Crazy Smart Asia explores the unexpected stories of Asia’s disruptors.
Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales, the first guest of our second season, might not be from the region, but his global influence is undeniable.
Wikipedia is the fourth most-visited site in the world. Its billions of pageviews a month leave the likes of Amazon and Twitter in its dust, making it indisputably one of the most influential brands of the 21st century. From helping high school kids with their homework to busting misinformation about vaccines and climate change, Wikipedia is a vital cultural touchstone and advocate of truth.
Through it all has been Wales’ unwavering desire to marry both purpose and profit. So is it true that he put Wikipedia into a charity foundation when it was worth over 3 billion dollars? Well, yes and no.
In conversation with Gen.T’s regional editorial director Lee Williamson, Jimmy sets the record straight on turning down billions, and talks about the power of community, the value of failure, and why he’s not trying to be the anti-Zuckerberg.
RUNNING ORDER:
- Quickfire round (2m 30s)
- The origins of Wikipedia (10m 00s)
- The power of community (13m 00s)
- Hardest lessons and regrets (15m 20s)
- The value of failure (18m 40s)
- Pivotal decisions to success (22m 40s)
- The good guy of the internet (24m 30s)
- Balancing purpose with profit (29m 40s)
- Interview with Lemuel Lee, BNP Paribas Wealth Management’s Head of Hong Kong market, about marrying profit and purpose in business (34m 00s)
- The difference that leads to success (36m 40s)
- Final thought (38m 40s)
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