Embracing equity with women leaders

At Oracle, we’re committed to creating a brighter future for all—and that means paving the way toward a gender equal world. Our community empowers women to not only thrive as leaders in technology but also level the playing field for the next generation.  We caught up with two Oracle leaders to find out what it’s like to be a woman embracing equity in tech.

The path to leadership

There’s no set path to becoming a leader at Oracle. For Managing Director Cristina Lorenzo, the journey was homegrown. She joined us at the start of her career and quickly became a manager, steadily working her way up over the span of more than 25 years. In each of her roles, she found support both personally and professionally.

“I was able to develop my life plan here,” she says. “Oracle is a place that offers many opportunities for professional development. Many bosses I had were mentors at decisive moments in my career. They encouraged me to show myself and take on other challenges.”

In contrast, Cloud Engineering VP Sora Cho joined Oracle in 2022. Despite being a newer member of our community, Sora felt comfortable right away. “Personally, I enjoy my role immensely, even if it evolved over the years. The teams here are progressive and dynamic—it’s an amazing culture to be a part of. It’s a dream come true!”

Bias and barriers

Sora’s tech journey began at university. As a woman, she was in the minority, especially in engineering and technology courses. Though this dynamic has historically led to a lower participation rate for women in the tech industry, it didn’t stop Sora from pursuing a tech career.

“My journey into tech has been very rewarding and fulfilling. I was very fortunate to work for organizations that strongly supported women and advocated tirelessly for gender equality,” she shares. “However, looking back, I would say there were certainly times when barriers were placed due to unconscious bias. These were the times when my mentors and sponsors helped me navigate through.”

Cristina offers a different perspective. “I never felt that doors were closed to me or that I was treated differently for the simple fact of being a woman,” she recalls. “However, I am fully aware that my story is not that of many other women in the tech industry who face biases on a daily basis and cannot access opportunities because there are certain points of view that do not see the value of diversity.”

Generating positive change

When it comes to creating a more inclusive workplace, it’s important to turn to women leaders for insight.

“The beauty about women in leadership is that we understand our needs a little closer than our male peers, simply because we share the same vantage point,” Sora tells us.

For example, women tend to lower their achievements, while men tend to state their achievements more confidently. In cases like this, Sora suggests a change of approach: instead of carrying out a self-promoting performance review or an interview process with self-promoting questions, we should instead consider performance metrics and data.

Cristina believes companies should focus on providing security and confidence to women so that they’re encouraged to aim higher. Furthermore, there should be greater emphasis on the importance of leaders as a support for women who want to grow.

“It’s not just the person’s responsibility,” she explains. “As leaders and as an organization, we need to observe, give space, and sometimes even speak for that person. We have a responsibility to push for excellence, allowing mistakes as part of the process.”

Heading in the right direction

While there are many ways for the industry to improve, there’s also a lot that companies and leaders are doing right for women in technology. “As a company, we are heading in the right direction by simply raising awareness that despite great efforts, women are still underrepresented in leadership and in tech,” Sora says. The more people understand the importance of gender inclusivity, the more they take action to overcome unconscious bias—from adopting equitable hiring policies to championing women’s leadership. 

Cristina agrees with this sentiment. “There is a greater awareness that the best results are found in diversity, both at a human and business level, and that translates into actions that have direct impact on business,” she says. Sora notes that these measures also help organizations to better serve the wider community. “We are addressing skill gaps in this ever-growing industry. A gender diverse workforce introduces wide sets of data—experiences, perspectives, abilities, and talents—which translate to better decision making.”

A global effort

As a global company, Oracle is making strides to embrace equity across all our regions and countries. Oracle women around the world are working toward gender equality. “Beyond cultural differences present in each of the regions in which Oracle operates, I believe that diversity and inclusion is a transversal axis that runs through all of them,” says Cristina. “One of the greatest proofs of that is the Oracle Women’s Leadership (OWL) program, which empowers, trains, and connects women from more than 113 countries to take on leadership roles.”

According to Sora, the values prioritized by Oracle—including flexibility, employee well-being, diversity, equity, and inclusion—are inherently supportive of women, from top leaders like CEO Safra Catz to individuals worldwide. “My leader works hard to advocate on behalf of women leaders, coach us, help us with branding, and often times find high-profile projects to help us gain respect, elevate our positions, and lead confidently and effectively,” she shares.

Empowering the next generation

Both Sora and Cristina have expert advice for the next generation of women entering the tech industry.  

“I always tell young women to visualize themselves in those positions that they would like to reach,” Cristina says. “Being convinced that it is possible is the first and most important step to reach the goal that each one sets for herself.”  Sora encourages young women to arm themselves with skills and motivation while keeping an open mind to the possibilities they can achieve. “Be vulnerable, ask questions when you are unsure, seek help when you need direction, and be authentic in your approaches. We women are unique. There is time for everything and everything has its time.”

Do you want to thrive in a workplace that prioritizes equity and inclusion? Check out our open roles now and join a community of women who are blazing the trail to a brighter future.