Loralee Hamilton knew that returning to work after 14 years would be a big transition. Like many other professionals, she’d taken a career break—one that came with unique experiences and responsibilities. She wanted to re-enter into a workplace that welcomed her perspective, and the Oracle Career Relaunch program was the perfect fit.
“The program was a welcome safety net in my first months at Oracle,” Loralee says. Oracle Career Relaunch is specially designed for people who are coming back to work after taking a break of at least one year. The structured support of the program was a key factor in Loralee’s decision to relaunch with Oracle. Participants hit the ground running in a full-time position with benefits while receiving 12 weeks of specialized onboarding and mentorship.
A network of support
Right away, Loralee found a community at Oracle. “I was in a cohort with 7 very talented relaunchers, and we took this journey on together,” she shares. Joining together gave the cohort a sense of camaraderie that strengthened as they participated in team building experiences offered by the program. “We supported one another then, just as we do now. We’re still closely bonded.”
Throughout the program, Loralee met people who were genuinely invested in her success. “In the second week, my cohort had a Zoom call with our organization’s SVP,” she recalls. “He’s a large supporter of the program. His wife was a relauncher, so he understood the difficulty of re-entering the work force after a career pause. Taking the time to meet with our small group really personalized our experience and showed that he truly cared about our success at Oracle.”
She also had the opportunity to collaborate with Carol Fishman Cohen, a well-known relaunch advocate and career re-entry consultant who helped create the Relaunch program. “Carol’s work has been instrumental in opening the doors for thousands of people across the globe to return to work. She gave confidence to every individual in the cohort that they could succeed,” Loralee explains.
She notes that her manager played an essential role in her transition back to work. “More than anyone, my manager has always believed in the value I can deliver to Oracle. I was embraced into the team without anyone questioning my gap years.”
Life after the relaunch
Now, Loralee is thriving in her career as a Program Manager in SaaS Production Engineering. Though she has completed the Relaunch program, her manager continues to offer guidance and mentorship. “She’s been incredibly supportive of my professional career and my personal commitments. She gives me the space to work when and how I want to,” Loralee says.
She maintains that the culture of support is what she enjoys most about working at Oracle and within the SaaS organization. “People want to help others succeed. I am respected, valued, and recognized for my contributions.”
She also points out that the Relaunch program is just one of many ways to build a career at Oracle. There are countless internal and external learning libraries and classes to take, along with mentoring programs and opportunities to meet organizational leaders. Oracle Benefits even has a generous reimbursement program for education and professional development. “Oracle is very supportive of changing roles within the company,” she adds. “I know my manager would support me and assist in any way if I chose to move to a different role within Oracle.”
Having relaunched her career, Loralee reflects on how participating in the program and working at Oracle changed her life. “I am a mother, a parental caregiver, and a working professional. I’m an avid swimmer. I manage soccer for the local youth league and coordinate the middle school Science Fair. Having a flexible work schedule is critical for me. It allows me to stay supportive and involved in the extra-curricular activities of my family, but also find time for my personal well-being. Oracle respects the balance.”
Thinking about returning to work after a career break? Learn more about the Oracle Career Relaunch program and create the future with us.