As the founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales is more than just one of the most successful Internet entrepreneurs. He is driven by a strong belief and unyielding determination to make the seemingly impossible possible.
Wikipedia.org is one of the five most visited websites and offers several million entries in multiple languages.
Jimmy Wales: ‘Imagine a world in which every single person on the planet has free access to the sum of all human knowledge. That’s what we’re doing.’
In a business environment characterised by upheaval, noise and mistrust, trust is not just a value – it’s a strategy. That’s why forward-thinking companies are turning to Jimmy Wales, the visionary founder of Wikipedia, to discuss one of the most pressing leadership issues of our time, which he addresses in his new book, ‘The 7 Rules of Trust.’
Jimmy Wales Lecture Topics
- The 7 Rules of Trust
- Artificial Intelligence & Digital Disruption
- Trends in Business, Technology, Economy & Trade
- From Blockchain to Generative AI: The Future of Tech
- Lessons for the future of business, tech & world affairs
- New Tech Big and Bold Ideas with Impact for the Business World
- Harness the Power of Disruptive Innovation to Grow Your Business
Jimmy Wales was born on 7 August 1966 in Alabama. He showed a passion for knowledge from an early age and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in finance. The internet and its potential for creating a collaborative, freely accessible information network inspired him to launch Wikipedia.org in January 2001.
Jimmy Wales didn’t just talk about trust – he built it on a large scale. Wikipedia became one of the world’s most trusted digital platforms by focusing on transparency, accountability and open collaboration. In this high-profile session for CEOs and executives, Wales presents a proven framework for trust-based leadership in a world where reputations are fragile and stakeholder expectations are extremely high.
Key insights for executives:
- Operationalise transparency to build lasting credibility.
- Lead with consistency to foster innovation, loyalty and performance.
- Navigate reputational risks and restore trust when it is damaged.
- Future-proof your organisation with systems that embed trust at all levels.
- Translate values into strategy – and trust into competitive advantage.
For leadership teams seeking real change – not platitudes – this is the speaker who delivers both the insights and the credibility to make trust a cornerstone of long-term success.
In 2003, Jimmy Wales founded the Wikimedia Foundation, a non-profit organisation to support fundraising, technology and programming for the now highly successful sister company. In 2004, Wikia, Inc. was also founded, further emphasising Jimmy’s vision of a collaborative online network that draws its strength from consumer-generated content. It currently attracts more than 30 million unique visitors per month.
Jimmy Wales’ pioneering spirit has made him a respected businessman and online visionary.
In 2005, he was appointed a Fellow of the Berkman Centre for Internet & Society at Harvard Law School, and in 2006 he received the Time 100 Award as one of the most influential people in the category “Scientists and Thinkers”. In 2007, he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. This prestigious award honours 250 young leaders for their professional achievements, social engagement and potential to shape the future of the world.
Today, Jimmy Wales is a trustee of the Wikimedia Foundation and acts as the brand’s chief spokesperson. He is also a board member of the non-profit organisation Creative Commons.