As one of the world's largest open source software development projects, the Mozilla project includes paid and volunteer staff members, engineers at numerous companies who are paid to work on Mozilla, a volunteer population numbering in the thousands, a range of spin-off projects, and a set of companies using Mozilla technology to build products.

Mitchell has been the general manager of the Mozilla project since 1999. In 2003 she was instrumental in the creation of the Mozilla Foundation, a non-profit, tax-exempt organization dedicated to maintaining openness and innovation on the Internet. Mitchell also led the creation of Mozilla Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Mozilla Foundation. Mitchell was the president of the Mozilla Foundation from its inception through the creation of the Mozilla Corporation, when she assumed her current role.

• Discussion: Can Open Source Stay Open?