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 <[email protected]> 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 <[email protected]> > 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-director-search/#section-1 >> >> [2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maryana_Iskander >> >> [3] >> 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 <[email protected]> >> 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-appoints-maryana-iskander-as-chief-executive-officer/ >>> <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_Committee_and_Transition_Team,_2021 >>> <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_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>* >>> <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 -- [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/XL45LEY6DCTJHIIMQYBWL4UXHWEJSL6B/ >> To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected] > > > > -- > > __________________________________ > > > > 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 > > _______________________________________________ > 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/FSTPFS4NXDMU5FIW5UN4K2GSXFDCNFJV/ > To unsubscribe send an email to [email protected]
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