This year’s International Women’s Day theme, is ‘accelerate action.’ At Oracle, inclusion is essential to driving innovation and success, and we’re committed to providing opportunities for women and all employees to develop their skills and pursue their passions. To celebrate, we caught up with four inspiring leaders from around the globe to get their insights.
Taking risks, giving support
VP Head of NetSuite Japan, Yuki Shibuya, believes that accelerating action is crucial to innovation. “It’s about fostering a mindset and behavior where taking action is the norm, and it’s okay to make mistakes.” Her leadership style is all about creating an environment where teams feel empowered to take risks and learn from their mistakes. “As a leader, I believe it’s my role to instill a philosophy or code of conduct in the team. By leading by example, I can guide my members.”
It’s something she’s passionate about, and she takes an active interest when it comes to promoting success amongst her people. As a mentor, Yuki has supported many leaders and professionals in their careers by sharing her experiences. “Mentoring is about providing that nudge and being there to
support,” she says. “It’s essential to share my own experiences and reflect on how mentoring can impact people mentally.”
Her career path shows the power in accelerating action too. Before Oracle, she worked at companies like Microsoft and AWS and continues to cultivate the idea that hard work, determination, and a willingness to take risks pays off. She’s also fully aware that, in Japan, the limited number of female leaders can make it difficult for women to find role models, which may hinder their career advancement.
Support for parents
“I didn’t actively plan to take on a leadership role,” Yuki explains. “Instead, I was offered these opportunities, and I embraced them while learning and engaging in my current role. I think both men and women face similar challenges but for women, there are additional considerations, such as childbirth ”
Yuki understands the impact that children can have. She herself has juggled the pressures of home and professional life, but never lost sight of the career she really wanted. Once that phase of her life settled down, she received an offer from Oracle to take on a challenging role in a startup-like environment. It proved to be perfect timing.
“I don’t think I would have actively sought a leadership challenge if it weren’t for that timely opportunity. I recognized that it was a challenge and a risk, but as a parent, I wanted to model for my child the importance of taking risks and not fearing failure. I also felt that if I spent most of my day at work, I couldn’t settle for a mediocre or just ‘getting by’ kind of job. I wanted to do something that challenged me and aligned with my values.” In hand with a results-driven culture and a flexible work style, Yuki has been able to make incredible headway in her career here.
Finding your people
Stephanie Kinser, a solution engineering SVP in our North America region, is passionate about accelerating action because she sees just how much ground 
there’s still to cover. “We have a tremendous opportunity and responsibility to inspire the workforce of the future,” she says.
She’s been a driving force behind inclusion at Oracle with the development of mentorship programs, and employee resource groups (ERGs). “Building a supportive community is essential for the long-term success of women leadership in the tech industry,” she explains.
Her advice is to “seek mentors, build a strong network, and never shy away from advocating for yourself. Find your people—those that will inspire you, those who will challenge you, and those that will support or uplift you.” With this in place, you’ll be ready to combat imposter syndrome and make the most of each challenge. “I’d encourage others to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth. That discomfort will push you to be your best self,” she adds.
Love what you do
As a newcomer to tech, Renata Pessoa takes a more inward-looking approach. Networking is crucial, but being bold in identifying and following your passions also matters. It also saves time in reaching your goals and makes sure that your voice is heard right away. It’s a big part of what fuels her success as a sales VP.
“My advice comes down to knowing different roles, so you have a chance to fall in love with some and seek to do what motivates you. You can fall in love with something today and another tomorrow. Being open to challenging yourself and revisiting dogmas is a very healthy attitude.”
It’s an important lesson for anyone at any stage but is especially relevant to those early in their careers. When it comes to acceler
ating action, Renata highlights the value of being heard and turning risk into opportunity.
“Make yourself heard, even if it takes you out of your comfort zone,” she adds.
Transformative
Learning to handle your work environment in this way can equip you to anticipate what she calls ‘glass cliff’ scenarios (high-risk positions with a high likelihood of failure)—and turn them into valuable learning opportunities.
“My strategy is called preparation, preparation, and preparation,” she explains. “Studying, listening to those who have experience, and acting on it have always been the pillars that have supported me.”
However, since joining Oracle, Renata has been able to focus on building her leadership profile with speaking opportunities in front of varied audiences. It’s had a transformative effect on her outlook and now she’s even more ready to take on the next challenge.
Fostering potential
VP of Applications Sales in France, Stephanie Achard wants to take accelerating action back to basics: driving interest in tech by engaging schoolgirls with computer science.
“If I make a parallel with sales, we do business development. We foster the network, we foster the ecosystem, so that we have opportunities that we can pursue. This is exactly the same thing,” she explains.
“Most girls when they’re 12 to 15 years old, they don’t see themselves in computer science.”
Being bold
As far as her own specialization goes, she sees a way forward through evangelizing in schools. “We source from business schools, from universities, in economics, so there are girls choosing this path in terms of schooling. The problem is you need to explain what it is today to sell; people have an image of sellers that are on the free market trying to bargain.”
“It’s about understanding the industry, understanding customer priorities, developing a business plan, driving your sales team… Then you have more women interested in coming into this.”
Oracle Academy is an important stepping stone in creating pathways that take people from the classroom to boardroom sooner. Looking at her own trajectory, Stephanie is keen that others discover a clearer path to tech than she did.
“I got into tech by pure luck—another company needed people who spoke French. The thing with this industry is it’s a world of opportunities. There are always new opportunities to go cross-discipline at companies like Oracle.”
She also encourages being bold and clear in pursuing your interests. It can be tough to speak up sometimes, but there’s no faster way of getting what you want. “Be outspoken, not in an aggressive fashion,” she says. “Say, ‘Hey, I’m super happy here. This is what excites me. Do you see me going there?’ and get executive support around the project.”
A collective effort
Accelerating action takes a collective effort. It requires the support and commitment of individuals, organizations, and communities to create a more inclusive environment for all people. We’re dedicated to providing opportunities for women and all employees to grow and advance in their careers, and we’re proud to have leaders who strive to share this with others.
Mentorship is critical here, and provides endless opportunities to connect, guide, and support. Yuki and Stephanie Kinser are both passionate about mentorship, and they’ve seen firsthand the impact it can have on careers. “Mentorship is a powerful tool—a necessary tool for growth,” Stephanie says. “I would not be in the position I am today without a long list of mentors and advocates who supported me throughout my journey.”
Creating a supportive community is essential for the long-term success of leadership in the tech industry. At Oracle, we’re committed to providing a workplace where everyone feels valued, respected, and supported. We believe that by fostering a sense of community and connection, we can create an environment where everyone can thrive.
Do you want to take the lead at a company that’s accelerating a more equal future for all? Explore our latest career opportunities now and join the Oracle Talent Network for advice, insights, and more.