Wikipedia Co-Founder: How Jimmy Wales Changed the Internet Forever | E133

He could have built a billion-dollar company, but instead, Jimmy Wales built a movement. When the dotcom crash hit and funding vanished, he didn’t sell out or add ads. He doubled down on values, creating Wikipedia, a global temple for the mind that made knowledge free to billions. In this episode, Jimmy joins Ilana to share the story behind that decision, the failures that shaped him, and the community that built the impossible. He breaks down why the best ideas come from doing something interesting, not chasing money.

Jimmy Wales is the co-founder of Wikipedia and the founder of the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that supports Wikipedia and its sister projects. He also co-founded Fandom (formerly Wikia), one of the web’s largest community platforms.

In this episode, Ilana and Jimmy discuss:
00:00 Introduction to Entrepreneurship and Personal Values
00:14 The Birth of Wikipedia
00:31 Challenges and Innovations During the Dotcom Crash
01:22 Jimmy Wales' Early Life and Career
03:06 The Creation and Growth of Wikipedia
12:06 The Dotcom Crash and Its Impact on Wikipedia
21:22 The Decision to Keep Wikipedia Ad-Free
27:16 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
33:06 Brian's New Laptop and the First Fundraiser
33:31 Christmas Day Server Crisis
34:22 The First Major Fundraiser
35:08 Debating Ads and Funding Models
36:00 Wikipedia's Nonprofit Journey
38:42 Wikipedia's Notability and Self-Promotion Policies
43:40 AI's Role in Wikipedia's Future
51:25 The Seven Rules of Trust
57:38 Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs

Jimmy Wales is the co-founder of Wikipedia, the world’s largest free encyclopedia, and Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that supports it. An advocate for open, collaborative knowledge sharing, he has empowered millions to contribute to a global resource of information. Recognized by TIME as one of the 100 Most Influential People in the World, Jimmy is also the author of The Seven Rules of Trust, where he shares the principles that guided his journey and offers insights on building lasting endeavors.

Connect with Jimmy
Jimmy’s Twitter: x.com/jimmy_wales
Jimmy’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimmy-wales-919a8b

Resources Mentioned
Wikipedia: https://www.wikipedia.org/
Jimmy’s book, The Seven Rules of Trust: A Blueprint for Building Things That Last: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0593727460
Your Money or Your Life: 9 Steps to Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Achieving Financial Independence: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0143115766
LEAP E122 with Nathan Blecharczyk: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...


📈 Ready to reinvent your career and leap into your next big chapter? Leap Academy helps professionals transition into portfolio careers, land board seats, grow executive leadership skills, and unlock multiple income streams through expert coaching, personal branding, and career development strategies.

Whether you want to land high-level roles, build a portfolio career, or grow your executive presence—Leap Academy with Ilana Golan is where bold professionals come to grow.

🎯 Start with a free strategy call: https://www.leapacademy.com/yt-schedule
🎓 Watch our free masterclass on building multiple income streams:
https://bit.ly/leap--free-training

👇 Like what you see? Comment below and let us know what resonated!
📌 Subscribe for weekly insights, career strategy, and behind-the-scenes mentorship from Ilana:
   / @ilanagolan-leap-academy  

⭐⭐ Hear how others made their leap: https://www.leapacademy.com/reviews
🧠 Explore actionable tips on our blog: https://www.leapacademy.com/blog-1

---------------
🎧 *PODCAST | Leap Academy with Ilana Golan*
Inspiring, unfiltered conversations with top thinkers, leaders, and professionals who broke the mold. Learn how to build your reputation, impact, and income—on your terms.
▶️ https://leapacademy.com/podcast

---------------
🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss a strategy-packed episode.

📲 Connect with Ilana:
Facebook ▶️   / ilanagolanleapacademy  
LinkedIn ▶️   / ilanagolan  
Instagram ▶️   / ilanagolanleap  
Website ▶️ https://www.leapacademy.com/

#IlanaGolan #LeapAcademy #PortfolioCareers #CareerStrategy #LeadershipDevelopment #CareerReinvention