VP, Database Product Management
International Women’s Day 2025’s theme of ‘accelerating action’ inspired us to look more deeply into the power of networks to drive career growth. After all, it’s the people we meet during our careers that make the most impact on what we can achieve. That’s why it’s so important to foster relationships with people moving in the same direction. To quote Henry Ford: “If everyone is moving forward together, then success takes care of itself.”
The right mix of networks and community support ensures that everyone can find what they need to succeed. At Oracle, we understand that fostering an inclusive and supportive environment is crucial for the growth and success of our talent.
To learn more, we caught up with two remarkable leaders at Oracle, Vice President of Database Product Management, Kay Malcolm, and Vice President of AI Innovation, Jenny Griffiths. Read on for their insights on the impact of mentoring, the value of speaking opportunities, and the potential of AI in accelerating action in the workplace.
The power of mentoring
While walking your own path to success has merit, seeking guidance can get you there sooner. Mentoring with intention is at the heart of leadership development at Oracle, and both Kay and Jenny emphasize its significance. Kay, who has been on both sides of the mentorship experience, knows this lesson well. Her own path to professional success was far from smooth, she reflects.
“I quit or was fired from my first five jobs when I got out of college!” she shares. “I was full of promise, graduated with a sought-after engineering degree, the future was looking bright, but I wasn’t prepared for the real world.”
Although Kay had the raw skills and drive to succeed, she lacked the skills to navigate the corporate culture. She eventually charted her own course but could have accelerated her growth much sooner with the support of a mentor.
“I was book smart, but my emotional IQ did not match my knowledge and ability. The two were out of sync. I struggled and stumbled to figure it out. I felt like I was an imposter, but what I really needed was an experienced leader to encourage me to navigate corporate culture.”
Connecting with community
Kay’s journey shows just how important mentorship can be in helping individuals make the right career moves early on. Inspired by this, Kay set out to keep others from making the same professional missteps she did.
Now, as a seasoned leader herself, she’s found that many of her mentees face similar struggles. Self-confidence, burnout, authenticity, and work-life balance—all familiar subjects for growing professionals. This inspired her to create Your Workbestie on Instagram where she shares her personal advice and mentorship with a wider audience.
Making connections matters, but it needs fertile ground to pay off. That’s where a community approach shows its true value. In Jenny’s case, the importance of the natural mentoring relationships that spring up in leadership networks can’t be overstated.
“I’ve found that mentoring opportunities, whether given or received, have evolved organically over time,” she explains. “I have relationships that I have built, where I naturally sought their counsel for certain topics and realized that they had become my mentors. I’ve become that person for a group of people too. Leadership networks at Oracle are fantastic at helping make those connections and giving time and space to build out and invest in those relationships.”
Kay has even seen mentor-mentee relationships cement into long-lasting friendships. Over time, those same mentees have flourished into mentors themselves and spread her lessons to a whole new generation of talent. It’s a rewarding cycle and one that she still fosters whenever she can.
VP, AI Innovation
Amplifying the message
From opening doors to new opportunities to shaping belief systems, Jenny adds that this kind of relationship building is a way of enhancing her personal ‘training data,’ where the quality of her network directly affects her personal growth and success.
There’s a point for every professional where know-how speaks for itself. You become the ‘go-to’ person in your specialization, and your opinion carries real weight. Kay and Jenny both understand how powerful this can be, especially when combined with a platform that embraces and amplifies the message.
Speaking at events like WomenTech and Women of Silicon Roundabout has been an effective way for them to inspire others towards leadership and put themselves out there as community builders. Kay’s recent WomenTech presentation not only inspired the audience but also showcased Oracle’s AI capabilities to a diverse range of attendees. And the technology itself has undeniable potential to accelerate action.
“Conferences like this are pivotal to amplifying voices that might go unnoticed,” she adds. “During my keynote, I encouraged people to make sure their voices were heard and inspire the next generation of leaders. Today’s economy is exponentially competitive. Companies need new ideas, they need innovation, and these conferences encourage everyone to build skills around coding, AI, cloud, and leadership. It also gave me the opportunity to share what Oracle is doing in the field of AI with everyone from potential developers to C-level executives.”
Jenny, who has also taken part in WomenTech and presented at Women of Silicon Roundabout, agrees.
“That was such a fun presentation. It was on demystifying AI, and I think that it’s so important to make everyone feel comfortable with their AI knowledge, to unlock career opportunities and growth. That’s one way of accelerating action. The other is just to be visible and show that you can and are doing highly technical jobs.”
AI acceleration
The GenAI Journeys series, hosted by Oracle Women’s Leadership (OWL), is a prime example of an initiative that unearths new opportunities in AI. This virtual series is open to all employees and aims to show AI’s practical applications. Jenny, who led a session at the event, is enthusiastic about its potential.
“The GenAI Journeys series is a great way of empowering people across Oracle to learn more about AI. In the past, AI was viewed as a black box or something for PhDs. I believe that everyone needs an understanding of AI to integrate it into our working lives. Those who lean into it can significantly accelerate their careers.”
Kay’s experience highlights how AI can open new career paths. Her enthusiasm for the technology’s potential is infectious, and she believes that its future belongs to everyone.
“It’s been a long time since a technology had the potential to shape how we live, work, and play. AI and data are partners. One can’t exist without the other. Leveraging AI-powered analytics can help a company get full value out of their data. Oracle is just the company to partner with to unlock the massive potential this technology brings to every aspect of our lives.”
Jenny sees AI as part of a new era where we can more easily enhance our strengths and support our weaknesses in professional and personal life.
“I like to think of it as a tool to enhance our superpowers or to bolster our weaknesses. For instance, at home I use it to add confidence and strip out disclaimers from my writing. At work, I use it in talent reviews to help with rating my team. Self-awareness is key when thinking about how AI can accelerate opportunities. I’d urge everyone to explore what AI can do for them.”
It’s clear that Oracle is dedicated to fostering a culture that values and supports professionals at all levels to reach their goals. Kay and Jenny’s experiences prove the power of our networks in driving positive change. All we need is to find and guide the people who can make it happen.
Be part of an industry leader that’s accelerating a brighter future for all. Explore our latest career opportunities now and join the Oracle Talent Network for advice, insights, and more.