juncture for the Foundation, and
for
the free and open knowledge movement as a whole, solidarity, creativity, adaptability and passion will continue to propel our movement forward,
and
empower our vision towards our future.
I will support the process of identifying our new leadership in every way that I can, and offer my assistance to the Board as they conduct their search for my successor. It has been an honor to serve and to contribute
to
our great movement.
With warm regards,
Lila _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
On Thu, Feb 25, 2016 at 2:33 PM, Itzik - Wikimedia Israel < itzik@wikimedia.org.il> wrote:
Lila,
I don't want to get into what or who is right. The things I had to say I already said in private forums. The discussions here and in others places were already to heated and too longs to add more words.
Before we are movement, we are people. with feelings, with soul. I can not even imagine how it was to be in your position during the last few months. Reading the thing people wrote, the blames, the personal attacks. Some people had right and justified concerns to raise, but sadly, we are great movement, with great achievements, but we do not always treat and speak to people with the respect they are entitled to.
I know many people disagreed with your strategy and your decisions, but as I had the privilege to knew your personally during the last 2 years, I know each one of them were truly in the favor of the movement in your personal point of view.
Thank you for all the works during the last two years. For being available to speak personally with each one of us. I learned a lot for each meeting or conversation with you.
Thank you Lila, and good luck whatever will the roads will take you.
*Regards,Itzik Edri* Chairperson, Wikimedia Israel
+1
Sydney
Maybe I'm too far from the relevant stuffs but I feel like it was your (implicit) mandate to be proven wrong.
There's a series of far deeper flaws within our ecosystem arising anytime it is under pressure. The biggest one is having a Board which is sometimes supposed to direct, sometimes to dictate, most of times to advice. I hope your remarkable stepping down wont make us forget about those underlying issues.
From the positive side I want to remember the efforts in gathering
*numbers* about some of the most challenging issues we're facing.
Ciao! Vito
2016-02-25 19:45 GMT+01:00 Lila Tretikov lila@wikimedia.org:
Dear fellow Wikimedians,
It is with great respect that I have tendered, and the board has accepted, my resignation as Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation earlier this week. I am both inspired by, and proud of, the many great things we have all accomplished at the Foundation over the last two years, most significantly reversing the loss of our editorial community. I would like to thank our Board of Trustees https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Board_of_Trustees and Advisors https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Advisory_Board, our Foundation staff https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Staff_and_contractors, as well as the many outstanding community members https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/The_Wikipedia_Community for their support and encouragement on this journey. I remain passionate about the value and potential of open knowledge and Wikimedia to change the world. My last day at the Foundation will be March 31, 2016.
Wikimedia occupies a special place in the world. It is a cultural and technological revolution. Change is necessary to keep it thriving. In bringing me in as the Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation the Board tasked me with making changes < https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Lila_Tretikov%27s_statement_on_Why_we%27ve_c...
to serve the next generation and ensure our impact in the future. Driving these changes has been challenging, and I have always appreciated the open and honest discourse we have had along the way. However, I am moved by the accomplishments we have achieved during this time:
Strategically, we laid out our summary of the vision for united in knowledge < https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:WMF_Strategy_Preview,_WMF_...
and future of Wikimedia last June.
Operationally, we have reformed our procedures and initiated key performance metrics and reviews < http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/10/20/foundation-quarterly-report-july-septem...
.
Technologically we have introduced innovative approaches such as machine learning < http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/11/30/artificial-intelligence-x-ray-specs/%3E and mobile http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/01/15/immersive-mobile-experience/ applications, started improvements in search < http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/12/23/search-and-discovery-on-wikipedia/%3E, grew translations < http://blog.wikimedia.org/2016/01/29/content-translation-50000-articles/%3E and dramatically improved website performance < http://blog.wikimedia.org/2014/12/29/how-we-made-editing-wikipedia-twice-as-...
.
In 2015, we made visual editor the default for all new users on English Wikipedia.
We united our community support departments and created a new community tech team to address community needs < https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/2015_Community_Wishlist_Survey/Status_report...
.
Profoundly, for the first time in seven years, highly active editor numbers have increased http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/09/25/wikipedia-editor-numbers/ and overall editor decline has stopped.
Equitably, I am proud of our efforts to address the gender gap < http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/03/04/inspire-campaign-funds-gender-diversity...
,
our growing focus on site safety and anti-harassment http://blog.wikimedia.org/?s=harassment initiatives and child protection -- I believe these are essential to protecting the fundamental principles of tolerance, open discourse and mutual respect -- our greatest strengths.
We fought against censorship and surveillance < http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/10/opinion/stop-spying-on-wikipedia-users.htm...
,
which pose severe existential threats to our mission of free knowledge.
Financially, we grew rapidly in 2014 to seed and launch the Wikimedia Endowment https://15.wikipedia.org/endowment.html and secure our future for years to come.
I move on with confidence that the Foundation can meet new challenges in a challenging environment. I believe in our ability to continue to lead through this change. At this critical juncture for the Foundation, and for the free and open knowledge movement as a whole, solidarity, creativity, adaptability and passion will continue to propel our movement forward, and empower our vision towards our future.
I will support the process of identifying our new leadership in every way that I can, and offer my assistance to the Board as they conduct their search for my successor. It has been an honor to serve and to contribute to our great movement.
With warm regards,
Lila _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe
Thank you Lila for keeping things moving. Continuous development is the only way to keep movements, organizations and products relevant. I really appreciate your hard work and the results achieved.
Best of luck in all of your future endeavors,
- Teemu
On 25.2.2016, at 20.45, Lila Tretikov lila@wikimedia.org wrote: However, I am moved by the accomplishments we have achieved during this time:
-------------------------------------------------- Teemu Leinonen http://teemuleinonen.fi +358 50 351 6796 Media Lab http://mlab.uiah.fi Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture --------------------------------------------------
Thanks for your support over your time here, Lila. It's been invaluable. All the best for the future.
Anthony Cole
On Fri, Feb 26, 2016 at 4:36 AM, Leinonen Teemu teemu.leinonen@aalto.fi wrote:
Thank you Lila for keeping things moving. Continuous development is the only way to keep movements, organizations and products relevant. I really appreciate your hard work and the results achieved.
Best of luck in all of your future endeavors,
- TeemuOn 25.2.2016, at 20.45, Lila Tretikov lila@wikimedia.org wrote: However, I am moved by the accomplishments we have achieved during this time:
Teemu Leinonen http://teemuleinonen.fi +358 50 351 6796 Media Lab http://mlab.uiah.fi Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture
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