Many years ago, Maggie, James and I were on the team when Stephen was hired, and it was obvious then that he had incredible leadership potential. I remember Geoff commenting on it as well. It’s great to see a movement insider step into this role now. Stephen has absolutely earned this and I am very happy for him (as I’m sure so many of the “old timers” are.)
Congrats on a role well deserved, Stephen, and Amanda, thank you for your incredible service to the movement. I can tell you from experience that you’re about to want to sleep for a month…. Philippe (Former staff….. a LONG time ago!) On Wed, Jan 11, 2023 at 11:36 AM Nataliia Tymkiv <[email protected]> wrote: > Dear Amanda, > > Throughout these past few years, I had a pleasure of working with you more > closely than is “a normal usual” for the Board’s Vice-Chair or Chair, and I > am sure your next chapter will be quite interesting and wish you all the > best with all of your undertakings! > > I would like to thank you for all your hard work at the Wikimedia > Foundation on behalf of the Board of Trustees – you had an impressive > learning curve, and found yourself playing multiple roles in the > organisation during your tenure – ranging from General Counsel, Head of > the Legal Department, Board Secretary and staff liaison to board > committees, and one of three members of the Transition Team. In all your > roles you were supporting the Foundation’s work, and though some phases > were more demanding than others – we appreciate you supporting the > Foundation with us on this journey. > > The Legal Department under your leadership was one of the most consistent, > reliable and professional departments in the Foundation, and it helped us > navigate through difficult times, especially now that Foundation is under > increasing pressure from undemocratic governments and disinformation > campaigns. > > One of the traits of a strong and thoughtful leader is building a > succession plan from Day One, and I wanted to stress how the Board values > your intentionality in this – that you recognised, mentored and elevated > Stephen LaPorte (whom a lot of community members know as a member of the > Wiki Loves Monuments International Team) as your next in line, and that you > will remain available to help ensure a smooth transition. > > The Board is confident that Stephen will support the Foundation’s work on > the mission going forward, and thanks you for setting a good example to > follow on how succession and transition plans should be handled. > > With thanks and best wishes, > > antanana / Nataliia Tymkiv > 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!* > > > > On Wed, Jan 11, 2023 at 6:33 PM Amanda Keton <[email protected]> wrote: > >> Dear fellow Wikimedians, >> >> I came to Wikimedia 3.5 years ago to build our global advocacy profile, >> transform our legal team to further support the Foundation’s global >> ambitions, partner with the Board to reform its Governance practices, and >> ensure that the Foundation was ready to meet regulatory requirements >> arising across the world. I am very proud of how much of this has been >> accomplished, even in the midst of significant organizational change and >> transition. >> >> When Maryana joined in January, I began a long-term conversation with her >> about how I could set her up for success as our new CEO, while also >> identifying a capable successor for the General Counsel role. We have been >> working on this plan together for the past year so that I could oversee a >> robust succession plan while also planning ahead for more time to begin >> exploring my next adventure. As you know, we appointed Stephen LaPorte as >> Deputy General Counsel in July. He will succeed me as the Foundation’s >> next General Counsel on February 1, 2023. >> >> I am so excited about the chapter ahead for all of us, and for the role >> that Wikimedia has to play in advancing the mission of free knowledge and >> open access across the world. When I reflect back on my time at the >> Foundation, I am proud of so many things: >> >> - In late 2020, I was asked by the Board of Trustees to provide >> leadership at a critical time for the organization and to help us navigate >> our path forward. This period for the transition team was rewarding and >> challenging, but it certainly took its toll! >> - Growing our global advocacy team from a mention in the medium-term >> plan into a small and very mighty team. >> - We commissioned the first Human rights impact assessment, developed >> a Human Rights policy & responded to several situations with real-world >> implications. >> - Numerous Litigation fights and victories. >> - Supporting the board of trustees in their own journey to optimize >> their governance of the Foundation. >> >> It has been an honor to serve and lead our amazing Legal team. Though my >> role will shift, I will continue to be a Wikimedian, cheering the movement >> on toward future success because the world needs us now more than ever! >> >> In solidarity, >> Amanda (she/they) >> General Counsel, Wikimedia Foundation >> -- >> >> Amanda Keton (she/they) >> >> General Counsel >> >> Wikimedia Foundation <https://wikimediafoundation.org/> >> *NOTICE: This message may be confidential or legally privileged. If you >> have received it by accident, please delete it and let us know about the >> mistake. As an attorney for the Wikimedia Foundation, for legal and ethical >> reasons, I cannot give legal advice to, or serve as a lawyer for, community >> members, volunteers, or staff members in their personal capacity. For more >> on what this means, please see our legal disclaimer >> <https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Legal_Disclaimer>.* >> _______________________________________________ >> Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], 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/[email protected]/message/MGZ54OOEQWTURBGZ7PGR65BQYSQ7DHGL/ >> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], 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/[email protected]/message/7IFRXKHZCU6WMHFPMIAF4PHPDQBU7Q53/ > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] -- Philippe Beaudette [email protected]
_______________________________________________ Wikimedia-l mailing list -- [email protected], 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/[email protected]/message/XO6J6VFZPZZUTKCXUIMXHY7X3C2YX3HX/ To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected]
