For three years, I reported to Geoff, along with my team. I knew he was a brilliant lawyer, even before I went into it. I did not know that he was a brilliant manager. and he is. He challenged me and taught me skills that I use daily. He set an exceptionally high standard and accepted nothing less. But he always smiled and cared about each of us deeply.
YouTube is very lucky to get him. This movement will never be quite the same. Stay in touch, my friend. Philippe (Former minion and lackey) On Wednesday, July 13, 2016, Kat Walsh <k...@mindspillage.org> wrote: > Geoff, > > I remember having the great pleasure of welcoming you to Wikimedia and > helping introduce you to the culture and challenges of a very unusual > organization, and later having the great pleasure of working with you > as you served as a keystone of its leadership. > > It would be impossible to thank you enough for everything you've > done--all of the public work that has been justly recognized and > applauded, and the iceberg of invisible work that comes with the role > that will never be publicly recognized, but which deserves the > recognition just as much. (And a particular thanks for all of your > work with the board, which I know came with its own set of > challenges!) The legal department is not always greatly loved in any > organization, and frequently not one that gets to be a champion of the > mission itself, but you have made this happen at WMF. Your insight and > guidance, your legal experience, your leadership, and your dedication > to the people and the principles of the movement have all been > invaluable. And your commitment to building the organization and the > people in it means you leave the legal department in good hands; > congratulations to Michelle and Stephen on their new roles. > > And finally, for me personally, you have been a great mentor and a > great friend. Best of luck in your new position; they are lucky to > have you. > > -Kat > > > On Wed, Jul 13, 2016 at 2:25 PM, Geoff Brigham <gbrig...@wikimedia.org > <javascript:;>> wrote: > > Hi all, > > > > Over the past five years, I’ve been honored to serve as the General > Counsel > > and Secretary of the Wikimedia Foundation. This job has been amazing, and > > I’m grateful to everyone who has made it so rewarding. It's now time for > my > > next step, so, in the coming days, I will be leaving the Foundation to > > pursue a new career opportunity. > > > > I depart with such love for the mission, the Foundation, the Wikimedia > > communities, and my colleagues at work. I thank my past and present > bosses > > as well as the Board for their support and guidance. I stand in awe of > the > > volunteer writers, editors, and photographers who contribute every day to > > the Wikimedia projects. And I will hold special to my heart my past and > > current teams, including legal and community advocacy. :) You have > taught, > > given, and enriched me so much. > > > > After my departure, Michelle Paulson will serve as interim head of Legal, > > and, subject to Board approval, Stephen LaPorte will serve as interim > > Secretary to the Board. I can happily report that they have the > experience > > and expertise to ensure a smooth and professional transition. > > > > The future of the Foundation under Katherine's leadership is exciting. > > Having had the pleasure of working for her, I know Katherine will take > the > > Foundation to its next level in promoting and defending the outstanding > > mission and values of the Wikimedia movement. Although I'm delighted > about > > my next opportunity, I will miss this new chapter in the Foundation's > > story. > > > > My last day at the Foundation will be July 18th. After that, I will take > a > > month off to recharge my batteries, and then I start my new gig at > YouTube > > in the Bay Area. There, I will serve as Director of YouTube Trust & > Safety, > > managing global teams for policy, legal, and anti-abuse operations. As > with > > Wikimedia, I look forward to learning from those teams and tackling > > together a new set of exciting, novel challenges. > > > > For those who want to stay in touch, please do! My personal email is: > > geoffrey.r.brig...@gmail.com <javascript:;>. > > > > With respect, admiration, and gratitude, > > > > Geoff > > _______________________________________________ > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org <javascript:;> > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org <javascript:;> > ?subject=unsubscribe> > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org <javascript:;> > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > <mailto:wikimedia-l-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org <javascript:;> > ?subject=unsubscribe> -- Philippe Beaudette phili...@beaudette.me 415-275-1424 _______________________________________________ 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-requ...@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe>
