Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales delivered an inspirational speech to 600 attendees at Hult International Business School’s San Francisco campus, revealing how companies around the world are adopting the open-source technology that made his free encyclopedia a global success.

Mr. Wales told Hult students that his success stemmed from initial failures. “The way I got here is through failure,” said Jimmy Wales. “For a lot of my projects I should have quit a lot sooner,” reflected Wales to the crowd.  Mr. Wales also shared his strategy for the future of the Wikimedia Foundation and commented on ways his organization could achieve this by saying, “We do think we need more diversity in our community.”

Wales, a champion of Internet freedom, becomes the latest in an impressive line of high-profile speakers to share their knowledge with Hult students. “For any organization it is important to maintain that willingness to fail and try new things,” said Wales. Students also heard Mr. Wales speak about the most recent SOPA blackout. “The act would have set certain precedents that are really bad,” said Wales, answering a student question from the audience.

Students, journalists and local Bay Area companies took note of Wales’ views on how advances in open-source content are going to shape the future of global business. He also argued that the business managers of tomorrow – like Hult’s students – would have to be active and innovative to keep up with the changes brought about by advances in technology.

“Jimmy Wales is a true visionary and his success with Wikipedia has given him a well-deserved reputation as one of the Internet’s most influential people,” said Dr. Stephen Hodges, President of Hult International Business School. “Exposing Hult students to current business issues and trends that are impacting our international community, allows them to experience live what it takes to be a successful business leader.”

Image Courtesy of   http://www.flickr.com/photos/williambrawley/

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