> Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2016 10:45:45 -0800
> From: lila@wikimedia.org
> To: wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org; wikimediaannounce-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> Subject: [Wikimedia-l] Thank you for our time together.
>
> Dear fellow Wikimedians,
>
>
>
> It is with great respect that I have tendered, and the board has accepted,
> my resignation as Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation earlier
> this week. I am both inspired by, and proud of, the many great things we
> have all accomplished at the Foundation over the last two years, most
> significantly reversing the loss of our editorial community. I would like
> to thank our Board of Trustees
> <https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Board_of_Trustees> and Advisors
> <https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Advisory_Board>, our Foundation staff
> <https://wikimediafoundation.org/wiki/Staff_and_contractors>, as well as
> the many outstanding community members
> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/The_Wikipedia_Community> for their support
> and encouragement on this journey. I remain passionate about the value and
> potential of open knowledge and Wikimedia to change the world. My last day
> at the Foundation will be March 31, 2016.
>
> Wikimedia occupies a special place in the world. It is a cultural and
> technological revolution. Change is necessary to keep it thriving. In
> bringing me in as the Executive Director of the Wikimedia Foundation the
> Board tasked me with making changes
> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Lila_Tretikov%27s_statement_on_Why_we%27ve_changed>
> to serve the next generation and ensure our impact in the future. Driving
> these changes has been challenging, and I have always appreciated the open
> and honest discourse we have had along the way. However, I am moved by the
> accomplishments we have achieved during this time:
>
>
> -
>
> Strategically, we laid out our summary of the vision for united in
> knowledge
> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:WMF_Strategy_Preview,_WMF_Metrics_Meeting_June_2015.pdf&page=50>
> and future of Wikimedia last June.
> -
>
> Operationally, we have reformed our procedures and initiated key performance
> metrics and reviews
> <http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/10/20/foundation-quarterly-report-july-september-2015/>.
>
> -
>
> Technologically we have introduced innovative approaches such as machine
> learning
> <http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/11/30/artificial-intelligence-x-ray-specs/>
> and mobile
> <http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/01/15/immersive-mobile-experience/>
> applications, started improvements in search
> <http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/12/23/search-and-discovery-on-wikipedia/>,
> grew translations
> <http://blog.wikimedia.org/2016/01/29/content-translation-50000-articles/>
> and dramatically improved website performance
> <http://blog.wikimedia.org/2014/12/29/how-we-made-editing-wikipedia-twice-as-fast/>.
> In 2015, we made visual editor the default for all new users on English
> Wikipedia.
> -
>
> We united our community support departments and created a new community
> tech team to address community needs
> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/2015_Community_Wishlist_Survey/Status_report_1>.
>
> -
>
> Profoundly, for the first time in seven years, highly active editor
> numbers have increased
> <http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/09/25/wikipedia-editor-numbers/> and
> overall editor decline has stopped.
> -
>
> Equitably, I am proud of our efforts to address the gender gap
> <http://blog.wikimedia.org/2015/03/04/inspire-campaign-funds-gender-diversity/>,
> our growing focus on site safety and anti-harassment
> <http://blog.wikimedia.org/?s=harassment> initiatives and child
> protection -- I believe these are essential to protecting the fundamental
> principles of tolerance, open discourse and mutual respect -- our greatest
> strengths.
> -
>
> We fought against censorship and surveillance
> <http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/10/opinion/stop-spying-on-wikipedia-users.html?_r=0>,
> which pose severe existential threats to our mission of free knowledge.
> -
>
> Financially, we grew rapidly in 2014 to seed and launch the Wikimedia
> Endowment <https://15.wikipedia.org/endowment.html> and secure our
> future for years to come.
>
>
> I move on with confidence that the Foundation can meet new challenges in a
> challenging environment. I believe in our ability to continue to lead
> through this change. At this critical juncture for the Foundation, and for
> the free and open knowledge movement as a whole, solidarity, creativity,
> adaptability and passion will continue to propel our movement forward, and
> empower our vision towards our future.
>
> I will support the process of identifying our new leadership in every way
> that I can, and offer my assistance to the Board as they conduct their
> search for my successor. It has been an honor to serve and to contribute to
> our great movement.
>
>
>
>
> With warm regards,
>
> Lila
> _______________________________________________
> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines
> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org
> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, <mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>