Year 1 @ Oracle Digital

We always hear the cliché saying. Time flies when you are having fun. Are you even allowed to have fun at work, it is a place of business where corporate deals are made, and you work with enterprises who expect the highest level of professionalism.

So how am I supposed to have this elusive fun you speak about.

Let us examine this statement closely. Firstly, time does fly fact. Now whether you are having fun or not is purely up to you. How in the world does this have to do with me completing my first year in Oracle?

Well my readers, potential followers and peers let us look back. Early warning this is a personal journey and actual experiences may differ.

When I joined Oracle after completing the initial recruitment process and being formally accepted. A couple of days before I joined I got a package at my door from Ireland. My first reaction was who in the world would be sending me packages to my door from Ireland. Lo and behold, the package contained some mascots and goodies from Oracle. I wasn’t even an official employee yet, I first thought the gesture to be childish thinking I’m too old for this, how could something like this possibly be of any use or motivational value to me or have an impact on my decision in joining Oracle.

This is OD our mascot and my little time keeper sitting proudly on my desk.

As I embarked on this journey with Oracle I was taking a very big change, I was leaving my security blanket as Charlie Brown would call it, my security blanket that was HP after all these years. Having worked on the HP products for years where I knew what was what, I was entering a virtual unknown.

The big magical world of Oracle and embracing a new technology. While you can argue that, a lot of technology is similar yet different. Giving up your comfort blanket is a genuine fear, in the past I heard about it but never believed it. Now I was going to experience it first-hand.

Luckily, for me I got a chance to work in a great team where everyone was super helpful and no one singled me out for being the outsider. Despite most of the team already being in place on average for 2-8 years in Oracle.

What did this year entail, I got a chance to work with some exceptionally great talent starting from my training in Malaga. I witnessed first-hand the so-called culture companies speak about and it was a true learning experience for me. 

I still chuckle when this “lady” was sitting in our class on a table listening and then sharing her opinions.

Being new, yes I can use that card. She was our Vice President Giovanna. A VP who was actually mingling with the common folk, someone who actually wanted to hear us speak and share our ideas. Oracle was embarking on a journey focusing on cloud and crossing the chasm so to speak.

Then I found out we had a host of senior people not just the ones who were speaking, some of them were sitting around on tables sharing some great insights. Another VP shared his story of his first sale, equating it with his need of wanting running shoes; another shared his experience of selling to a prison. Unlikely place but the fact solutions were needed everywhere. What this gave me was the comfort that I had made the right decision. This did two things:

1. Shattered the glass ceiling that management is unapproachable in a big company and don’t want to share anything
2. People are willing to share their experiences and mistakes so others didn't make the same ones

One very important thing we covered in the training was the impact of social. When asked how social are we, or what we use social media for, I was probably the only person who said I use it to complain about poor customer service. Since it immediately gets me a response. Apart from sharing cat pictures.

While this did get a laugh, it opened my eyes to an entire medium I had conveniently ignored in my technology career. I made it a point to be more social, interact with my network whenever possible, and share content that mattered after this training.

Over the year I've had the fantastic opportunity to use different mediums in communicating with clients, making an impact even from afar. Today's digital age really has no boundaries. Don't let a screen limit your imagination on what you can achieve.

In conclusion, every journey has its difficulties. Joining Oracle and getting to work with some amazing people was definitely an up. It also gave me a perspective that I can control the downs. I can choose to get depressed on how things are falling apart around me or I can put in the best effort and go forward.

Some days it is easier than others are but when you have a great team who like a family will have its fair share of squabbles. At the end of the day when we all come together, we are an unbeatable force. Something I truly believe in.

Most important things I took back at the end of this year.

1.      Get out of your comfort zone, the results may surprise you. You will surprise yourself on how you learn to adjust.

2.      Do not be afraid in asking for help; at the same foot do not shy away from helping others when you can.

3.      Your onboarding training is a fantastic way to build your network you will learn a ridiculous amount from your colleagues.

4.      Social media is truly an asset in today’s digital age.

Small tokens like this at the end of my first year reaffirm my decision.

I would like to thank all my colleagues for your fantastic support and trust in me. If I were to sit and name you, it would be never ending.

Also to my kind assessors in my on-boarding who provided great feedback on how to improve.

I would love to hear how your journey has been in Oracle be it new or an old timer. Feel free in commenting, sharing or reach out to me if you need advice be it on the technology front, personal front or if you just want to catch up for a game in Heroes of the Storm or Overwatch.

While your journey in Oracle may not be the same just remember, you are the pilot of your journey. Make it a great one.

I will be sharing regular updates and I look forward to hearing from you @ [email protected] or you can follow me on Twitter.

Here's to a second great year ahead!!