With almost three decades of experience in telecommunications, IT, and logistics, Danni Mnitentag has risen from technical support all the way to executive leadership as Vice President of Latin America Alliances and Channels at Oracle.
He recently caught up with Executive Leadership Recruiter, Maria Alice Mendes to share his story and explain what motivated him to join the cloud leader for global business. Maria leads Latin America Executive Recruitment for Oracle in partnership with our Latin American Leadership Team. She recruits executive talent across all lines of business in the region. With over 20 years of experience, she’s always seeking to spread her expertise and grow her candidates’ careers.
Danni’s unique blend of disciplines has fueled a track record of driving business growth, leading high-performing teams, and fostering a culture of innovation. It’s established him as a respected leader, and it’s safe to say he has a few lessons to share! In this interview, we delve into his experiences, insights, and advice for senior professionals and business leaders, highlighting the rewards and opportunities here for executive leadership growth. Danni’s professional track record is impressive, with terms at other major tech players making up the bulk of his experience. Joining Oracle, however, has revealed an exciting new challenge.
Corporate entrepreneurship
“I’ve been at Oracle since January, 2024,” Danni shares. “I’m responsible for organizing alliances, partnerships, and channels in Latin America. Oracle opened the door for me to apply all I’ve
learned during my career to a whole region. I feel ownership, have a say, can change things quickly, and really impact the business.”
This has been a powerful motivator for Danni, but it’s only part of what attracted him. There’s a vision here, combined with the technical potential to make it happen, that he hasn’t seen elsewhere. “Oracle has shown the market a very clear change in how it is positioning itself in our industry,” he explains. “And Oracle is a company that has been able to reinvent itself at various times in its history.”
“For me, coming to Oracle was an opportunity to learn new things and to be able to do corporate entrepreneurship, which is not very common in our industry.”
All about people
It also brings a fresh approach to dealing with people. High-performing teams have never been more crucial, and Danni emphasizes the importance of empowering people to get results. “I believe it’s all about people,” he says. “We need to have the right people, not just those who understand the details of the technology, but those who are willing to learn, unlearn, and challenge the status quo.”
This future-proof attitude puts a strong focus on adaptability that’s ideal for life in the fast-paced world of tech. “In Brazil, the first major change I saw was the privatization of the telecommunications sector—it was key to the evolution of technology in the country. Then came the internet. I was part of this by installing fiber optics in the streets of Brazil. Then came cell phones. And then there’s the whole issue of the evolution of computing, the speed and the revolution from hardware to software and then on to cloud computing, from data center colocation to inside the organization and software-as-a-service, everything-as-a-service and AI—predictive, generative, and agents.”
As a result, Danni believes that a key strength of adaptable organizations is a culture of honesty and self-improvement. This fosters an atmosphere where individuals can thrive and grow, both personally and professionally. And when identifying effective leaders, one characteristic stands out: the ability to empower others through open and honest communication. Leaders who enjoy mentoring and guiding others, and who approach challenges with a transparent and solution-focused mindset, are highly valued. He’s also noticed that enjoying the process is a strong sign that the right people are in the right roles. It’s something that he’s experiencing anew at Oracle. “It was a lot of fun,” he recalls. “I remember the day I started and thinking what a change it was to move into a 
leadership position that I had always wanted. It was very cool. And I feel very comfortable saying what I believe here. I feel heard and get to put my ideas to work.”
Learning to breathe
Knowledge often comes with the responsibility to share what you’ve learned, and Danni thinks of how his younger self could have benefitted from what he knows now. His advice to all leaders, whether new or seasoned, is to put projects to one side for a moment and focus on people.
“I think the first thing is to study people, coaching, and emotional intelligence. There can be anxiety, so breathing more before making decisions makes a difference,” he reflects. It’s why he’s so passionate about culture and inclusion, and why it affects his business decisions when it comes to building teams and helping them thrive. “You have to be intentional,” he says. “I look at it as a job that I need to keep doing—it’s part of my day-to-day life.”
“Looking ahead, we’re talking about quantum computing and robotization, and part of that is leaving no one on the sidelines. Human beings need to evolve into something that machines can’t learn. Now, we’re challenged to challenge everything. And it’s still all about people—the essence of human beings can’t be imitated.”
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