Dear All,

Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself to you.

When I read the job position [1] for the next leader of Wikimedia Foundation, I noticed that it opened with a seemingly simple statement: “Knowledge belongs to all of us.” Does it, really? It’s a striking statement. In an increasingly unequal and polarizing world, one in which almost nothing belongs to all of us, the idea that knowledge *must *belong to all is enough to capture anyone’s attention and imagination – certainly mine.

My story is shaped by a twin belief that knowledge can also set us free. Shortly after I was born in Cairo, Egypt, my parents left for the United States. During my time at university, graduate school, and law school, I was consistently pulled towards some of society’s toughest issues – women’s rights, civil rights, and the rights of prisoners. I was equally pulled by the need to be effective in making change – seeking out leadership positions and raising my hand and voice to change the institutions of power, not just protest against them. I learned that the opportunity to make meaningful impact often sits ‘in-between’ traditional spheres: in-between research and teaching at Rice University, in-between healthcare delivery and advocacy at Planned Parenthood, and in-between government and the private sector at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. My time at all of these organisations required listening to and learning from many diverse stakeholders – including volunteers – and using my position of leadership to champion often unheard voices.

In 2012, I followed my heart to South Africa and its very complicated society – a legacy of apartheid perpetuating deep inequality despite the resilience of communities full of potential and hope, and a country with one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. A new organisation had just been formed with a big vision to close this opportunity gap. I signed up, first as an unpaid volunteer, and then for many years as the CEO. My job has been to cultivate a common space of trust for the collective assets of the society – from government, the private sector, civil society, and millions of young people – to work in a coalition to tackle one of the most daunting challenges of our time. To do this, we relied on an inclusive, multi-channel platform that leverages all forms of technology as a way to serve communities still riddled by a basic lack of access. Our successes came from the power of connection, partnership, and a collective belief that young people are the solution, not the problem. As I began my tenth year, I felt it was time to make space for new leaders.

Why am I joining the Wikimedia Foundation at this moment? There are many reasons: (1) this collective of projects is growing what is perhaps the most important commons infrastructure of our modern world. I am excited to add my time and talents to this vision. What will it take to create – not just imagine – a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge? (2) I have experienced first-hand that distributed leadership models can usually achieve more than any group of people can do on their own. I am eager to support processes that will make this even more true for our movement; and (3) I am drawn to working with people of integrity and commitment, who also appreciate humor and joy. I can already see that I will meet new colleagues like this from all over the world.

My former colleagues will say that I believe progress is enabled by culture: one that is founded on accountability, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, and a way of working led by values. It has informed an organisational humility in working with others and a relentless focus on getting things done the right way – while doing the right thing.

During the recruitment process, I met with a leading academic in the United States named Rebecca. She told me a story of her primary school teacher asking the students to raise their hands if they did not have an encyclopedia at home. She was one of those students, and it made her feel, for the first time, that maybe she didn’t have equal access to the resources needed for her education. The work of this collective community, should we achieve our vision, will make it unnecessary for a teacher to ever ask that question again. I then returned to South Africa and spoke to another Rebecca. This young woman grew up in a rural area where it was a struggle to afford text messaging, never mind any meaningful access to the digital world. She, too, did not have equal access to the resources she needed. Despite their starkly different circumstances, I believe that each Rebecca can find her own point of entry into our vision and impact as we look ahead to 2030.

*What have been my prior experiences with the wikiverse?*

I have had two past interactions with the people behind Wikipedia, in addition to being a reader and admirer.

First, I attended a conference in 2019 where I met a volunteer editor on English Wikipedia. The next year, he reached out to me to say that Wikipedia was looking to increase its articles about notable women, and he would write an article about me [2] in line with Wikipedia’s editing values. He eventually did this with the help of another editor from “Women in Red.”

Second, on World Teachers Day in October 2019, my current organisation, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, participated in an AfroCuration event hosted by WikiAfrica Education. It was aimed at generating new historical content on Wikipedia related to the themes of democracy, freedom, and constitution-making. The goal was to support students and teachers to create articles in indigenous languages about individuals who contributed to South Africa’s remarkable Constitution.

I look forward to beginning my own editing and volunteer journey as well as my professional path in the movement.

*What are three things I want to learn from you?*

My first job is to listen and seek to understand.

Even before I officially join the Wikimedia Foundation in January 2022, I would like to hear from anyone who is interested in sharing directly with me. Later this month, I will send more information about a focused ‘listening tour’ that will take place ahead of my formal start date. It will consist of online and offline engagements across Wiki communities, as well as with Foundation staff and other stakeholders.

I know that we are many communities with many different opinions. I will of course first ask you what you think: about our vision, mission, impact, strategy, how we relate to the rest of the world, as well as our current and future ways of working and achieving our aspirations.

But I will also ask you to help me learn what you know from data, even if it differs from what you think. I am curious about the spaces ‘in between’ opinion and evidence – as messy or imperfect as they may be.

And finally, I want to learn what motivates you at a personal level to contribute to your projects and participate in your communities.

Thank you for taking the time to read my message. I look forward to hearing from you.

Maryana

P.S. If you would like to read a translation of this email or can help to translate my email into other languages, please visit Meta [3]

------------------------------

[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/about/jobs/our-2021-ceo-and-executive-direct...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander

[3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se...

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 5:31 PM Nataliia Tymkiv ntymkiv@wikimedia.org wrote:

Dear all,

I am pleased to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed Maryana Iskander as the new CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation [1] [2].

Since 2013, Maryana has served as the CEO of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator [3], a South African non-profit social enterprise focused on building African solutions for the global challenge of youth unemployment. Prior to this, she spent six years as Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood Federation of America [4], a volunteer-led social movement focused on access to women’s healthcare. Maryana has also worked in academia as the Advisor to the President of Rice University [5], an international research university based in the United States.

Her professional career has been motivated by breaking down systemic barriers, creating opportunities for collaborative solution-building, and community empowerment. She has a proven track record for leading complex organisations shaped by shared decision-making.

In looking for the next CEO, we on the Board convened a Transition Committee [6], primarily to guide us in finding the right person for this critical role and secondly to oversee the executive Transition Team. The Transition Committee conducted a far-reaching and competitive global search, receiving around 400 recommendations and speaking to about 50 potential candidates. Throughout this selection process, Maryana impressed us as someone who is deeply inspired by the Wikimedia vision and who embodies the values of equity and community that inform all Wikimedia work. She has extensive leadership experience working with volunteer-led initiatives and building partnerships across public, private and social sectors. Maryana also brings expertise in technology-led innovation to accelerate meaningful social change. She does this with a global perspective: Maryana was born in the Middle East, educated in the United States and the United Kingdom, and has spent the last decade living and working on the African continent.

Maryana joins the Wikimedia Foundation at a crucial time. The movement is larger than ever, and it has never been more relevant or more trusted. This is an inflection point, as decisions need to be made to execute a shared vision for where the Movement wants to be in 2030. We believe that Maryana is the right person to help lead the Foundation at this moment.

As Maryana begins, her priorities will include supporting movement efforts to implement the Wikimedia 2030 recommendations, such as the development of a Movement Charter and the finalization of a Universal Code of Conduct. She will continue the Foundation’s focus on knowledge equity and exploring ways to address the gaps in content and the diversity of contributors to Wikimedia projects. She will be supported by the Board in this journey.

Maryana will officially start at the Wikimedia Foundation on January 5, 2022, as she transitions from her current job. Until then, the Foundation will continue to be led by the Transition Team, with guidance from the Board. In my conversations with her, I have seen that Maryana is a fan of direct communication and excited to learn from the movement. In the coming weeks, she will share ways to connect. Please join me in welcoming Maryana (CCed) to the Foundation!

PS. For translations of this message, or to help translate it into more languages, please visit Meta-Wiki [7]

*[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoint... https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoints-maryana-iskander-as-chief-executive-officer/*

*[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander *

*[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator*

*[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood*

*[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University *

*[6] https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_C... https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_Committee_and_Transition_Team,_2021 * *[7] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO* https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO

Best regards, antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv Acting Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees

*NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in advance!*

Welcome, Maryana! So happy to have you join the Wikimedia family. Exciting times! Shani.

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 6:43 PM Dariusz Jemielniak darekj@kozminski.edu.pl wrote:

Let me be one of the first ones to say "welcome"! I'm so delighted to see you take the helm!

best,

dj

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 5:37 PM Maryana Iskander miskander@wikimedia.org wrote:

...

Dear All,

Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself to you.

When I read the job position [1] for the next leader of Wikimedia Foundation, I noticed that it opened with a seemingly simple statement: “Knowledge belongs to all of us.” Does it, really? It’s a striking statement. In an increasingly unequal and polarizing world, one in which almost nothing belongs to all of us, the idea that knowledge *must *belong to all is enough to capture anyone’s attention and imagination – certainly mine.

My story is shaped by a twin belief that knowledge can also set us free. Shortly after I was born in Cairo, Egypt, my parents left for the United States. During my time at university, graduate school, and law school, I was consistently pulled towards some of society’s toughest issues – women’s rights, civil rights, and the rights of prisoners. I was equally pulled by the need to be effective in making change – seeking out leadership positions and raising my hand and voice to change the institutions of power, not just protest against them. I learned that the opportunity to make meaningful impact often sits ‘in-between’ traditional spheres: in-between research and teaching at Rice University, in-between healthcare delivery and advocacy at Planned Parenthood, and in-between government and the private sector at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. My time at all of these organisations required listening to and learning from many diverse stakeholders – including volunteers – and using my position of leadership to champion often unheard voices.

In 2012, I followed my heart to South Africa and its very complicated society – a legacy of apartheid perpetuating deep inequality despite the resilience of communities full of potential and hope, and a country with one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. A new organisation had just been formed with a big vision to close this opportunity gap. I signed up, first as an unpaid volunteer, and then for many years as the CEO. My job has been to cultivate a common space of trust for the collective assets of the society – from government, the private sector, civil society, and millions of young people – to work in a coalition to tackle one of the most daunting challenges of our time. To do this, we relied on an inclusive, multi-channel platform that leverages all forms of technology as a way to serve communities still riddled by a basic lack of access. Our successes came from the power of connection, partnership, and a collective belief that young people are the solution, not the problem. As I began my tenth year, I felt it was time to make space for new leaders.

Why am I joining the Wikimedia Foundation at this moment? There are many reasons: (1) this collective of projects is growing what is perhaps the most important commons infrastructure of our modern world. I am excited to add my time and talents to this vision. What will it take to create – not just imagine – a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge? (2) I have experienced first-hand that distributed leadership models can usually achieve more than any group of people can do on their own. I am eager to support processes that will make this even more true for our movement; and (3) I am drawn to working with people of integrity and commitment, who also appreciate humor and joy. I can already see that I will meet new colleagues like this from all over the world.

My former colleagues will say that I believe progress is enabled by culture: one that is founded on accountability, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, and a way of working led by values. It has informed an organisational humility in working with others and a relentless focus on getting things done the right way – while doing the right thing.

During the recruitment process, I met with a leading academic in the United States named Rebecca. She told me a story of her primary school teacher asking the students to raise their hands if they did not have an encyclopedia at home. She was one of those students, and it made her feel, for the first time, that maybe she didn’t have equal access to the resources needed for her education. The work of this collective community, should we achieve our vision, will make it unnecessary for a teacher to ever ask that question again. I then returned to South Africa and spoke to another Rebecca. This young woman grew up in a rural area where it was a struggle to afford text messaging, never mind any meaningful access to the digital world. She, too, did not have equal access to the resources she needed. Despite their starkly different circumstances, I believe that each Rebecca can find her own point of entry into our vision and impact as we look ahead to 2030.

*What have been my prior experiences with the wikiverse?*

I have had two past interactions with the people behind Wikipedia, in addition to being a reader and admirer.

First, I attended a conference in 2019 where I met a volunteer editor on English Wikipedia. The next year, he reached out to me to say that Wikipedia was looking to increase its articles about notable women, and he would write an article about me [2] in line with Wikipedia’s editing values. He eventually did this with the help of another editor from “Women in Red.”

Second, on World Teachers Day in October 2019, my current organisation, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, participated in an AfroCuration event hosted by WikiAfrica Education. It was aimed at generating new historical content on Wikipedia related to the themes of democracy, freedom, and constitution-making. The goal was to support students and teachers to create articles in indigenous languages about individuals who contributed to South Africa’s remarkable Constitution.

I look forward to beginning my own editing and volunteer journey as well as my professional path in the movement.

*What are three things I want to learn from you?*

My first job is to listen and seek to understand.

Even before I officially join the Wikimedia Foundation in January 2022, I would like to hear from anyone who is interested in sharing directly with me. Later this month, I will send more information about a focused ‘listening tour’ that will take place ahead of my formal start date. It will consist of online and offline engagements across Wiki communities, as well as with Foundation staff and other stakeholders.

I know that we are many communities with many different opinions. I will of course first ask you what you think: about our vision, mission, impact, strategy, how we relate to the rest of the world, as well as our current and future ways of working and achieving our aspirations.

But I will also ask you to help me learn what you know from data, even if it differs from what you think. I am curious about the spaces ‘in between’ opinion and evidence – as messy or imperfect as they may be.

And finally, I want to learn what motivates you at a personal level to contribute to your projects and participate in your communities.

Thank you for taking the time to read my message. I look forward to hearing from you.

Maryana

P.S. If you would like to read a translation of this email or can help to translate my email into other languages, please visit Meta [3]

---

[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/about/jobs/our-2021-ceo-and-executive-direct...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander

[3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se...

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 5:31 PM Nataliia Tymkiv ntymkiv@wikimedia.org wrote:

...

Dear all,

I am pleased to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed Maryana Iskander as the new CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation [1] [2].

Since 2013, Maryana has served as the CEO of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator [3], a South African non-profit social enterprise focused on building African solutions for the global challenge of youth unemployment. Prior to this, she spent six years as Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood Federation of America [4], a volunteer-led social movement focused on access to women’s healthcare. Maryana has also worked in academia as the Advisor to the President of Rice University [5], an international research university based in the United States.

Her professional career has been motivated by breaking down systemic barriers, creating opportunities for collaborative solution-building, and community empowerment. She has a proven track record for leading complex organisations shaped by shared decision-making.

In looking for the next CEO, we on the Board convened a Transition Committee [6], primarily to guide us in finding the right person for this critical role and secondly to oversee the executive Transition Team. The Transition Committee conducted a far-reaching and competitive global search, receiving around 400 recommendations and speaking to about 50 potential candidates. Throughout this selection process, Maryana impressed us as someone who is deeply inspired by the Wikimedia vision and who embodies the values of equity and community that inform all Wikimedia work. She has extensive leadership experience working with volunteer-led initiatives and building partnerships across public, private and social sectors. Maryana also brings expertise in technology-led innovation to accelerate meaningful social change. She does this with a global perspective: Maryana was born in the Middle East, educated in the United States and the United Kingdom, and has spent the last decade living and working on the African continent.

Maryana joins the Wikimedia Foundation at a crucial time. The movement is larger than ever, and it has never been more relevant or more trusted. This is an inflection point, as decisions need to be made to execute a shared vision for where the Movement wants to be in 2030. We believe that Maryana is the right person to help lead the Foundation at this moment.

As Maryana begins, her priorities will include supporting movement efforts to implement the Wikimedia 2030 recommendations, such as the development of a Movement Charter and the finalization of a Universal Code of Conduct. She will continue the Foundation’s focus on knowledge equity and exploring ways to address the gaps in content and the diversity of contributors to Wikimedia projects. She will be supported by the Board in this journey.

Maryana will officially start at the Wikimedia Foundation on January 5, 2022, as she transitions from her current job. Until then, the Foundation will continue to be led by the Transition Team, with guidance from the Board. In my conversations with her, I have seen that Maryana is a fan of direct communication and excited to learn from the movement. In the coming weeks, she will share ways to connect. Please join me in welcoming Maryana (CCed) to the Foundation!

PS. For translations of this message, or to help translate it into more languages, please visit Meta-Wiki [7]

*[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoint... https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoints-maryana-iskander-as-chief-executive-officer/*

*[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander *

*[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator*

*[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood*

*[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University *

*[6] https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_C... https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_Committee_and_Transition_Team,_2021 * *[7] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO* https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO

Best regards, antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv Acting Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees

*NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in advance!*

---

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--

---

​​

prof. dr hab. Dariusz Jemielniak kierownik katedry MINDS https://nerds.kozminski.edu.pl/, Akademia Leona Koźmińskiego

członek korespondent Polskiej Akademii Nauk https://pan.pl/

faculty associate Berkman-Klein Center for Internet and Society https://cyber.harvard.edu/, Harvard University Ważniejsze książki: Collaborative Society https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/collaborative-society (2020, MIT Press, z A. Przegalińską), Thick Big Data https://global.oup.com/academic/product/thick-big-data-9780198839705?cc=gb&lang=en (2020, Oxford University Press), Common Knowledge? https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=24010 (2014, Stanford University Press) *Ostatnie artykuły:*

• Jędrzej Chrzanowski, Julia Sołek, Dariusz Jemielniak, Wojciech

Fendler (2021) Assessing Public Interest Based on Wikipedia’s Most Visited Medical Articles During the SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak https://www.jmir.org/2021/4/e26331/, *Journal of Medical Internet Research*, 23(4)::e26331

• Natalia Banasik-Jemielniak, Dariusz Jemielniak, Wojciech Pędzich

(2021) Intercessory Rote Prayer, Life Longevity and the Mortality of Roman Catholic Bishops: An Exploratory Study https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10943-021-01214-9, *Journal of Religion and Health*, doi.org/10.1007/s10943-021-01214-9

• Natalia Banasik-Jemielniak, Dariusz Jemielniak, Maciej Wilamowski

(2021) Psychology and Wikipedia: Measuring Psychology Journals’ Impact by Wikipedia Citations http://nerds.kozminski.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Psychology-and-Wikipedia-measuring-psychology-journals-impact-by-Wikipedia-citations.pdf , *Social Science Computer Review, *doi.org/10.1177/0894439321993836

• Agata Stasik, Dariusz Jemielniak (2021) Public involvement in risk

governance in the internet era: impact of new rules of building trust and credibility http://nerds.kozminski.edu.pl/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Public-involvement-in-risk-governance-in-the-internet-era-impact-of-new-rules-of-building-trust-and-credibility.pdf, Journal of Risk Research, doi.org/10.1080/13669877.2020.1864008

---

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Hi Maryana,

Welcome. We hope for the best and we love to reach out to you in one of our East, Southeast Asia & the Pacific (ESEAP) virtual meetings.

Thank you.

Kind regards,

Butch Bustria

On Tue, 14 Sep 2021, 11:36 pm Maryana Iskander, miskander@wikimedia.org wrote:

Dear All,

Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself to you.

When I read the job position [1] for the next leader of Wikimedia Foundation, I noticed that it opened with a seemingly simple statement: “Knowledge belongs to all of us.” Does it, really? It’s a striking statement. In an increasingly unequal and polarizing world, one in which almost nothing belongs to all of us, the idea that knowledge *must *belong to all is enough to capture anyone’s attention and imagination – certainly mine.

My story is shaped by a twin belief that knowledge can also set us free. Shortly after I was born in Cairo, Egypt, my parents left for the United States. During my time at university, graduate school, and law school, I was consistently pulled towards some of society’s toughest issues – women’s rights, civil rights, and the rights of prisoners. I was equally pulled by the need to be effective in making change – seeking out leadership positions and raising my hand and voice to change the institutions of power, not just protest against them. I learned that the opportunity to make meaningful impact often sits ‘in-between’ traditional spheres: in-between research and teaching at Rice University, in-between healthcare delivery and advocacy at Planned Parenthood, and in-between government and the private sector at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. My time at all of these organisations required listening to and learning from many diverse stakeholders – including volunteers – and using my position of leadership to champion often unheard voices.

In 2012, I followed my heart to South Africa and its very complicated society – a legacy of apartheid perpetuating deep inequality despite the resilience of communities full of potential and hope, and a country with one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. A new organisation had just been formed with a big vision to close this opportunity gap. I signed up, first as an unpaid volunteer, and then for many years as the CEO. My job has been to cultivate a common space of trust for the collective assets of the society – from government, the private sector, civil society, and millions of young people – to work in a coalition to tackle one of the most daunting challenges of our time. To do this, we relied on an inclusive, multi-channel platform that leverages all forms of technology as a way to serve communities still riddled by a basic lack of access. Our successes came from the power of connection, partnership, and a collective belief that young people are the solution, not the problem. As I began my tenth year, I felt it was time to make space for new leaders.

Why am I joining the Wikimedia Foundation at this moment? There are many reasons: (1) this collective of projects is growing what is perhaps the most important commons infrastructure of our modern world. I am excited to add my time and talents to this vision. What will it take to create – not just imagine – a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge? (2) I have experienced first-hand that distributed leadership models can usually achieve more than any group of people can do on their own. I am eager to support processes that will make this even more true for our movement; and (3) I am drawn to working with people of integrity and commitment, who also appreciate humor and joy. I can already see that I will meet new colleagues like this from all over the world.

My former colleagues will say that I believe progress is enabled by culture: one that is founded on accountability, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, and a way of working led by values. It has informed an organisational humility in working with others and a relentless focus on getting things done the right way – while doing the right thing.

During the recruitment process, I met with a leading academic in the United States named Rebecca. She told me a story of her primary school teacher asking the students to raise their hands if they did not have an encyclopedia at home. She was one of those students, and it made her feel, for the first time, that maybe she didn’t have equal access to the resources needed for her education. The work of this collective community, should we achieve our vision, will make it unnecessary for a teacher to ever ask that question again. I then returned to South Africa and spoke to another Rebecca. This young woman grew up in a rural area where it was a struggle to afford text messaging, never mind any meaningful access to the digital world. She, too, did not have equal access to the resources she needed. Despite their starkly different circumstances, I believe that each Rebecca can find her own point of entry into our vision and impact as we look ahead to 2030.

*What have been my prior experiences with the wikiverse?*

I have had two past interactions with the people behind Wikipedia, in addition to being a reader and admirer.

First, I attended a conference in 2019 where I met a volunteer editor on English Wikipedia. The next year, he reached out to me to say that Wikipedia was looking to increase its articles about notable women, and he would write an article about me [2] in line with Wikipedia’s editing values. He eventually did this with the help of another editor from “Women in Red.”

Second, on World Teachers Day in October 2019, my current organisation, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, participated in an AfroCuration event hosted by WikiAfrica Education. It was aimed at generating new historical content on Wikipedia related to the themes of democracy, freedom, and constitution-making. The goal was to support students and teachers to create articles in indigenous languages about individuals who contributed to South Africa’s remarkable Constitution.

I look forward to beginning my own editing and volunteer journey as well as my professional path in the movement.

*What are three things I want to learn from you?*

My first job is to listen and seek to understand.

Even before I officially join the Wikimedia Foundation in January 2022, I would like to hear from anyone who is interested in sharing directly with me. Later this month, I will send more information about a focused ‘listening tour’ that will take place ahead of my formal start date. It will consist of online and offline engagements across Wiki communities, as well as with Foundation staff and other stakeholders.

I know that we are many communities with many different opinions. I will of course first ask you what you think: about our vision, mission, impact, strategy, how we relate to the rest of the world, as well as our current and future ways of working and achieving our aspirations.

But I will also ask you to help me learn what you know from data, even if it differs from what you think. I am curious about the spaces ‘in between’ opinion and evidence – as messy or imperfect as they may be.

And finally, I want to learn what motivates you at a personal level to contribute to your projects and participate in your communities.

Thank you for taking the time to read my message. I look forward to hearing from you.

Maryana

P.S. If you would like to read a translation of this email or can help to translate my email into other languages, please visit Meta [3]

---

[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/about/jobs/our-2021-ceo-and-executive-direct...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander

[3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se...

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 5:31 PM Nataliia Tymkiv ntymkiv@wikimedia.org wrote:

...

Dear all,

I am pleased to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed Maryana Iskander as the new CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation [1] [2].

Since 2013, Maryana has served as the CEO of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator [3], a South African non-profit social enterprise focused on building African solutions for the global challenge of youth unemployment. Prior to this, she spent six years as Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood Federation of America [4], a volunteer-led social movement focused on access to women’s healthcare. Maryana has also worked in academia as the Advisor to the President of Rice University [5], an international research university based in the United States.

Her professional career has been motivated by breaking down systemic barriers, creating opportunities for collaborative solution-building, and community empowerment. She has a proven track record for leading complex organisations shaped by shared decision-making.

In looking for the next CEO, we on the Board convened a Transition Committee [6], primarily to guide us in finding the right person for this critical role and secondly to oversee the executive Transition Team. The Transition Committee conducted a far-reaching and competitive global search, receiving around 400 recommendations and speaking to about 50 potential candidates. Throughout this selection process, Maryana impressed us as someone who is deeply inspired by the Wikimedia vision and who embodies the values of equity and community that inform all Wikimedia work. She has extensive leadership experience working with volunteer-led initiatives and building partnerships across public, private and social sectors. Maryana also brings expertise in technology-led innovation to accelerate meaningful social change. She does this with a global perspective: Maryana was born in the Middle East, educated in the United States and the United Kingdom, and has spent the last decade living and working on the African continent.

Maryana joins the Wikimedia Foundation at a crucial time. The movement is larger than ever, and it has never been more relevant or more trusted. This is an inflection point, as decisions need to be made to execute a shared vision for where the Movement wants to be in 2030. We believe that Maryana is the right person to help lead the Foundation at this moment.

As Maryana begins, her priorities will include supporting movement efforts to implement the Wikimedia 2030 recommendations, such as the development of a Movement Charter and the finalization of a Universal Code of Conduct. She will continue the Foundation’s focus on knowledge equity and exploring ways to address the gaps in content and the diversity of contributors to Wikimedia projects. She will be supported by the Board in this journey.

Maryana will officially start at the Wikimedia Foundation on January 5, 2022, as she transitions from her current job. Until then, the Foundation will continue to be led by the Transition Team, with guidance from the Board. In my conversations with her, I have seen that Maryana is a fan of direct communication and excited to learn from the movement. In the coming weeks, she will share ways to connect. Please join me in welcoming Maryana (CCed) to the Foundation!

PS. For translations of this message, or to help translate it into more languages, please visit Meta-Wiki [7]

*[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoint... https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoints-maryana-iskander-as-chief-executive-officer/*

*[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander *

*[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator*

*[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood*

*[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University *

*[6] https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_C... https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_Committee_and_Transition_Team,_2021 * *[7] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO* https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO

Best regards, antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv Acting Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees

*NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in advance!*

---

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On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 11:30 AM Andreas Kolbe jayen466@gmail.com wrote:

Hi Maryana,

Welcome, great opening letter.

You mention that you want to do some of your own volunteer editing in the months before you officially start, which is great.

Here is an idea: between now and then, tell absolutely no one what your user account is called, and what articles, projects or language versions you are working on. I think you might find the experience invaluable.

This is a great suggestion. The average Wikipedia editor starts their editing anonymously or pseudonymously with no reputation attached to their contributions. Doing the same would give you an honest perspective on the new contributor experience.

Good luck,

Andreas

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 4:36 PM Maryana Iskander miskander@wikimedia.org wrote:

...

Dear All,

Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself to you.

When I read the job position [1] for the next leader of Wikimedia Foundation, I noticed that it opened with a seemingly simple statement: “Knowledge belongs to all of us.” Does it, really? It’s a striking statement. In an increasingly unequal and polarizing world, one in which almost nothing belongs to all of us, the idea that knowledge *must *belong to all is enough to capture anyone’s attention and imagination – certainly mine.

My story is shaped by a twin belief that knowledge can also set us free. Shortly after I was born in Cairo, Egypt, my parents left for the United States. During my time at university, graduate school, and law school, I was consistently pulled towards some of society’s toughest issues – women’s rights, civil rights, and the rights of prisoners. I was equally pulled by the need to be effective in making change – seeking out leadership positions and raising my hand and voice to change the institutions of power, not just protest against them. I learned that the opportunity to make meaningful impact often sits ‘in-between’ traditional spheres: in-between research and teaching at Rice University, in-between healthcare delivery and advocacy at Planned Parenthood, and in-between government and the private sector at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. My time at all of these organisations required listening to and learning from many diverse stakeholders – including volunteers – and using my position of leadership to champion often unheard voices.

In 2012, I followed my heart to South Africa and its very complicated society – a legacy of apartheid perpetuating deep inequality despite the resilience of communities full of potential and hope, and a country with one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. A new organisation had just been formed with a big vision to close this opportunity gap. I signed up, first as an unpaid volunteer, and then for many years as the CEO. My job has been to cultivate a common space of trust for the collective assets of the society – from government, the private sector, civil society, and millions of young people – to work in a coalition to tackle one of the most daunting challenges of our time. To do this, we relied on an inclusive, multi-channel platform that leverages all forms of technology as a way to serve communities still riddled by a basic lack of access. Our successes came from the power of connection, partnership, and a collective belief that young people are the solution, not the problem. As I began my tenth year, I felt it was time to make space for new leaders.

Why am I joining the Wikimedia Foundation at this moment? There are many reasons: (1) this collective of projects is growing what is perhaps the most important commons infrastructure of our modern world. I am excited to add my time and talents to this vision. What will it take to create – not just imagine – a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge? (2) I have experienced first-hand that distributed leadership models can usually achieve more than any group of people can do on their own. I am eager to support processes that will make this even more true for our movement; and (3) I am drawn to working with people of integrity and commitment, who also appreciate humor and joy. I can already see that I will meet new colleagues like this from all over the world.

My former colleagues will say that I believe progress is enabled by culture: one that is founded on accountability, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, and a way of working led by values. It has informed an organisational humility in working with others and a relentless focus on getting things done the right way – while doing the right thing.

During the recruitment process, I met with a leading academic in the United States named Rebecca. She told me a story of her primary school teacher asking the students to raise their hands if they did not have an encyclopedia at home. She was one of those students, and it made her feel, for the first time, that maybe she didn’t have equal access to the resources needed for her education. The work of this collective community, should we achieve our vision, will make it unnecessary for a teacher to ever ask that question again. I then returned to South Africa and spoke to another Rebecca. This young woman grew up in a rural area where it was a struggle to afford text messaging, never mind any meaningful access to the digital world. She, too, did not have equal access to the resources she needed. Despite their starkly different circumstances, I believe that each Rebecca can find her own point of entry into our vision and impact as we look ahead to 2030.

*What have been my prior experiences with the wikiverse?*

I have had two past interactions with the people behind Wikipedia, in addition to being a reader and admirer.

First, I attended a conference in 2019 where I met a volunteer editor on English Wikipedia. The next year, he reached out to me to say that Wikipedia was looking to increase its articles about notable women, and he would write an article about me [2] in line with Wikipedia’s editing values. He eventually did this with the help of another editor from “Women in Red.”

Second, on World Teachers Day in October 2019, my current organisation, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, participated in an AfroCuration event hosted by WikiAfrica Education. It was aimed at generating new historical content on Wikipedia related to the themes of democracy, freedom, and constitution-making. The goal was to support students and teachers to create articles in indigenous languages about individuals who contributed to South Africa’s remarkable Constitution.

I look forward to beginning my own editing and volunteer journey as well as my professional path in the movement.

*What are three things I want to learn from you?*

My first job is to listen and seek to understand.

Even before I officially join the Wikimedia Foundation in January 2022, I would like to hear from anyone who is interested in sharing directly with me. Later this month, I will send more information about a focused ‘listening tour’ that will take place ahead of my formal start date. It will consist of online and offline engagements across Wiki communities, as well as with Foundation staff and other stakeholders.

I know that we are many communities with many different opinions. I will of course first ask you what you think: about our vision, mission, impact, strategy, how we relate to the rest of the world, as well as our current and future ways of working and achieving our aspirations.

But I will also ask you to help me learn what you know from data, even if it differs from what you think. I am curious about the spaces ‘in between’ opinion and evidence – as messy or imperfect as they may be.

And finally, I want to learn what motivates you at a personal level to contribute to your projects and participate in your communities.

Thank you for taking the time to read my message. I look forward to hearing from you.

Maryana

P.S. If you would like to read a translation of this email or can help to translate my email into other languages, please visit Meta [3]

---

[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/about/jobs/our-2021-ceo-and-executive-direct...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander

[3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se...

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 5:31 PM Nataliia Tymkiv ntymkiv@wikimedia.org wrote:

...

Dear all,

I am pleased to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed Maryana Iskander as the new CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation [1] [2].

Since 2013, Maryana has served as the CEO of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator [3], a South African non-profit social enterprise focused on building African solutions for the global challenge of youth unemployment. Prior to this, she spent six years as Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood Federation of America [4], a volunteer-led social movement focused on access to women’s healthcare. Maryana has also worked in academia as the Advisor to the President of Rice University [5], an international research university based in the United States.

Her professional career has been motivated by breaking down systemic barriers, creating opportunities for collaborative solution-building, and community empowerment. She has a proven track record for leading complex organisations shaped by shared decision-making.

In looking for the next CEO, we on the Board convened a Transition Committee [6], primarily to guide us in finding the right person for this critical role and secondly to oversee the executive Transition Team. The Transition Committee conducted a far-reaching and competitive global search, receiving around 400 recommendations and speaking to about 50 potential candidates. Throughout this selection process, Maryana impressed us as someone who is deeply inspired by the Wikimedia vision and who embodies the values of equity and community that inform all Wikimedia work. She has extensive leadership experience working with volunteer-led initiatives and building partnerships across public, private and social sectors. Maryana also brings expertise in technology-led innovation to accelerate meaningful social change. She does this with a global perspective: Maryana was born in the Middle East, educated in the United States and the United Kingdom, and has spent the last decade living and working on the African continent.

Maryana joins the Wikimedia Foundation at a crucial time. The movement is larger than ever, and it has never been more relevant or more trusted. This is an inflection point, as decisions need to be made to execute a shared vision for where the Movement wants to be in 2030. We believe that Maryana is the right person to help lead the Foundation at this moment.

As Maryana begins, her priorities will include supporting movement efforts to implement the Wikimedia 2030 recommendations, such as the development of a Movement Charter and the finalization of a Universal Code of Conduct. She will continue the Foundation’s focus on knowledge equity and exploring ways to address the gaps in content and the diversity of contributors to Wikimedia projects. She will be supported by the Board in this journey.

Maryana will officially start at the Wikimedia Foundation on January 5, 2022, as she transitions from her current job. Until then, the Foundation will continue to be led by the Transition Team, with guidance from the Board. In my conversations with her, I have seen that Maryana is a fan of direct communication and excited to learn from the movement. In the coming weeks, she will share ways to connect. Please join me in welcoming Maryana (CCed) to the Foundation!

PS. For translations of this message, or to help translate it into more languages, please visit Meta-Wiki [7]

*[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoint... https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoints-maryana-iskander-as-chief-executive-officer/*

*[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander *

*[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator*

*[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood*

*[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University *

*[6] https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_C... https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_Committee_and_Transition_Team,_2021 * *[7] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO* https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO

Best regards, antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv Acting Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees

*NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in advance!*

---

Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l Public archives at https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/... To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-leave@lists.wikimedia.org

---

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HI Maryana,

Welcome to the movement in your new role! While we have to be patient a bit longer I look forward to seeing you learn about and improve upon the role of the Foundation within movement so that together we can tackle the complex challenges ahead of us.

Thank you to all the board members and staff members involved in completing what is the incredibly challenging proces of finding us a new CEO!

Warm greetings

Jan-Bart de Vreede Wikimedia Nederland

On 14 Sep 2021, at 17:35, Maryana Iskander miskander@wikimedia.org wrote:

Dear All,

Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself to you.

When I read the job position [1] for the next leader of Wikimedia Foundation, I noticed that it opened with a seemingly simple statement: “Knowledge belongs to all of us.” Does it, really? It’s a striking statement. In an increasingly unequal and polarizing world, one in which almost nothing belongs to all of us, the idea that knowledge must belong to all is enough to capture anyone’s attention and imagination – certainly mine.

My story is shaped by a twin belief that knowledge can also set us free. Shortly after I was born in Cairo, Egypt, my parents left for the United States. During my time at university, graduate school, and law school, I was consistently pulled towards some of society’s toughest issues – women’s rights, civil rights, and the rights of prisoners. I was equally pulled by the need to be effective in making change – seeking out leadership positions and raising my hand and voice to change the institutions of power, not just protest against them. I learned that the opportunity to make meaningful impact often sits ‘in-between’ traditional spheres: in-between research and teaching at Rice University, in-between healthcare delivery and advocacy at Planned Parenthood, and in-between government and the private sector at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. My time at all of these organisations required listening to and learning from many diverse stakeholders – including volunteers – and using my position of leadership to champion often unheard voices.

In 2012, I followed my heart to South Africa and its very complicated society – a legacy of apartheid perpetuating deep inequality despite the resilience of communities full of potential and hope, and a country with one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. A new organisation had just been formed with a big vision to close this opportunity gap. I signed up, first as an unpaid volunteer, and then for many years as the CEO. My job has been to cultivate a common space of trust for the collective assets of the society – from government, the private sector, civil society, and millions of young people – to work in a coalition to tackle one of the most daunting challenges of our time. To do this, we relied on an inclusive, multi-channel platform that leverages all forms of technology as a way to serve communities still riddled by a basic lack of access. Our successes came from the power of connection, partnership, and a collective belief that young people are the solution, not the problem. As I began my tenth year, I felt it was time to make space for new leaders.

Why am I joining the Wikimedia Foundation at this moment? There are many reasons: (1) this collective of projects is growing what is perhaps the most important commons infrastructure of our modern world. I am excited to add my time and talents to this vision. What will it take to create – not just imagine – a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge? (2) I have experienced first-hand that distributed leadership models can usually achieve more than any group of people can do on their own. I am eager to support processes that will make this even more true for our movement; and (3) I am drawn to working with people of integrity and commitment, who also appreciate humor and joy. I can already see that I will meet new colleagues like this from all over the world.

My former colleagues will say that I believe progress is enabled by culture: one that is founded on accountability, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, and a way of working led by values. It has informed an organisational humility in working with others and a relentless focus on getting things done the right way – while doing the right thing.

During the recruitment process, I met with a leading academic in the United States named Rebecca. She told me a story of her primary school teacher asking the students to raise their hands if they did not have an encyclopedia at home. She was one of those students, and it made her feel, for the first time, that maybe she didn’t have equal access to the resources needed for her education. The work of this collective community, should we achieve our vision, will make it unnecessary for a teacher to ever ask that question again. I then returned to South Africa and spoke to another Rebecca. This young woman grew up in a rural area where it was a struggle to afford text messaging, never mind any meaningful access to the digital world. She, too, did not have equal access to the resources she needed. Despite their starkly different circumstances, I believe that each Rebecca can find her own point of entry into our vision and impact as we look ahead to 2030. What have been my prior experiences with the wikiverse?

I have had two past interactions with the people behind Wikipedia, in addition to being a reader and admirer.

First, I attended a conference in 2019 where I met a volunteer editor on English Wikipedia. The next year, he reached out to me to say that Wikipedia was looking to increase its articles about notable women, and he would write an article about me [2] in line with Wikipedia’s editing values. He eventually did this with the help of another editor from “Women in Red.”

Second, on World Teachers Day in October 2019, my current organisation, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, participated in an AfroCuration event hosted by WikiAfrica Education. It was aimed at generating new historical content on Wikipedia related to the themes of democracy, freedom, and constitution-making. The goal was to support students and teachers to create articles in indigenous languages about individuals who contributed to South Africa’s remarkable Constitution.

I look forward to beginning my own editing and volunteer journey as well as my professional path in the movement. What are three things I want to learn from you?

My first job is to listen and seek to understand.

Even before I officially join the Wikimedia Foundation in January 2022, I would like to hear from anyone who is interested in sharing directly with me. Later this month, I will send more information about a focused ‘listening tour’ that will take place ahead of my formal start date. It will consist of online and offline engagements across Wiki communities, as well as with Foundation staff and other stakeholders.

I know that we are many communities with many different opinions. I will of course first ask you what you think: about our vision, mission, impact, strategy, how we relate to the rest of the world, as well as our current and future ways of working and achieving our aspirations.

But I will also ask you to help me learn what you know from data, even if it differs from what you think. I am curious about the spaces ‘in between’ opinion and evidence – as messy or imperfect as they may be.

And finally, I want to learn what motivates you at a personal level to contribute to your projects and participate in your communities.

Thank you for taking the time to read my message. I look forward to hearing from you.

Maryana

P.S. If you would like to read a translation of this email or can help to translate my email into other languages, please visit Meta [3]

[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/about/jobs/our-2021-ceo-and-executive-direct... https://wikimediafoundation.org/about/jobs/our-2021-ceo-and-executive-director-search/#section-1

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander [3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 5:31 PM Nataliia Tymkiv <ntymkiv@wikimedia.org mailto:ntymkiv@wikimedia.org> wrote: Dear all, I am pleased to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed Maryana Iskander as the new CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation [1] [2].

Since 2013, Maryana has served as the CEO of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator [3], a South African non-profit social enterprise focused on building African solutions for the global challenge of youth unemployment. Prior to this, she spent six years as Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood Federation of America [4], a volunteer-led social movement focused on access to women’s healthcare. Maryana has also worked in academia as the Advisor to the President of Rice University [5], an international research university based in the United States.

Her professional career has been motivated by breaking down systemic barriers, creating opportunities for collaborative solution-building, and community empowerment. She has a proven track record for leading complex organisations shaped by shared decision-making.

In looking for the next CEO, we on the Board convened a Transition Committee [6], primarily to guide us in finding the right person for this critical role and secondly to oversee the executive Transition Team. The Transition Committee conducted a far-reaching and competitive global search, receiving around 400 recommendations and speaking to about 50 potential candidates. Throughout this selection process, Maryana impressed us as someone who is deeply inspired by the Wikimedia vision and who embodies the values of equity and community that inform all Wikimedia work. She has extensive leadership experience working with volunteer-led initiatives and building partnerships across public, private and social sectors. Maryana also brings expertise in technology-led innovation to accelerate meaningful social change. She does this with a global perspective: Maryana was born in the Middle East, educated in the United States and the United Kingdom, and has spent the last decade living and working on the African continent.

Maryana joins the Wikimedia Foundation at a crucial time. The movement is larger than ever, and it has never been more relevant or more trusted. This is an inflection point, as decisions need to be made to execute a shared vision for where the Movement wants to be in 2030. We believe that Maryana is the right person to help lead the Foundation at this moment.

As Maryana begins, her priorities will include supporting movement efforts to implement the Wikimedia 2030 recommendations, such as the development of a Movement Charter and the finalization of a Universal Code of Conduct. She will continue the Foundation’s focus on knowledge equity and exploring ways to address the gaps in content and the diversity of contributors to Wikimedia projects. She will be supported by the Board in this journey.

Maryana will officially start at the Wikimedia Foundation on January 5, 2022, as she transitions from her current job. Until then, the Foundation will continue to be led by the Transition Team, with guidance from the Board. In my conversations with her, I have seen that Maryana is a fan of direct communication and excited to learn from the movement. In the coming weeks, she will share ways to connect. Please join me in welcoming Maryana (CCed) to the Foundation!

PS. For translations of this message, or to help translate it into more languages, please visit Meta-Wiki [7]

[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoint... https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoints-maryana-iskander-as-chief-executive-officer/ [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University [6] https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_C... https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_Committee_and_Transition_Team,_2021 [7] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO

Best regards, antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv Acting Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees

NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in advance!

---

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Welcome Maryana!

The first thing I've done after knowing the name of the new CEO was stalking the history of your Wikipedia entry, to see when it was created. And now I've red how it happened first hand 😂 About your other Wiki experience - I also had the privilege of participating in an AfroCuration event in Mozambique the weekend before the last with the Macua students and teachers of Rovuma University, promoted by the Moleskine Foundation, and it was beyond fantastic.

I strongly concur that if you are about to begin your own editing and volunteer journey, do it under a non identifiable name, and see for yourself what newbies have to endure to be part of our movement. It will certainly be a very valuable experience.

Wishing all the best in this new journey of your professional life, Paulo

Maryana Iskander miskander@wikimedia.org escreveu no dia terça, 14/09/2021 à(s) 16:37:

Dear All,

Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself to you.

When I read the job position [1] for the next leader of Wikimedia Foundation, I noticed that it opened with a seemingly simple statement: “Knowledge belongs to all of us.” Does it, really? It’s a striking statement. In an increasingly unequal and polarizing world, one in which almost nothing belongs to all of us, the idea that knowledge *must *belong to all is enough to capture anyone’s attention and imagination – certainly mine.

My story is shaped by a twin belief that knowledge can also set us free. Shortly after I was born in Cairo, Egypt, my parents left for the United States. During my time at university, graduate school, and law school, I was consistently pulled towards some of society’s toughest issues – women’s rights, civil rights, and the rights of prisoners. I was equally pulled by the need to be effective in making change – seeking out leadership positions and raising my hand and voice to change the institutions of power, not just protest against them. I learned that the opportunity to make meaningful impact often sits ‘in-between’ traditional spheres: in-between research and teaching at Rice University, in-between healthcare delivery and advocacy at Planned Parenthood, and in-between government and the private sector at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. My time at all of these organisations required listening to and learning from many diverse stakeholders – including volunteers – and using my position of leadership to champion often unheard voices.

In 2012, I followed my heart to South Africa and its very complicated society – a legacy of apartheid perpetuating deep inequality despite the resilience of communities full of potential and hope, and a country with one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. A new organisation had just been formed with a big vision to close this opportunity gap. I signed up, first as an unpaid volunteer, and then for many years as the CEO. My job has been to cultivate a common space of trust for the collective assets of the society – from government, the private sector, civil society, and millions of young people – to work in a coalition to tackle one of the most daunting challenges of our time. To do this, we relied on an inclusive, multi-channel platform that leverages all forms of technology as a way to serve communities still riddled by a basic lack of access. Our successes came from the power of connection, partnership, and a collective belief that young people are the solution, not the problem. As I began my tenth year, I felt it was time to make space for new leaders.

Why am I joining the Wikimedia Foundation at this moment? There are many reasons: (1) this collective of projects is growing what is perhaps the most important commons infrastructure of our modern world. I am excited to add my time and talents to this vision. What will it take to create – not just imagine – a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge? (2) I have experienced first-hand that distributed leadership models can usually achieve more than any group of people can do on their own. I am eager to support processes that will make this even more true for our movement; and (3) I am drawn to working with people of integrity and commitment, who also appreciate humor and joy. I can already see that I will meet new colleagues like this from all over the world.

My former colleagues will say that I believe progress is enabled by culture: one that is founded on accountability, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, and a way of working led by values. It has informed an organisational humility in working with others and a relentless focus on getting things done the right way – while doing the right thing.

During the recruitment process, I met with a leading academic in the United States named Rebecca. She told me a story of her primary school teacher asking the students to raise their hands if they did not have an encyclopedia at home. She was one of those students, and it made her feel, for the first time, that maybe she didn’t have equal access to the resources needed for her education. The work of this collective community, should we achieve our vision, will make it unnecessary for a teacher to ever ask that question again. I then returned to South Africa and spoke to another Rebecca. This young woman grew up in a rural area where it was a struggle to afford text messaging, never mind any meaningful access to the digital world. She, too, did not have equal access to the resources she needed. Despite their starkly different circumstances, I believe that each Rebecca can find her own point of entry into our vision and impact as we look ahead to 2030.

*What have been my prior experiences with the wikiverse?*

I have had two past interactions with the people behind Wikipedia, in addition to being a reader and admirer.

First, I attended a conference in 2019 where I met a volunteer editor on English Wikipedia. The next year, he reached out to me to say that Wikipedia was looking to increase its articles about notable women, and he would write an article about me [2] in line with Wikipedia’s editing values. He eventually did this with the help of another editor from “Women in Red.”

Second, on World Teachers Day in October 2019, my current organisation, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, participated in an AfroCuration event hosted by WikiAfrica Education. It was aimed at generating new historical content on Wikipedia related to the themes of democracy, freedom, and constitution-making. The goal was to support students and teachers to create articles in indigenous languages about individuals who contributed to South Africa’s remarkable Constitution.

I look forward to beginning my own editing and volunteer journey as well as my professional path in the movement.

*What are three things I want to learn from you?*

My first job is to listen and seek to understand.

Even before I officially join the Wikimedia Foundation in January 2022, I would like to hear from anyone who is interested in sharing directly with me. Later this month, I will send more information about a focused ‘listening tour’ that will take place ahead of my formal start date. It will consist of online and offline engagements across Wiki communities, as well as with Foundation staff and other stakeholders.

I know that we are many communities with many different opinions. I will of course first ask you what you think: about our vision, mission, impact, strategy, how we relate to the rest of the world, as well as our current and future ways of working and achieving our aspirations.

But I will also ask you to help me learn what you know from data, even if it differs from what you think. I am curious about the spaces ‘in between’ opinion and evidence – as messy or imperfect as they may be.

And finally, I want to learn what motivates you at a personal level to contribute to your projects and participate in your communities.

Thank you for taking the time to read my message. I look forward to hearing from you.

Maryana

P.S. If you would like to read a translation of this email or can help to translate my email into other languages, please visit Meta [3]

---

[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/about/jobs/our-2021-ceo-and-executive-direct...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander

[3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se...

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 5:31 PM Nataliia Tymkiv ntymkiv@wikimedia.org wrote:

...

Dear all,

I am pleased to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed Maryana Iskander as the new CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation [1] [2].

Since 2013, Maryana has served as the CEO of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator [3], a South African non-profit social enterprise focused on building African solutions for the global challenge of youth unemployment. Prior to this, she spent six years as Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood Federation of America [4], a volunteer-led social movement focused on access to women’s healthcare. Maryana has also worked in academia as the Advisor to the President of Rice University [5], an international research university based in the United States.

Her professional career has been motivated by breaking down systemic barriers, creating opportunities for collaborative solution-building, and community empowerment. She has a proven track record for leading complex organisations shaped by shared decision-making.

In looking for the next CEO, we on the Board convened a Transition Committee [6], primarily to guide us in finding the right person for this critical role and secondly to oversee the executive Transition Team. The Transition Committee conducted a far-reaching and competitive global search, receiving around 400 recommendations and speaking to about 50 potential candidates. Throughout this selection process, Maryana impressed us as someone who is deeply inspired by the Wikimedia vision and who embodies the values of equity and community that inform all Wikimedia work. She has extensive leadership experience working with volunteer-led initiatives and building partnerships across public, private and social sectors. Maryana also brings expertise in technology-led innovation to accelerate meaningful social change. She does this with a global perspective: Maryana was born in the Middle East, educated in the United States and the United Kingdom, and has spent the last decade living and working on the African continent.

Maryana joins the Wikimedia Foundation at a crucial time. The movement is larger than ever, and it has never been more relevant or more trusted. This is an inflection point, as decisions need to be made to execute a shared vision for where the Movement wants to be in 2030. We believe that Maryana is the right person to help lead the Foundation at this moment.

As Maryana begins, her priorities will include supporting movement efforts to implement the Wikimedia 2030 recommendations, such as the development of a Movement Charter and the finalization of a Universal Code of Conduct. She will continue the Foundation’s focus on knowledge equity and exploring ways to address the gaps in content and the diversity of contributors to Wikimedia projects. She will be supported by the Board in this journey.

Maryana will officially start at the Wikimedia Foundation on January 5, 2022, as she transitions from her current job. Until then, the Foundation will continue to be led by the Transition Team, with guidance from the Board. In my conversations with her, I have seen that Maryana is a fan of direct communication and excited to learn from the movement. In the coming weeks, she will share ways to connect. Please join me in welcoming Maryana (CCed) to the Foundation!

PS. For translations of this message, or to help translate it into more languages, please visit Meta-Wiki [7]

*[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoint... https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoints-maryana-iskander-as-chief-executive-officer/*

*[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander *

*[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator*

*[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood*

*[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University *

*[6] https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_C... https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_Committee_and_Transition_Team,_2021 * *[7] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO* https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO

Best regards, antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv Acting Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees

*NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in advance!*

---

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Welcome to our movement Maryana.

Il giorno mar 14 set 2021 alle ore 17:42 Galder Gonzalez Larrañaga < galder158@hotmail.com> ha scritto:

Welcome: https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander

You will have time to get to know the wikimedians, but writing or improving someone's biography in Wikipedia is perhaps one of the most heartfelt and sincere welcome that a Wikipedian can give.

Camelia & WikiDonne UG

-- *Camelia Boban (she/her)*

*| Java EE Developer |*

WikiDonne | Wikimedia Diversity Ambassador | *AffCom*

M. +39 3383385545 camelia.boban@gmail.com *Wikipedia https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utente:Camelia.boban **| **WikiDonne UG https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiDonne* | *WikiDonne Project https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progetto:WikiDonne *| *WikiDonne APS https://wikidonne.org*

[image: File:WDG - Wikipedia20 background Cake slim.jpg]

Il giorno mar 14 set 2021 alle ore 23:17 Risker risker.wp@gmail.com ha scritto:

Welcome, Maryana. We can all look forward to getting to know you better, and for you to get to know us, too.

Feel free to reach out to people with your questions, your ideas, and your concerns.

Risker/Anne

On Tue, 14 Sept 2021 at 11:36, Maryana Iskander miskander@wikimedia.org wrote:

...

Dear All,

Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself to you.

When I read the job position [1] for the next leader of Wikimedia Foundation, I noticed that it opened with a seemingly simple statement: “Knowledge belongs to all of us.” Does it, really? It’s a striking statement. In an increasingly unequal and polarizing world, one in which almost nothing belongs to all of us, the idea that knowledge *must *belong to all is enough to capture anyone’s attention and imagination – certainly mine.

My story is shaped by a twin belief that knowledge can also set us free. Shortly after I was born in Cairo, Egypt, my parents left for the United States. During my time at university, graduate school, and law school, I was consistently pulled towards some of society’s toughest issues – women’s rights, civil rights, and the rights of prisoners. I was equally pulled by the need to be effective in making change – seeking out leadership positions and raising my hand and voice to change the institutions of power, not just protest against them. I learned that the opportunity to make meaningful impact often sits ‘in-between’ traditional spheres: in-between research and teaching at Rice University, in-between healthcare delivery and advocacy at Planned Parenthood, and in-between government and the private sector at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. My time at all of these organisations required listening to and learning from many diverse stakeholders – including volunteers – and using my position of leadership to champion often unheard voices.

In 2012, I followed my heart to South Africa and its very complicated society – a legacy of apartheid perpetuating deep inequality despite the resilience of communities full of potential and hope, and a country with one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. A new organisation had just been formed with a big vision to close this opportunity gap. I signed up, first as an unpaid volunteer, and then for many years as the CEO. My job has been to cultivate a common space of trust for the collective assets of the society – from government, the private sector, civil society, and millions of young people – to work in a coalition to tackle one of the most daunting challenges of our time. To do this, we relied on an inclusive, multi-channel platform that leverages all forms of technology as a way to serve communities still riddled by a basic lack of access. Our successes came from the power of connection, partnership, and a collective belief that young people are the solution, not the problem. As I began my tenth year, I felt it was time to make space for new leaders.

Why am I joining the Wikimedia Foundation at this moment? There are many reasons: (1) this collective of projects is growing what is perhaps the most important commons infrastructure of our modern world. I am excited to add my time and talents to this vision. What will it take to create – not just imagine – a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge? (2) I have experienced first-hand that distributed leadership models can usually achieve more than any group of people can do on their own. I am eager to support processes that will make this even more true for our movement; and (3) I am drawn to working with people of integrity and commitment, who also appreciate humor and joy. I can already see that I will meet new colleagues like this from all over the world.

My former colleagues will say that I believe progress is enabled by culture: one that is founded on accountability, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, and a way of working led by values. It has informed an organisational humility in working with others and a relentless focus on getting things done the right way – while doing the right thing.

During the recruitment process, I met with a leading academic in the United States named Rebecca. She told me a story of her primary school teacher asking the students to raise their hands if they did not have an encyclopedia at home. She was one of those students, and it made her feel, for the first time, that maybe she didn’t have equal access to the resources needed for her education. The work of this collective community, should we achieve our vision, will make it unnecessary for a teacher to ever ask that question again. I then returned to South Africa and spoke to another Rebecca. This young woman grew up in a rural area where it was a struggle to afford text messaging, never mind any meaningful access to the digital world. She, too, did not have equal access to the resources she needed. Despite their starkly different circumstances, I believe that each Rebecca can find her own point of entry into our vision and impact as we look ahead to 2030.

*What have been my prior experiences with the wikiverse?*

I have had two past interactions with the people behind Wikipedia, in addition to being a reader and admirer.

First, I attended a conference in 2019 where I met a volunteer editor on English Wikipedia. The next year, he reached out to me to say that Wikipedia was looking to increase its articles about notable women, and he would write an article about me [2] in line with Wikipedia’s editing values. He eventually did this with the help of another editor from “Women in Red.”

Second, on World Teachers Day in October 2019, my current organisation, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, participated in an AfroCuration event hosted by WikiAfrica Education. It was aimed at generating new historical content on Wikipedia related to the themes of democracy, freedom, and constitution-making. The goal was to support students and teachers to create articles in indigenous languages about individuals who contributed to South Africa’s remarkable Constitution.

I look forward to beginning my own editing and volunteer journey as well as my professional path in the movement.

*What are three things I want to learn from you?*

My first job is to listen and seek to understand.

Even before I officially join the Wikimedia Foundation in January 2022, I would like to hear from anyone who is interested in sharing directly with me. Later this month, I will send more information about a focused ‘listening tour’ that will take place ahead of my formal start date. It will consist of online and offline engagements across Wiki communities, as well as with Foundation staff and other stakeholders.

I know that we are many communities with many different opinions. I will of course first ask you what you think: about our vision, mission, impact, strategy, how we relate to the rest of the world, as well as our current and future ways of working and achieving our aspirations.

But I will also ask you to help me learn what you know from data, even if it differs from what you think. I am curious about the spaces ‘in between’ opinion and evidence – as messy or imperfect as they may be.

And finally, I want to learn what motivates you at a personal level to contribute to your projects and participate in your communities.

Thank you for taking the time to read my message. I look forward to hearing from you.

Maryana

P.S. If you would like to read a translation of this email or can help to translate my email into other languages, please visit Meta [3]

---

[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/about/jobs/our-2021-ceo-and-executive-direct...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander

[3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se...

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 5:31 PM Nataliia Tymkiv ntymkiv@wikimedia.org wrote:

...

Dear all,

I am pleased to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed Maryana Iskander as the new CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation [1] [2].

Since 2013, Maryana has served as the CEO of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator [3], a South African non-profit social enterprise focused on building African solutions for the global challenge of youth unemployment. Prior to this, she spent six years as Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood Federation of America [4], a volunteer-led social movement focused on access to women’s healthcare. Maryana has also worked in academia as the Advisor to the President of Rice University [5], an international research university based in the United States.

Her professional career has been motivated by breaking down systemic barriers, creating opportunities for collaborative solution-building, and community empowerment. She has a proven track record for leading complex organisations shaped by shared decision-making.

In looking for the next CEO, we on the Board convened a Transition Committee [6], primarily to guide us in finding the right person for this critical role and secondly to oversee the executive Transition Team. The Transition Committee conducted a far-reaching and competitive global search, receiving around 400 recommendations and speaking to about 50 potential candidates. Throughout this selection process, Maryana impressed us as someone who is deeply inspired by the Wikimedia vision and who embodies the values of equity and community that inform all Wikimedia work. She has extensive leadership experience working with volunteer-led initiatives and building partnerships across public, private and social sectors. Maryana also brings expertise in technology-led innovation to accelerate meaningful social change. She does this with a global perspective: Maryana was born in the Middle East, educated in the United States and the United Kingdom, and has spent the last decade living and working on the African continent.

Maryana joins the Wikimedia Foundation at a crucial time. The movement is larger than ever, and it has never been more relevant or more trusted. This is an inflection point, as decisions need to be made to execute a shared vision for where the Movement wants to be in 2030. We believe that Maryana is the right person to help lead the Foundation at this moment.

As Maryana begins, her priorities will include supporting movement efforts to implement the Wikimedia 2030 recommendations, such as the development of a Movement Charter and the finalization of a Universal Code of Conduct. She will continue the Foundation’s focus on knowledge equity and exploring ways to address the gaps in content and the diversity of contributors to Wikimedia projects. She will be supported by the Board in this journey.

Maryana will officially start at the Wikimedia Foundation on January 5, 2022, as she transitions from her current job. Until then, the Foundation will continue to be led by the Transition Team, with guidance from the Board. In my conversations with her, I have seen that Maryana is a fan of direct communication and excited to learn from the movement. In the coming weeks, she will share ways to connect. Please join me in welcoming Maryana (CCed) to the Foundation!

PS. For translations of this message, or to help translate it into more languages, please visit Meta-Wiki [7]

*[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoint... https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoints-maryana-iskander-as-chief-executive-officer/*

*[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander *

*[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator*

*[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood*

*[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University *

*[6] https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_C... https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_Committee_and_Transition_Team,_2021 * *[7] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO* https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO

Best regards, antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv Acting Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees

*NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in advance!*

---

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---

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Welcome to the wikimedia movement Maryana !

Thank you for your statement making the issues of diversity a strong and central point of your endeavour.

You wrote « I will of course first ask you what you think: about our vision, mission, impact, strategy, how we relate to the rest of the world, as well as our current and future ways of working and achieving our aspirations. «

These questions are interesting, as a wikipedian what matters to me most is to ensure that any person can contribute safely to our projects, whatever their age, origin, gender identity, religion and language, and that people in the movement make a significant effort recognizing and stopping harassement and microaggressions affecting minorities (which includes women in our movement because there are so few).

There can be no « knowledge belongs to all » without « knowledge can be built by all in our movement », and so we need a strict enforcement of the UCOC. As has been shown in the open source and free software community there is nothing worse than a code of conduct which is not applied because it sends a wrong and ambiguous message. If people belonging to minorities face micro aggressions, « capture » , osctracisation and rejection by prominent and influent members of the OSS community, there can be no free knowledge for all.

These are my two cents, welcome to our wikimedian communities which are so rich and diverse !

Warm regards,

Nattes à chat, les sans pagEs (francophone Wikipedia)

Le 15 sept. 2021 à 07:16, Ivan Martínez galaver@gmail.com a écrit :

Welcome on board Maryana! All the best,

El mar, 14 sept 2021 a las 17:43, Camelia Boban (<camelia.boban@gmail.com mailto:camelia.boban@gmail.com>) escribió: Welcome to our movement Maryana.

Il giorno mar 14 set 2021 alle ore 17:42 Galder Gonzalez Larrañaga <galder158@hotmail.com mailto:galder158@hotmail.com> ha scritto: Welcome: https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander

You will have time to get to know the wikimedians, but writing or improving someone's biography in Wikipedia is perhaps one of the most heartfelt and sincere welcome that a Wikipedian can give.

Camelia & WikiDonne UG

-- Camelia Boban (she/her) | Java EE Developer |

WikiDonne | Wikimedia Diversity Ambassador | AffCom

M. +39 3383385545 camelia.boban@gmail.com mailto:camelia.boban@gmail.com Wikipedia https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utente:Camelia.boban | WikiDonne UG https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/WikiDonne | WikiDonne Project https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progetto:WikiDonne | WikiDonne APS https://wikidonne.org/

Il giorno mar 14 set 2021 alle ore 23:17 Risker <risker.wp@gmail.com mailto:risker.wp@gmail.com> ha scritto: Welcome, Maryana. We can all look forward to getting to know you better, and for you to get to know us, too.

Feel free to reach out to people with your questions, your ideas, and your concerns.

Risker/Anne

On Tue, 14 Sept 2021 at 11:36, Maryana Iskander <miskander@wikimedia.org mailto:miskander@wikimedia.org> wrote: Dear All,

Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself to you.

When I read the job position [1] for the next leader of Wikimedia Foundation, I noticed that it opened with a seemingly simple statement: “Knowledge belongs to all of us.” Does it, really? It’s a striking statement. In an increasingly unequal and polarizing world, one in which almost nothing belongs to all of us, the idea that knowledge must belong to all is enough to capture anyone’s attention and imagination – certainly mine.

My story is shaped by a twin belief that knowledge can also set us free. Shortly after I was born in Cairo, Egypt, my parents left for the United States. During my time at university, graduate school, and law school, I was consistently pulled towards some of society’s toughest issues – women’s rights, civil rights, and the rights of prisoners. I was equally pulled by the need to be effective in making change – seeking out leadership positions and raising my hand and voice to change the institutions of power, not just protest against them. I learned that the opportunity to make meaningful impact often sits ‘in-between’ traditional spheres: in-between research and teaching at Rice University, in-between healthcare delivery and advocacy at Planned Parenthood, and in-between government and the private sector at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. My time at all of these organisations required listening to and learning from many diverse stakeholders – including volunteers – and using my position of leadership to champion often unheard voices.

In 2012, I followed my heart to South Africa and its very complicated society – a legacy of apartheid perpetuating deep inequality despite the resilience of communities full of potential and hope, and a country with one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. A new organisation had just been formed with a big vision to close this opportunity gap. I signed up, first as an unpaid volunteer, and then for many years as the CEO. My job has been to cultivate a common space of trust for the collective assets of the society – from government, the private sector, civil society, and millions of young people – to work in a coalition to tackle one of the most daunting challenges of our time. To do this, we relied on an inclusive, multi-channel platform that leverages all forms of technology as a way to serve communities still riddled by a basic lack of access. Our successes came from the power of connection, partnership, and a collective belief that young people are the solution, not the problem. As I began my tenth year, I felt it was time to make space for new leaders.

Why am I joining the Wikimedia Foundation at this moment? There are many reasons: (1) this collective of projects is growing what is perhaps the most important commons infrastructure of our modern world. I am excited to add my time and talents to this vision. What will it take to create – not just imagine – a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge? (2) I have experienced first-hand that distributed leadership models can usually achieve more than any group of people can do on their own. I am eager to support processes that will make this even more true for our movement; and (3) I am drawn to working with people of integrity and commitment, who also appreciate humor and joy. I can already see that I will meet new colleagues like this from all over the world.

My former colleagues will say that I believe progress is enabled by culture: one that is founded on accountability, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, and a way of working led by values. It has informed an organisational humility in working with others and a relentless focus on getting things done the right way – while doing the right thing.

During the recruitment process, I met with a leading academic in the United States named Rebecca. She told me a story of her primary school teacher asking the students to raise their hands if they did not have an encyclopedia at home. She was one of those students, and it made her feel, for the first time, that maybe she didn’t have equal access to the resources needed for her education. The work of this collective community, should we achieve our vision, will make it unnecessary for a teacher to ever ask that question again. I then returned to South Africa and spoke to another Rebecca. This young woman grew up in a rural area where it was a struggle to afford text messaging, never mind any meaningful access to the digital world. She, too, did not have equal access to the resources she needed. Despite their starkly different circumstances, I believe that each Rebecca can find her own point of entry into our vision and impact as we look ahead to 2030. What have been my prior experiences with the wikiverse?

I have had two past interactions with the people behind Wikipedia, in addition to being a reader and admirer.

First, I attended a conference in 2019 where I met a volunteer editor on English Wikipedia. The next year, he reached out to me to say that Wikipedia was looking to increase its articles about notable women, and he would write an article about me [2] in line with Wikipedia’s editing values. He eventually did this with the help of another editor from “Women in Red.”

Second, on World Teachers Day in October 2019, my current organisation, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, participated in an AfroCuration event hosted by WikiAfrica Education. It was aimed at generating new historical content on Wikipedia related to the themes of democracy, freedom, and constitution-making. The goal was to support students and teachers to create articles in indigenous languages about individuals who contributed to South Africa’s remarkable Constitution.

I look forward to beginning my own editing and volunteer journey as well as my professional path in the movement. What are three things I want to learn from you?

My first job is to listen and seek to understand.

Even before I officially join the Wikimedia Foundation in January 2022, I would like to hear from anyone who is interested in sharing directly with me. Later this month, I will send more information about a focused ‘listening tour’ that will take place ahead of my formal start date. It will consist of online and offline engagements across Wiki communities, as well as with Foundation staff and other stakeholders.

I know that we are many communities with many different opinions. I will of course first ask you what you think: about our vision, mission, impact, strategy, how we relate to the rest of the world, as well as our current and future ways of working and achieving our aspirations.

But I will also ask you to help me learn what you know from data, even if it differs from what you think. I am curious about the spaces ‘in between’ opinion and evidence – as messy or imperfect as they may be.

And finally, I want to learn what motivates you at a personal level to contribute to your projects and participate in your communities.

Thank you for taking the time to read my message. I look forward to hearing from you.

Maryana

P.S. If you would like to read a translation of this email or can help to translate my email into other languages, please visit Meta [3]

[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/about/jobs/our-2021-ceo-and-executive-direct... https://wikimediafoundation.org/about/jobs/our-2021-ceo-and-executive-director-search/#section-1

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander [3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 5:31 PM Nataliia Tymkiv <ntymkiv@wikimedia.org mailto:ntymkiv@wikimedia.org> wrote: Dear all, I am pleased to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed Maryana Iskander as the new CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation [1] [2].

Since 2013, Maryana has served as the CEO of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator [3], a South African non-profit social enterprise focused on building African solutions for the global challenge of youth unemployment. Prior to this, she spent six years as Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood Federation of America [4], a volunteer-led social movement focused on access to women’s healthcare. Maryana has also worked in academia as the Advisor to the President of Rice University [5], an international research university based in the United States.

Her professional career has been motivated by breaking down systemic barriers, creating opportunities for collaborative solution-building, and community empowerment. She has a proven track record for leading complex organisations shaped by shared decision-making.

In looking for the next CEO, we on the Board convened a Transition Committee [6], primarily to guide us in finding the right person for this critical role and secondly to oversee the executive Transition Team. The Transition Committee conducted a far-reaching and competitive global search, receiving around 400 recommendations and speaking to about 50 potential candidates. Throughout this selection process, Maryana impressed us as someone who is deeply inspired by the Wikimedia vision and who embodies the values of equity and community that inform all Wikimedia work. She has extensive leadership experience working with volunteer-led initiatives and building partnerships across public, private and social sectors. Maryana also brings expertise in technology-led innovation to accelerate meaningful social change. She does this with a global perspective: Maryana was born in the Middle East, educated in the United States and the United Kingdom, and has spent the last decade living and working on the African continent.

Maryana joins the Wikimedia Foundation at a crucial time. The movement is larger than ever, and it has never been more relevant or more trusted. This is an inflection point, as decisions need to be made to execute a shared vision for where the Movement wants to be in 2030. We believe that Maryana is the right person to help lead the Foundation at this moment.

As Maryana begins, her priorities will include supporting movement efforts to implement the Wikimedia 2030 recommendations, such as the development of a Movement Charter and the finalization of a Universal Code of Conduct. She will continue the Foundation’s focus on knowledge equity and exploring ways to address the gaps in content and the diversity of contributors to Wikimedia projects. She will be supported by the Board in this journey.

Maryana will officially start at the Wikimedia Foundation on January 5, 2022, as she transitions from her current job. Until then, the Foundation will continue to be led by the Transition Team, with guidance from the Board. In my conversations with her, I have seen that Maryana is a fan of direct communication and excited to learn from the movement. In the coming weeks, she will share ways to connect. Please join me in welcoming Maryana (CCed) to the Foundation!

PS. For translations of this message, or to help translate it into more languages, please visit Meta-Wiki [7]

[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoint... https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoints-maryana-iskander-as-chief-executive-officer/ [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander [3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator [4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University [6] https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_C... https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_Committee_and_Transition_Team,_2021 [7] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO

Best regards, antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv Acting Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees

NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in advance!

---

Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org mailto:wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l Public archives at https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/... https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/message/XL45LEY6DCTJHIIMQYBWL4UXHWEJSL6B/ To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-leave@lists.wikimedia.org mailto:wikimedia-l-leave@lists.wikimedia.org_______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org mailto:wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l Public archives at https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/... https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/message/ECPMKBFWLBJFDGPFD2VEO7RRP6VBCAAM/ To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-leave@lists.wikimedia.org mailto:wikimedia-l-leave@lists.wikimedia.org_______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org mailto:wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l Public archives at https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/... https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/message/MNNQQIONBAK64RLNRZDTMLUEPWVTQLB7/ To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-leave@lists.wikimedia.org mailto:wikimedia-l-leave@lists.wikimedia.org

-- Iván Martínez Voluntario - Wikimedia México A.C. User:ProtoplasmaKid

// Mis comunicaciones respecto a Wikipedia/Wikimedia pueden tener una moratoria en su atención debido a que es un voluntariado. // Ayuda a proteger a Wikipedia, dona ahora: https://donate.wikimedia.org https://donate.wikimedia.org/_______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l Public archives at https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/... To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-leave@lists.wikimedia.org

Hi everyone - Thank you for the messages of welcome that I have received since my announcement [1] last Tuesday as the incoming CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation.

As I mentioned in my welcome letter below, I am officially joining in January 2022 and would like to use the next few months for a “listening tour” to help me do just that: listen and learn.

If you are interested in sharing, you can find details on Meta now [2]. I welcome input from anyone who would like to share and look forward to meeting some of you on the screen and maybe even in person!

Thank you,

Maryana

[1]

*https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO*

[2]

https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Chief_Executive_Officer...

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 5:35 PM Maryana Iskander miskander@wikimedia.org wrote:

Dear All,

Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself to you.

When I read the job position [1] for the next leader of Wikimedia Foundation, I noticed that it opened with a seemingly simple statement: “Knowledge belongs to all of us.” Does it, really? It’s a striking statement. In an increasingly unequal and polarizing world, one in which almost nothing belongs to all of us, the idea that knowledge *must *belong to all is enough to capture anyone’s attention and imagination – certainly mine.

My story is shaped by a twin belief that knowledge can also set us free. Shortly after I was born in Cairo, Egypt, my parents left for the United States. During my time at university, graduate school, and law school, I was consistently pulled towards some of society’s toughest issues – women’s rights, civil rights, and the rights of prisoners. I was equally pulled by the need to be effective in making change – seeking out leadership positions and raising my hand and voice to change the institutions of power, not just protest against them. I learned that the opportunity to make meaningful impact often sits ‘in-between’ traditional spheres: in-between research and teaching at Rice University, in-between healthcare delivery and advocacy at Planned Parenthood, and in-between government and the private sector at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. My time at all of these organisations required listening to and learning from many diverse stakeholders – including volunteers – and using my position of leadership to champion often unheard voices.

In 2012, I followed my heart to South Africa and its very complicated society – a legacy of apartheid perpetuating deep inequality despite the resilience of communities full of potential and hope, and a country with one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. A new organisation had just been formed with a big vision to close this opportunity gap. I signed up, first as an unpaid volunteer, and then for many years as the CEO. My job has been to cultivate a common space of trust for the collective assets of the society – from government, the private sector, civil society, and millions of young people – to work in a coalition to tackle one of the most daunting challenges of our time. To do this, we relied on an inclusive, multi-channel platform that leverages all forms of technology as a way to serve communities still riddled by a basic lack of access. Our successes came from the power of connection, partnership, and a collective belief that young people are the solution, not the problem. As I began my tenth year, I felt it was time to make space for new leaders.

Why am I joining the Wikimedia Foundation at this moment? There are many reasons: (1) this collective of projects is growing what is perhaps the most important commons infrastructure of our modern world. I am excited to add my time and talents to this vision. What will it take to create – not just imagine – a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge? (2) I have experienced first-hand that distributed leadership models can usually achieve more than any group of people can do on their own. I am eager to support processes that will make this even more true for our movement; and (3) I am drawn to working with people of integrity and commitment, who also appreciate humor and joy. I can already see that I will meet new colleagues like this from all over the world.

My former colleagues will say that I believe progress is enabled by culture: one that is founded on accountability, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, and a way of working led by values. It has informed an organisational humility in working with others and a relentless focus on getting things done the right way – while doing the right thing.

During the recruitment process, I met with a leading academic in the United States named Rebecca. She told me a story of her primary school teacher asking the students to raise their hands if they did not have an encyclopedia at home. She was one of those students, and it made her feel, for the first time, that maybe she didn’t have equal access to the resources needed for her education. The work of this collective community, should we achieve our vision, will make it unnecessary for a teacher to ever ask that question again. I then returned to South Africa and spoke to another Rebecca. This young woman grew up in a rural area where it was a struggle to afford text messaging, never mind any meaningful access to the digital world. She, too, did not have equal access to the resources she needed. Despite their starkly different circumstances, I believe that each Rebecca can find her own point of entry into our vision and impact as we look ahead to 2030.

*What have been my prior experiences with the wikiverse?*

I have had two past interactions with the people behind Wikipedia, in addition to being a reader and admirer.

First, I attended a conference in 2019 where I met a volunteer editor on English Wikipedia. The next year, he reached out to me to say that Wikipedia was looking to increase its articles about notable women, and he would write an article about me [2] in line with Wikipedia’s editing values. He eventually did this with the help of another editor from “Women in Red.”

Second, on World Teachers Day in October 2019, my current organisation, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, participated in an AfroCuration event hosted by WikiAfrica Education. It was aimed at generating new historical content on Wikipedia related to the themes of democracy, freedom, and constitution-making. The goal was to support students and teachers to create articles in indigenous languages about individuals who contributed to South Africa’s remarkable Constitution.

I look forward to beginning my own editing and volunteer journey as well as my professional path in the movement.

*What are three things I want to learn from you?*

My first job is to listen and seek to understand.

Even before I officially join the Wikimedia Foundation in January 2022, I would like to hear from anyone who is interested in sharing directly with me. Later this month, I will send more information about a focused ‘listening tour’ that will take place ahead of my formal start date. It will consist of online and offline engagements across Wiki communities, as well as with Foundation staff and other stakeholders.

I know that we are many communities with many different opinions. I will of course first ask you what you think: about our vision, mission, impact, strategy, how we relate to the rest of the world, as well as our current and future ways of working and achieving our aspirations.

But I will also ask you to help me learn what you know from data, even if it differs from what you think. I am curious about the spaces ‘in between’ opinion and evidence – as messy or imperfect as they may be.

And finally, I want to learn what motivates you at a personal level to contribute to your projects and participate in your communities.

Thank you for taking the time to read my message. I look forward to hearing from you.

Maryana

P.S. If you would like to read a translation of this email or can help to translate my email into other languages, please visit Meta [3]

---

[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/about/jobs/our-2021-ceo-and-executive-direct...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander

[3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se...

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 5:31 PM Nataliia Tymkiv ntymkiv@wikimedia.org wrote:

...

Dear all,

I am pleased to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed Maryana Iskander as the new CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation [1] [2].

Since 2013, Maryana has served as the CEO of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator [3], a South African non-profit social enterprise focused on building African solutions for the global challenge of youth unemployment. Prior to this, she spent six years as Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood Federation of America [4], a volunteer-led social movement focused on access to women’s healthcare. Maryana has also worked in academia as the Advisor to the President of Rice University [5], an international research university based in the United States.

Her professional career has been motivated by breaking down systemic barriers, creating opportunities for collaborative solution-building, and community empowerment. She has a proven track record for leading complex organisations shaped by shared decision-making.

In looking for the next CEO, we on the Board convened a Transition Committee [6], primarily to guide us in finding the right person for this critical role and secondly to oversee the executive Transition Team. The Transition Committee conducted a far-reaching and competitive global search, receiving around 400 recommendations and speaking to about 50 potential candidates. Throughout this selection process, Maryana impressed us as someone who is deeply inspired by the Wikimedia vision and who embodies the values of equity and community that inform all Wikimedia work. She has extensive leadership experience working with volunteer-led initiatives and building partnerships across public, private and social sectors. Maryana also brings expertise in technology-led innovation to accelerate meaningful social change. She does this with a global perspective: Maryana was born in the Middle East, educated in the United States and the United Kingdom, and has spent the last decade living and working on the African continent.

Maryana joins the Wikimedia Foundation at a crucial time. The movement is larger than ever, and it has never been more relevant or more trusted. This is an inflection point, as decisions need to be made to execute a shared vision for where the Movement wants to be in 2030. We believe that Maryana is the right person to help lead the Foundation at this moment.

As Maryana begins, her priorities will include supporting movement efforts to implement the Wikimedia 2030 recommendations, such as the development of a Movement Charter and the finalization of a Universal Code of Conduct. She will continue the Foundation’s focus on knowledge equity and exploring ways to address the gaps in content and the diversity of contributors to Wikimedia projects. She will be supported by the Board in this journey.

Maryana will officially start at the Wikimedia Foundation on January 5, 2022, as she transitions from her current job. Until then, the Foundation will continue to be led by the Transition Team, with guidance from the Board. In my conversations with her, I have seen that Maryana is a fan of direct communication and excited to learn from the movement. In the coming weeks, she will share ways to connect. Please join me in welcoming Maryana (CCed) to the Foundation!

PS. For translations of this message, or to help translate it into more languages, please visit Meta-Wiki [7]

*[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoint... https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoints-maryana-iskander-as-chief-executive-officer/*

*[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander *

*[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator*

*[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood*

*[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University *

*[6] https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_C... https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_Committee_and_Transition_Team,_2021 * *[7] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO* https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO

Best regards, antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv Acting Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees

*NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in advance!*

Hi all,

Two weeks ago, I shared reflections from my listening tour https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Chief_Executive_Officer/Maryana%E2%80%99s_Listening_Tour including five ‘puzzles’ that I believe require shared problem-solving from all of us. The first puzzle asked: ‘what does the world need from us now?’ I heard from many of you about the urgency of connecting our work to the real-world trends impacting free knowledge in societies across the globe. I'd like to start thinking together about these and what they require of our movement.

As I mentioned in my priorities, this month the Foundation kicked off a new approach to annual planning for our next fiscal year (from 01 July 2022- 30 June 2023). We are currently working to understand how the Foundation’s current resources support all Wikimedia projects, regions, language communities and audiences. In April, we’ll be ready to share what we’ve learned, and will host conversations on how to better shape this work for next year and beyond.

We also started our planning process by looking at some key trends that may impact the future of the free knowledge ecosystem – you can read more about this on Diff https://diff.wikimedia.org/2022/01/28/what-does-the-world-need-from-us-now-external-trends-to-watch/ and Meta https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Chief_Executive_Officer/Maryana%E2%80%99s_Listening_Tour/External_Trends. Some of these trends (about the changing nature of online search, new approaches to content moderation, and responses to the rise of misinformation and disinformation) are not only about the future, but also about the present. They require long-term thinking and raise several big questions:

-

What tradeoffs or changes might the Foundation – and our movement – need to make as the nature of search changes online and government regulations increase? -

How should we position our movement to best respond? What role can we play as individual contributors, affiliates, communities, and the Foundation? -

What else are we missing in our thinking about relevant trends?

I welcome any feedback on the Listening Tour Meta page https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Talk:Wikimedia_Foundation_Chief_Executive_Officer/Maryana%E2%80%99s_Listening_Tour or by emailing me directly. These questions need multi-year answers, but this brainstorm to inform our annual plan is a first step.

I will also share periodic updates from the Wikimedia Foundation here and on Meta. Today, I wanted to let you know that Robyn Arville, the Wikimedia Foundation’s Chief of Talent and Culture Officer, has decided that the time has come for her to recharge and begin thinking about her next adventure. She will be stepping down in early April, giving us time for a very stable and orderly transition in the months ahead. Robyn joined Foundation in 2019, and has led several important initiatives to improve learning and development opportunities for staff, introduce new DEI initiatives for the Foundation, and recruit a more diverse, global workforce. She also served as a member of the Transition Team leading the Foundation during the CEO search last year. I hope you will join me and the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees in thanking Robyn for her service and contributions.

Thanks for taking the time to read this message.

Maryana

Maryana Iskander

Wikimedia Foundation CEO

On Fri, Jan 14, 2022 at 8:01 AM Maryana Iskander miskander@wikimedia.org wrote:

Dear all,

Four months ago today, I introduced myself as the incoming CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation [1]. Two weeks following my first letter to you below, I launched a two-month listening tour. I spent this time doing three things: (1) talking with people – I spoke with 275 people from 55 countries; (2) joining community events – I participated virtually in 17 community-organised events around the world that gathered over 750 volunteers; and (3) meeting with staff teams across the Wikimedia Foundation. A summary is available on Meta [2].

I engaged on and off-wiki with people who reached out directly. I also asked to speak to those who may not usually have the loudest voices. I posed questions about our vision, mission, impact, strategy and how we relate to the rest of the world. I asked what we know from evidence, research and data – not only our own opinions. I tried to deeply understand our current ways of working, how they have been shaped by the past, and what they may mean for the future. And I delighted in listening to stories about what motivates people at a personal level to contribute to their projects and communities.

Several hundred conversations later, I want to share with you the five “puzzles” [3] that will shape my incoming priorities for the first six months. The quotes I’ve included to describe each puzzle come from these conversations. I certainly haven’t learned everything or spoken yet to everyone. But I have chosen to describe what I heard so far as “puzzles” because they will require collective ingenuity and shared problem-solving if we are to achieve ambitious aspirations and tackle complex challenges.

Thank you to everyone who made the time to speak with me. While the ‘tour’ may be done, my listening and learning continues. Look out for more information from me in the coming weeks about how you can help us shape the Foundation and movement’s future.

Thank you,

Maryana

[1] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se...

[2] https://w.wiki/4gH$ [3] https://w.wiki/4gHz

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 8:35 AM Maryana Iskander miskander@wikimedia.org wrote:

...

Dear All,

Thank you for this opportunity to introduce myself to you.

When I read the job position [1] for the next leader of Wikimedia Foundation, I noticed that it opened with a seemingly simple statement: “Knowledge belongs to all of us.” Does it, really? It’s a striking statement. In an increasingly unequal and polarizing world, one in which almost nothing belongs to all of us, the idea that knowledge *must *belong to all is enough to capture anyone’s attention and imagination – certainly mine.

My story is shaped by a twin belief that knowledge can also set us free. Shortly after I was born in Cairo, Egypt, my parents left for the United States. During my time at university, graduate school, and law school, I was consistently pulled towards some of society’s toughest issues – women’s rights, civil rights, and the rights of prisoners. I was equally pulled by the need to be effective in making change – seeking out leadership positions and raising my hand and voice to change the institutions of power, not just protest against them. I learned that the opportunity to make meaningful impact often sits ‘in-between’ traditional spheres: in-between research and teaching at Rice University, in-between healthcare delivery and advocacy at Planned Parenthood, and in-between government and the private sector at Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator. My time at all of these organisations required listening to and learning from many diverse stakeholders – including volunteers – and using my position of leadership to champion often unheard voices.

In 2012, I followed my heart to South Africa and its very complicated society – a legacy of apartheid perpetuating deep inequality despite the resilience of communities full of potential and hope, and a country with one of the highest youth unemployment rates in the world. A new organisation had just been formed with a big vision to close this opportunity gap. I signed up, first as an unpaid volunteer, and then for many years as the CEO. My job has been to cultivate a common space of trust for the collective assets of the society – from government, the private sector, civil society, and millions of young people – to work in a coalition to tackle one of the most daunting challenges of our time. To do this, we relied on an inclusive, multi-channel platform that leverages all forms of technology as a way to serve communities still riddled by a basic lack of access. Our successes came from the power of connection, partnership, and a collective belief that young people are the solution, not the problem. As I began my tenth year, I felt it was time to make space for new leaders.

Why am I joining the Wikimedia Foundation at this moment? There are many reasons: (1) this collective of projects is growing what is perhaps the most important commons infrastructure of our modern world. I am excited to add my time and talents to this vision. What will it take to create – not just imagine – a world in which every single human being can freely share in the sum of all knowledge? (2) I have experienced first-hand that distributed leadership models can usually achieve more than any group of people can do on their own. I am eager to support processes that will make this even more true for our movement; and (3) I am drawn to working with people of integrity and commitment, who also appreciate humor and joy. I can already see that I will meet new colleagues like this from all over the world.

My former colleagues will say that I believe progress is enabled by culture: one that is founded on accountability, diversity and inclusion in all its forms, and a way of working led by values. It has informed an organisational humility in working with others and a relentless focus on getting things done the right way – while doing the right thing.

During the recruitment process, I met with a leading academic in the United States named Rebecca. She told me a story of her primary school teacher asking the students to raise their hands if they did not have an encyclopedia at home. She was one of those students, and it made her feel, for the first time, that maybe she didn’t have equal access to the resources needed for her education. The work of this collective community, should we achieve our vision, will make it unnecessary for a teacher to ever ask that question again. I then returned to South Africa and spoke to another Rebecca. This young woman grew up in a rural area where it was a struggle to afford text messaging, never mind any meaningful access to the digital world. She, too, did not have equal access to the resources she needed. Despite their starkly different circumstances, I believe that each Rebecca can find her own point of entry into our vision and impact as we look ahead to 2030.

*What have been my prior experiences with the wikiverse?*

I have had two past interactions with the people behind Wikipedia, in addition to being a reader and admirer.

First, I attended a conference in 2019 where I met a volunteer editor on English Wikipedia. The next year, he reached out to me to say that Wikipedia was looking to increase its articles about notable women, and he would write an article about me [2] in line with Wikipedia’s editing values. He eventually did this with the help of another editor from “Women in Red.”

Second, on World Teachers Day in October 2019, my current organisation, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, participated in an AfroCuration event hosted by WikiAfrica Education. It was aimed at generating new historical content on Wikipedia related to the themes of democracy, freedom, and constitution-making. The goal was to support students and teachers to create articles in indigenous languages about individuals who contributed to South Africa’s remarkable Constitution.

I look forward to beginning my own editing and volunteer journey as well as my professional path in the movement.

*What are three things I want to learn from you?*

My first job is to listen and seek to understand.

Even before I officially join the Wikimedia Foundation in January 2022, I would like to hear from anyone who is interested in sharing directly with me. Later this month, I will send more information about a focused ‘listening tour’ that will take place ahead of my formal start date. It will consist of online and offline engagements across Wiki communities, as well as with Foundation staff and other stakeholders.

I know that we are many communities with many different opinions. I will of course first ask you what you think: about our vision, mission, impact, strategy, how we relate to the rest of the world, as well as our current and future ways of working and achieving our aspirations.

But I will also ask you to help me learn what you know from data, even if it differs from what you think. I am curious about the spaces ‘in between’ opinion and evidence – as messy or imperfect as they may be.

And finally, I want to learn what motivates you at a personal level to contribute to your projects and participate in your communities.

Thank you for taking the time to read my message. I look forward to hearing from you.

Maryana

P.S. If you would like to read a translation of this email or can help to translate my email into other languages, please visit Meta [3]

---

[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/about/jobs/our-2021-ceo-and-executive-direct...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander

[3] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se...

Welcome: https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander [https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fb/Maryana_Iskander.j...]https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander Maryana Iskander - Wikipedia, entziklopedia askea.https://eu.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander eu.wikipedia.org

________________________________ From: Tito Dutta trulytito@gmail.com Sent: Tuesday, September 14, 2021 5:40 PM To: Wikimedia Mailing List wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org Cc: Maryana Iskander miskander@wikimedia.org Subject: [Wikimedia-l] Re: Welcoming the new Wikimedia Foundation CEO

Hello, Good to know about the update Nataliia. Thanks to the Transition team for working on this. Good wishes (and welcome) to Maryana Iskander in the new role. Hope to work with you on Movement Strategy and other Wikimedia projects/areas from January onwards.

ইতি,/Thanks(a টিটো দত্ত/User:Titodutta (মাতৃভাষা থাক জীবন জুড়ে)

মঙ্গল, ১৪ সেপ্টেম্বর, ২০২১ তারিখে ৯:০২ PM টায় এ Nataliia Tymkiv <ntymkiv@wikimedia.orgmailto:ntymkiv@wikimedia.org> লিখেছেন: Dear all,

I am pleased to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed Maryana Iskander as the new CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation [1] [2].

Since 2013, Maryana has served as the CEO of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator [3], a South African non-profit social enterprise focused on building African solutions for the global challenge of youth unemployment. Prior to this, she spent six years as Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood Federation of America [4], a volunteer-led social movement focused on access to women’s healthcare. Maryana has also worked in academia as the Advisor to the President of Rice University [5], an international research university based in the United States.

Her professional career has been motivated by breaking down systemic barriers, creating opportunities for collaborative solution-building, and community empowerment. She has a proven track record for leading complex organisations shaped by shared decision-making.

In looking for the next CEO, we on the Board convened a Transition Committee [6], primarily to guide us in finding the right person for this critical role and secondly to oversee the executive Transition Team. The Transition Committee conducted a far-reaching and competitive global search, receiving around 400 recommendations and speaking to about 50 potential candidates. Throughout this selection process, Maryana impressed us as someone who is deeply inspired by the Wikimedia vision and who embodies the values of equity and community that inform all Wikimedia work. She has extensive leadership experience working with volunteer-led initiatives and building partnerships across public, private and social sectors. Maryana also brings expertise in technology-led innovation to accelerate meaningful social change. She does this with a global perspective: Maryana was born in the Middle East, educated in the United States and the United Kingdom, and has spent the last decade living and working on the African continent.

Maryana joins the Wikimedia Foundation at a crucial time. The movement is larger than ever, and it has never been more relevant or more trusted. This is an inflection point, as decisions need to be made to execute a shared vision for where the Movement wants to be in 2030. We believe that Maryana is the right person to help lead the Foundation at this moment.

As Maryana begins, her priorities will include supporting movement efforts to implement the Wikimedia 2030 recommendations, such as the development of a Movement Charter and the finalization of a Universal Code of Conduct. She will continue the Foundation’s focus on knowledge equity and exploring ways to address the gaps in content and the diversity of contributors to Wikimedia projects. She will be supported by the Board in this journey.

Maryana will officially start at the Wikimedia Foundation on January 5, 2022, as she transitions from her current job. Until then, the Foundation will continue to be led by the Transition Team, with guidance from the Board. In my conversations with her, I have seen that Maryana is a fan of direct communication and excited to learn from the movement. In the coming weeks, she will share ways to connect. Please join me in welcoming Maryana (CCed) to the Foundation!

PS. For translations of this message, or to help translate it into more languages, please visit Meta-Wiki [7]

[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoint...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander

[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University

[6] https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_C...

[7] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO

Best regards, antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv Acting Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees

NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in advance!

_______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.orgmailto:wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l Public archives at https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/... To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-leave@lists.wikimedia.orgmailto:wikimedia-l-leave@lists.wikimedia.org

Welcome to Wikimedia!

Welcome, Maryana! Really excited to have you in the family. Best wishes for the future journey!

Ankan On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 10:06 PM Brad Patrick bradp.wmf@gmail.com wrote:

Congratulations and welcome to the best job in the world!

*From: *Nataliia Tymkiv ntymkiv@wikimedia.org *Reply-To: *"wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org" < wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org> *Date: *Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at 11:53 AM *To: *"wikimediaannounce-l@lists.wikimedia.org" < wikimediaannounce-l@lists.wikimedia.org>, "Wikimedia-l@wikimedia.org" < Wikimedia-l@wikimedia.org> *Cc: *"miskander@wikimedia.org" miskander@wikimedia.org *Subject: *[Wikimedia-l] [Wikimedia Announcements] Welcoming the new Wikimedia Foundation CEO

Dear all,

I am pleased to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed Maryana Iskander as the new CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation [1] [2].

Since 2013, Maryana has served as the CEO of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator [3], a South African non-profit social enterprise focused on building African solutions for the global challenge of youth unemployment. Prior to this, she spent six years as Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood Federation of America [4], a volunteer-led social movement focused on access to women’s healthcare. Maryana has also worked in academia as the Advisor to the President of Rice University [5], an international research university based in the United States.

Her professional career has been motivated by breaking down systemic barriers, creating opportunities for collaborative solution-building, and community empowerment. She has a proven track record for leading complex organisations shaped by shared decision-making.

In looking for the next CEO, we on the Board convened a Transition Committee [6], primarily to guide us in finding the right person for this critical role and secondly to oversee the executive Transition Team. The Transition Committee conducted a far-reaching and competitive global search, receiving around 400 recommendations and speaking to about 50 potential candidates. Throughout this selection process, Maryana impressed us as someone who is deeply inspired by the Wikimedia vision and who embodies the values of equity and community that inform all Wikimedia work. She has extensive leadership experience working with volunteer-led initiatives and building partnerships across public, private and social sectors. Maryana also brings expertise in technology-led innovation to accelerate meaningful social change. She does this with a global perspective: Maryana was born in the Middle East, educated in the United States and the United Kingdom, and has spent the last decade living and working on the African continent.

Maryana joins the Wikimedia Foundation at a crucial time. The movement is larger than ever, and it has never been more relevant or more trusted. This is an inflection point, as decisions need to be made to execute a shared vision for where the Movement wants to be in 2030. We believe that Maryana is the right person to help lead the Foundation at this moment.

As Maryana begins, her priorities will include supporting movement efforts to implement the Wikimedia 2030 recommendations, such as the development of a Movement Charter and the finalization of a Universal Code of Conduct. She will continue the Foundation’s focus on knowledge equity and exploring ways to address the gaps in content and the diversity of contributors to Wikimedia projects. She will be supported by the Board in this journey.

Maryana will officially start at the Wikimedia Foundation on January 5, 2022, as she transitions from her current job. Until then, the Foundation will continue to be led by the Transition Team, with guidance from the Board. In my conversations with her, I have seen that Maryana is a fan of direct communication and excited to learn from the movement. In the coming weeks, she will share ways to connect. Please join me in welcoming Maryana (CCed) to the Foundation!

PS. For translations of this message, or to help translate it into more languages, please visit Meta-Wiki [7]

*[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoint... https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoints-maryana-iskander-as-chief-executive-officer/*

*[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander *

*[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator*

*[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood*

*[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University *

*[6] https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_C... https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_Committee_and_Transition_Team,_2021 *

*[7] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO*

Best regards, antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv

Acting Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees

*NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in advance!*

---

Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l Public archives at https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/... To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-leave@lists.wikimedia.org

Welcome to the movement, Maryana,

I'm confident that there is much we can learn from your background and experience. I'm also glad that you take your time to get acquainted, and it feels right when people take the time to complete their obligations at their previous organization - even when it's perhaps slightly inconvenient.

Good luck on your listening tour!

Lodewijk

On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 9:20 AM Ankan Ghosh Dastider < ankanghoshdastider@gmail.com> wrote:

Welcome, Maryana! Really excited to have you in the family. Best wishes for the future journey!

Ankan On Tue, Sep 14, 2021 at 10:06 PM Brad Patrick bradp.wmf@gmail.com wrote:

...

Congratulations and welcome to the best job in the world!

*From: *Nataliia Tymkiv ntymkiv@wikimedia.org *Reply-To: *"wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org" < wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org> *Date: *Tuesday, September 14, 2021 at 11:53 AM *To: *"wikimediaannounce-l@lists.wikimedia.org" < wikimediaannounce-l@lists.wikimedia.org>, "Wikimedia-l@wikimedia.org" < Wikimedia-l@wikimedia.org> *Cc: *"miskander@wikimedia.org" miskander@wikimedia.org *Subject: *[Wikimedia-l] [Wikimedia Announcements] Welcoming the new Wikimedia Foundation CEO

Dear all,

I am pleased to announce that the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed Maryana Iskander as the new CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation [1] [2].

Since 2013, Maryana has served as the CEO of Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator [3], a South African non-profit social enterprise focused on building African solutions for the global challenge of youth unemployment. Prior to this, she spent six years as Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood Federation of America [4], a volunteer-led social movement focused on access to women’s healthcare. Maryana has also worked in academia as the Advisor to the President of Rice University [5], an international research university based in the United States.

Her professional career has been motivated by breaking down systemic barriers, creating opportunities for collaborative solution-building, and community empowerment. She has a proven track record for leading complex organisations shaped by shared decision-making.

In looking for the next CEO, we on the Board convened a Transition Committee [6], primarily to guide us in finding the right person for this critical role and secondly to oversee the executive Transition Team. The Transition Committee conducted a far-reaching and competitive global search, receiving around 400 recommendations and speaking to about 50 potential candidates. Throughout this selection process, Maryana impressed us as someone who is deeply inspired by the Wikimedia vision and who embodies the values of equity and community that inform all Wikimedia work. She has extensive leadership experience working with volunteer-led initiatives and building partnerships across public, private and social sectors. Maryana also brings expertise in technology-led innovation to accelerate meaningful social change. She does this with a global perspective: Maryana was born in the Middle East, educated in the United States and the United Kingdom, and has spent the last decade living and working on the African continent.

Maryana joins the Wikimedia Foundation at a crucial time. The movement is larger than ever, and it has never been more relevant or more trusted. This is an inflection point, as decisions need to be made to execute a shared vision for where the Movement wants to be in 2030. We believe that Maryana is the right person to help lead the Foundation at this moment.

As Maryana begins, her priorities will include supporting movement efforts to implement the Wikimedia 2030 recommendations, such as the development of a Movement Charter and the finalization of a Universal Code of Conduct. She will continue the Foundation’s focus on knowledge equity and exploring ways to address the gaps in content and the diversity of contributors to Wikimedia projects. She will be supported by the Board in this journey.

Maryana will officially start at the Wikimedia Foundation on January 5, 2022, as she transitions from her current job. Until then, the Foundation will continue to be led by the Transition Team, with guidance from the Board. In my conversations with her, I have seen that Maryana is a fan of direct communication and excited to learn from the movement. In the coming weeks, she will share ways to connect. Please join me in welcoming Maryana (CCed) to the Foundation!

PS. For translations of this message, or to help translate it into more languages, please visit Meta-Wiki [7]

*[1] https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoint... https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoints-maryana-iskander-as-chief-executive-officer/*

*[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander *

*[3] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator*

*[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood*

*[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University *

*[6] https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_C... https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_Committee_and_Transition_Team,_2021 *

*[7] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se... https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_September_2021_-_Welcoming_the_new_Wikimedia_Foundation_CEO*

Best regards, antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv

Acting Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees

*NOTICE: You may have received this message outside of your normal working hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in advance!*

---

Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l Public archives at https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/... To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-leave@lists.wikimedia.org

-- Ankan Ghosh Dastider (he/him) User:ANKAN https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:ANKAN || All Wikimedia Foundation https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation's public Wiki Secretary || Wikimedia Bangladesh http://wikimedia.org.bd/ Twitter https://twitter.com/Iagdastider | LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/ankan-ghosh-dastider/ | ResearchGate https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Ankan_Ghosh_Dastider _______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list -- wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia-l Public archives at https://lists.wikimedia.org/hyperkitty/list/wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org/... To unsubscribe send an email to wikimedia-l-leave@lists.wikimedia.org

Dear Maryana,

Congratulations on your nomination and welcome to the Wikimedia world. I look forward to being able to exchange and collaborate with you.

Best,

Gerbet Rémy

Délégué opérationnel _07 84 37 91 04_

_-----------------------------------__-------------------------_

WIKIMEDIA FRANCE Association pour le libre partage de la connaissance _WWW.WIKIMEDIA.FR [8] _

28 rue de Londres 75009 Paris

_ _ _ [9]_

Le 2021-09-15 12:55, Ashwin Baindur - User AshLin a écrit :

Welcome, Maryana. We hope you have a successful tenure and take the

community along with you. We have a lot of expectations and hope. All the very best.

On Tue, 14 Sep, 2021, 9:22 pm Nataliia Tymkiv,

ntymkiv@wikimedia.org wrote:

...

Dear all,

I am pleased to

announce that the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees has appointed Maryana Iskander as the new CEO of the Wikimedia Foundation [1] [2].

...

...

Since 2013, Maryana has served as the CEO of Harambee Youth

Employment Accelerator [3], a South African non-profit social enterprise focused on building African solutions for the global challenge of youth unemployment. Prior to this, she spent six years as Chief Operating Officer of Planned Parenthood Federation of America [4], a volunteer-led social movement focused on access to women's healthcare. Maryana has also worked in academia as the Advisor to the President of Rice University [5], an international research university based in the United States.

...

Her professional career has been motivated by breaking

down systemic barriers, creating opportunities for collaborative solution-building, and community empowerment. She has a proven track record for leading complex organisations shaped by shared decision-making.

...

In looking for the next CEO, we on the Board

convened a Transition Committee [6], primarily to guide us in finding the right person for this critical role and secondly to oversee the executive Transition Team. The Transition Committee conducted a far-reaching and competitive global search, receiving around 400 recommendations and speaking to about 50 potential candidates. Throughout this selection process, Maryana impressed us as someone who is deeply inspired by the Wikimedia vision and who embodies the values of equity and community that inform all Wikimedia work. She has extensive leadership experience working with volunteer-led initiatives and building partnerships across public, private and social sectors. Maryana also brings expertise in technology-led innovation to accelerate meaningful social change. She does this with a global perspective: Maryana was born in the Middle East, educated in the United States and the United Kingdom, and has spent the last decade living and working on the African continent.

...

Maryana joins the Wikimedia Foundation

at a crucial time. The movement is larger than ever, and it has never been more relevant or more trusted. This is an inflection point, as decisions need to be made to execute a shared vision for where the Movement wants to be in 2030. We believe that Maryana is the right person to help lead the Foundation at this moment.

...

As Maryana

begins, her priorities will include supporting movement efforts to implement the Wikimedia 2030 recommendations, such as the development of a Movement Charter and the finalization of a Universal Code of Conduct. She will continue the Foundation's focus on knowledge equity and exploring ways to address the gaps in content and the diversity of contributors to Wikimedia projects. She will be supported by the Board in this journey.

...

Maryana will officially start at the Wikimedia

Foundation on January 5, 2022, as she transitions from her current job. Until then, the Foundation will continue to be led by the Transition Team, with guidance from the Board. In my conversations with her, I have seen that Maryana is a fan of direct communication and excited to learn from the movement. In the coming weeks, she will share ways to connect. Please join me in welcoming Maryana (CCed) to the Foundation!

...

PS. For translations of this message, or to help translate it into more languages, please visit Meta-Wiki [7]

...

[1]

https://wikimediafoundation.org/news/2021/09/14/wikimedia-foundation-appoint... [1]

...

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander [2]

...

[3]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harambee_Youth_Employment_Accelerator [3]

...

[4] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planned_Parenthood [4]

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rice_University [5]

...

[6]

https://foundation.wikimedia.org/wiki/Resolution:Creating_a_CEO_Transition_C... [6] [7] https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Foundation_Board_noticeboard/14_Se... [7]

...

Best regards, antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv Acting

Chair, Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees

...

_NOTICE: You may

have received this message outside of your normal working hours/days, as I usually can work more as a volunteer during weekend. You should not feel obligated to answer it during your days off. Thank you in advance!_ _______________________________________________

...

Please note: all

replies sent to this mailing list will be immediately directed to Wikimedia-l, the public mailing list of the Wikimedia community. For more information about Wikimedia-l:

...

https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l

...

_______________________________________________

...

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mailing list -- wikimediaannounce-l@lists.wikimedia.org

...

To

unsubscribe send an email to wikimediaannounce-l-leave@lists.wikimedia.org

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