Hispanic Heritage Month is a time to celebrate the diverse culture, contributions, and achievements of Hispanic people everywhere. It’s also a time to reflect on what we value in our identities and how we can share them with the world around us.
True inclusivity is all about making space for each of us to contribute our perspectives. Oracle always champions and values the freedom to express identity across its global reach. You can see it in our hiring practices, the people who thrive with us, and the inclusive communities we foster.
We asked three professionals to share how Oracle empowers them to embrace and express their Hispanic heritage to the fullest. Their experiences are diverse, but they’re united in how Oracle has empowered them to embrace their identities today and every day.
Senior Operations Engineer
Marie Sorell, senior operations engineer
Marie recalls growing up as a first generation Mexican American in Denver and how her family would insist on speaking English without an accent to blend in.
“A lot was lost for me. I hardly ever speak Spanish and I admit I am not as fluent as I once was. Since moving to the Pacific Northwest, it was almost impossible to meet other Latinos or eat at a good Mexican restaurant without driving for miles.”
Moving for work, living far away from her siblings, and—sadly—having her parents pass away left Marie feeling detached from her identity.
“They are my culture,” she explains. “It made me realize that I was losing a bit of my Mexican culture every day.”
Shared pride
This changed when she discovered the Oracle Latinos Alliance (OLA) employee resource group (ERG). For the first time, she was part of a community of people with a shared pride in a shared culture outside of her immediate family.
“I joined OLA not really knowing what to expect, but I was interested in how other professional Latinos thrive.”
Encouraged by her experience, Marie is planning to get more involved with the month’s celebrations in her new city.
“I found out that there are celebrations everywhere in the Seattle area. And it’s important for me to celebrate with Latin music, food, a bit of history, and by making new friends.”
“Things are looking up now—there’s a larger Latino community where I live and an amazing one at my job!”
Global Employee Experience Program Manager
Yarelis Muriel, global employee experience program manager
Yarelis sees Oracle as somewhere that encourages total authenticity in how you express yourself. Through groups like OLA, people not only feel more comfortable at work, they also unlock the power of heritage to bridge the gap between people.
“In a diverse and interconnected world, embracing one’s cultural heritage is crucial,” Yarelis emphasizes. “For us Latinxs, integrating our rich heritage into our careers can lead to personal fulfillment, professional success, and deeper connections.”
“Authenticity resonates across boundaries, and by infusing our heritage into our professional lives, we project a unique identity that attracts those who share common experiences and backgrounds.”
Fighting stereotypes
She points to this as a defense against the anxiety and self-doubt that many Latinx people can struggle with due to fear of stereotypes about their cultural background.
“This phenomenon is known as stereotype threat,” she explains. “A common difficulty faced by individuals whose primary language is Spanish or Portuguese is navigating language barriers. The task of communicating fluently in a predominantly English-speaking professional environment can feel overwhelming for some—this psychological burden can hinder professional growth and self-assurance.”
She believes that celebrations of identity like Hispanic Heritage Month and the actions of inclusive companies like Oracle have a big part to play in combating this.
Enriching
“Celebrating Latinx culture and embracing our roots becomes crucial. By connecting with individuals who share similar linguistic and cultural backgrounds, we can feel reassured knowing we’re not alone.”
She’s also quick to indicate how Oracle’s mentoring culture helps to accelerate this process.
“Having mentors who understand our multicultural challenges can be empowering and can lead to transformative personal and professional growth. Incorporating Latinx heritage into a career is not just about personal gain; it’s about enriching the broader professional landscape.”
Business Development Representative
Marcelo Taborga, business development representative
Marcelo feels that working at Oracle and seeing how much Hispanic Heritage Month is embraced by colleagues has helped him see his own culture in a new way.
“It’s a chance to shed light on aspects of the entirety of Hispanic culture that often go missed or ignored for whatever reason,” he says. “More importantly, it is the celebration of sharing.”
For Marcelo, shared experiences, even challenging ones, can be transformed into something positive by the kind of community he sees at Oracle.
“I moved to the United States from Bolivia when I was only eight years old. I wanted to make friends, play soccer, have fun—regular kid activities. Yet, I found myself always having to explain who I am instead. How can I make them understand that, even though we speak the same language, Bolivian culture is quite different from Mexican culture?”
Same issues
“I made so many friends that struggled with the same issues that were from other countries. It’s only when I noticed that there is one thing we all have in common that is crucial to all Hispanic cultures at Oracle. We all love to meet new people, share meals, share stories, share music, share languages. Just sharing!”
It’s scenarios like this that reveal how Oracle culture puts in place everything needed for such a sharing culture, then steps aside to let it flourish. We believe that communities should be guided by their own members and be allowed to effect real change. It’s why our ERGs have been such a success for so many groups.
Are you ready to thrive with a company that values your culture and identity? Explore open roles now and come create the future with us.