After 24 years at Oracle, Vikram Chandrashekar, Consulting Practice Senior Director, can testify that he’s never had a dull day at the office —and how could he when he’s part of the team that works to define the future of banking? From exposure to cutting-edge technology to a renewed appreciation for global cultures and workplace diversity, his journey at Oracle Financial Services Consulting (OFSC) has been one big adventure and it’s not over yet. Read on to discover what keeps him coming back.
Tell us about the innovative work OFSC is doing. How is it making an impact on peoples’ lives?
We continue to explore and adopt technological advancements like artificial intelligence, machine learning, blockchain, chat bots, and cloud, to innovate and strengthen our offerings. Each of these offerings cater to making lives of bankers easier, which in turn helps create very inventive products for the ever-demanding end customers. For example, creating a banking API layer to help Fintechs build unique products in global markets.
My current role as a lead solution architect includes participating in large sales engagements, being the early adopter of newer products coming out of the factory, taking the lead on strategies for various initiatives that the organization plans to roll out, and serving as a bouncing board for the resolving of complex issues.
What inspires you in your role? What gets you out of bed in the morning?
The domain we work in is constantly changing and very exciting. It feels good to be part of teams that are defining the future of banking worldwide. The constant challenges of solving real-life customer problems on a daily basis bring with them new learnings and joy.
How has Oracle evolved in the 24 years you have been here?
Oracle has evolved from being a database-only company to becoming a leading provider of end-to-end services in the cloud. The company policies have evolved, and are continuously renewing to help serve customers better with repeatable processes and predictable outcomes.
What do you think distinguishes Oracle from competitors in your industry?
Oracle has a huge edge in terms of the broad solutions and platforms they can offer to customers, all being accessible under one roof. We are really a global organisation with enterprise products built to work and scale on diverse platforms. Another very crucial aspect is the rich experience of implementing these products, which cultivates an ability to guide customers on the appropriate mix of products and solutions.
Your team mentions that diversity and inclusion is a priority. Why do you think diversity is important?
Diversity and inclusion bring about new perspectives to problems. The more diverse the teams are, the better the outcomes. A quote that comes to mind to explain this is “diversity is being invited to the party, inclusion is letting people dance”. At Oracle, both are taken very seriously to create a wonderful ballet.
You’ve built a long and successful career at OFSC. To what do you owe your success?
It’s been a great journey with a lot of challenging assignments that resulted in a good deal of learning. The journey has helped in understanding and appreciating different cultures, traditions, and mannerisms. These 24 years have been a continuous education and very satisfying. There are no dull days at the office (hectic and frustrating at times, but never dull). The joy of seeing your work transform into real-life applications in various countries is unparalleled. Also, the approach of solving problems for each other as teams has helped the journey feel shorter and more pleasurable.
What would you say to encourage someone to join OFSC?
The domain in which we work is continuously evolving and changes are taking place at lightning speed. This leads to continuous learning that one should look forward to. The teams work on cutting-edge technologies and create world-class products.
What skills does someone need to be effective on your team?
Eagerness to learn, being agile and open to new approaches, and the ability to listen to customers are some of the key skills that someone needs to be effective here.
Can you offer our readers any career advice?
Choose a career wisely, learn the ropes early, and start contributing to the success of the products as soon as you can. As long as there is learning and you have the satisfaction of seeing your work being used by end customers, the rest is just noise. In my opinion, it’s best to choose a domain and stick to it for long durations —and what better than financial services, an area which is changing rapidly and for which the most software is being produced globally.
Interested in being part of defining the future of banking with Vikram and his team? Explore our career opportunities now as we’re hiring in India!