SVP of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure Product Development
Senior Vice President of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) Product Development, Scott Twaddle values and drives innovation and growth. After more than nine years in leadership with OCI, he’s developed a unique perspective on what it takes to succeed at the cutting edge of cloud infrastructure. Recently, we had the opportunity to sit down with Scott and discuss his exciting new chapter in Nashville, where Oracle is making significant investments in OCI operations.
Pushing the boundaries
Scott’s journey with Oracle began in 2016, when he was drawn to the company’s mission to build the next generation of cloud infrastructure. He fondly recalls the opportunity “to build, to create new things” as his main attractor to OCI.
As he reflects on the last decade and looks to the future, he recognizes that the core mission hasn’t changed. His excitement is evident as he enthusiastically acknowledges that at OCI, “we’re pushing the boundaries of cloud infrastructure delivery models, driving AI innovation, rethinking security parameters, and delivering a consistent cloud experience to companies, governments and industries that require transformational technology change.”
As SVP of product development, no two days are the same in such a dynamic and rapidly evolving landscape. “That’s one of my favorite things about it,” he says. “Our business is growing at a crazy rate, and that means the challenges we had yesterday are not the same challenges we have today.” Scott’s zeal for a customer-centered mindset is evident as he acknowledges that customer use cases are the epicenter of the dynamic growth. He shared that OCI customers are “constantly innovating and adding new use cases with our technology, which creates new opportunities and challenges that we need to overcome.”
Why Nashville?
As a fast-growing part of the company’s future, the location is proving itself as both an innovation center and a place to accelerate career growth. The same eagerness to build and create that brought him to OCI almost a decade ago is sparking his enthusiam about Nashville. “I’m actually a newcomer to Nashville myself,” Scott shares. “I had been to the city a few times, and now I’m excited to call it home.” After reflecting on why Nashville feels aligned with OCI’s next phase of growth, Scott shared that “Nashville has the right ingredients—a strong culture, a great place to live, and a lot of local talent.”
The city has always had an energy that’s uniquely its own and that’s reflected in its thriving music scene, pro sports teams, and historical sites. From the Grand Ole Opry to the local eateries serving up that famous hot chicken, there’s always something to do in Music City. In fact, Nashville’s own Visit Music City site is great for tapping into the social and networking scene. As is the Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce.
It’s also a city that offers a unique blend of benefits, from no individual state income tax to a high concentration of quality colleges and universities, and even two years of free community college or technical school tuition for high school seniors through the Tennessee Promise Program.
The culture is very much open to innovation and forward momentum in Scott’s mind. “It’s a city that’s leaning into its growth and is positioning itself on the global stage,” he says. Scott shared that what makes Nashville so appealing to him is its “balance of grounded work ethic and charm.” He shared his anecdotal experience that when he visits the Oracle office there, “it’s humming with energy—lots of people working on complex challenges and whiteboarding solutions.” Building on that hum and planning for the future go hand-in-hand. Scott shared that the growth strategy is fueled by “balancing hiring as much local talent as possible with bringing great new talent to the region to augment our teams.”
As a prominent business hub with a dynamic startup scene, established corporations, and a growing tech community, Nashville is already a major healthcare center that’s becoming a major player in the tech world. The growing buzz is evident to Scott who shared that “it’s already a beehive of activity here, and I think that’s indicative of the type of energy we want to build.”
The Oracle advantage
The city is set to gain from Oracle’s growing presence in more ways than one. “We’re bringing jobs, but it’s not just about the numbers,” Scott explains. “We want to be a company that’s engaged in the community, investing in the community, and bringing public benefits. We’re building a campus that will be integrated into the community. We want to be a core business partner for the city and the state, and we’re committed to growing with the city and acting as a catalyst for further growth in the tech industry.”
As for the types of roles and teams Oracle is building in Nashville, Scott is enthusiastic. “We’re hiring all kinds of different roles as part of Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, we’re making major investments in developers, product managers, and program managers to help drive the next phases of growth.”
As someone making the move to Nashville himself, Scott understands the kind of pressures that professionals (and their families) can face when relocating. He’s keen to stress that relocation packages are available to help with the transition and make it as smooth as possible. That’s along with our established suite of benefits ranging from health and wellness to family supports. “We’re focused on bringing the right talent to Nashville, regardless of where they are now,” he says. “Ideally, we find people locally, but where we can’t, we’re open to supporting a move. We’re looking for people who are bold thinkers, ambitious, and focused on building and solving hard problems.”
Taking the lead
Nashville is full of opportunities to advance as a leader or pivot to people management from individual contributor roles. And with growth on the horizon, this is only going to accelerate. “We’re going to be hiring for many positions, including senior leaders,” Scott explains. “We’re looking for people who can create and sell a vision, who can bring people along, and who have a balance of persistence and emotional intelligence. It’s not just about deep industry knowledge—attitude is more important than specific skills. I look for people who are hungry, who want to lean in and make a difference, and who can overcome challenges and deliver results.”
As Scott prepares to embark on his new adventure in Nashville, he’s excited about the opportunities ahead. “Joining now means you’ll be getting in on the ground floor and there’s a lot of opportunity that comes with that,” he says. “We’re bringing innovative work to Nashville, and I fully expect the OCI Nashville office to be a wellspring of ideas and innovation that identify, create, and deliver our next generations of innovation.”
If you’re a program manager, applied scientist, or simply someone passionate about tech, Oracle’s Nashville office may be the perfect place to build your career, innovate on interesting challenges, and enjoy an excellent standard of living in Music City. With easy relocation and a commitment to growth, there’s never been a better time to join the team.
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