Powering progress with inclusive leadership

February 5, 2024 | 5 minute read
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The technology industry is built on constant innovation. That’s why diverse leaders like Celika Caldwell make a powerful impact. Celika joined us nearly three years ago as Group Vice President of Apps Customer Experience Programs. Now, she’s sharing how she navigated her career as a Black woman in tech—and what leadership at Oracle means to her.

A new calling

Celika knew early in her life that she was going to be an engineer. She attended an engineering-focused high school in Memphis, Tennessee and went on to major in electrical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. After multiple internships with Bell Labs, however, Celika felt a new calling.

“I was more interested in the customers, marketability, and strategy of new technologies versus the development of them,” she recalls. Celika pivoted her career aspirations, earning her MBA from Stanford University and taking a position in management consulting. She hoped that gaining exposure to many companies in a short period of time would give her the clarity to define her career path.

Finding the sweet spot

As her career progressed, Celika grew her knowledge and experience at a range of organizations. She gravitated toward marketing roles in product development, digital marketing, marketing research, and business development. Eventually, she found her sweet spot: customer experience.

“Helping organizations become more customer-centric is the perfect combination of engineering and marketing,” she explains. “It’s understanding that customers find the experience they have with a company just as important as the product, yet also acknowledging that companies have systems, processes, and cultures that may not always align with delivering a great experience.”

A return to tech

Celika soon made a name for herself as a top-notch customer experience executive. She chose Oracle as the next step in her leadership path in 2021. As GVP of Apps Customer Experience Programs, she helps companies transform to meet customer demands.

“My move to Oracle was a no brainer,” she says. “When I was at Stanford, Oracle was known for their innovative products, market dominance, and global presence—and it still is. So, when the opportunity came to take what I had learned at other companies and apply it at Oracle, I jumped at the chance.”

Celika also knew firsthand what it’s like to be an Oracle customer, which made the role even more appealing to her.CelikaCaldwellandFamily

“I was excited to get back to the technology space where new ideas and solutions change the way many of us interact with the world,” she adds.

Good leaders inspire

One of the first things she did upon joining was connect with the North America customer success manager team about the barriers to delivering a great experience. Since then, the team has developed several programs and solutions that make their roles easier—like consolidating best practices and developing crash courses to learn about new products.

When asked what she enjoys most about being a leader at Oracle, her answer is clear.

“Without hesitation, the people. Oracle has a wealth of smart, capable, creative, and helpful people. When you have a talented group to work with, it makes leadership easy.”

According to Celika, good leaders inspire those around them to want to be part of their team. She notes that this inspiration can come in many forms.

“Some of the best leaders I’ve seen are people who are excellent at sharing a vision, making sense of perceived chaos, giving people tools and opportunities to contribute, taking calculated risks, and showing genuine appreciation for people,” she tells us.

The power of mentoring

Mentoring is a powerful resource as well, no matter where you are professionally. Celika admits that it took her time to appreciate and seek out mentors. As a result, she didn’t always consider career decisions that a mentor could have highlighted.

Now that she’s an executive, however, Celika turns to mentors in many different areas.

“I have some mentors who are strategic thinkers, some who understand how to navigate company culture, some who are subject matter experts, some who help me manage work-life balance, and some who appreciate what it’s like to be a woman or African American in the workplace.”

Driving diversity

Celika is the executive sponsor of the Alliance of Black Leaders for Excellence (ABLE), a group created to support the careers of Black employees at Oracle. She’s also a mentor within G.E.M.S. (Greatness, Excellence, Maturity, and Sincerity), a sub-group of leaders within ABLE who are committed to helping women achieve their professional and personal potential. By taking part in the G.E.M.S. Cohort Mentoring Program, she’s directly shaping the next generation of Black female leaders at Oracle.

CelikaCaldwellEmployee resource groups like ABLE and G.E.M.S. are essential to driving diversity in tech—something that Celika is passionate about.

“I think diversity is critical because no one person knows it all or is good at it all,” she shares. “It is natural to want to surround yourself with people like you, but diversity makes space for possibilities that may get overlooked when we all look, act, and think alike.”

Reflecting on Black history

As we celebrate Black History Month, Celika examines the history of Black people in the workplace and what the future will look like for Black leaders.

“I reflect on how many Black people came before me who were passionate, brave, talented, resilient, and steadfast. I think about the challenges I face and how they pale in comparison to what so many others endured. I also think about the progress made in so many areas and the long road ahead of us in others so that we get to a place where there is genuine appreciation for the contributions of Black people.”

Always think about people

Empowering diverse perspectives is how we shape progress—in our technology and in our community. As a Black woman leader with a track record of creating positive change, Celika understands this better than anyone. That’s why her approach to leadership is centered around inclusivity.

“Being technically proficient is a given, but to be a leader in tech, you have to think about people. People who will be using the technology—customers. People you have to support to get things done—peers. People you have to trust to deliver—your team. Leadership is not about what ‘I’ can do, but about what ‘we’ can do as a team.”

Do you want to make a difference in a workplace that celebrates diverse perspectives? Explore our job opportunities today and drive innovation with people like Celika.

Oracle Careers Editorial Team

The editorial team is comprised of members of the Oracle Talent Advisory group, with a wide-range of employer branding responsibilities. They partner with employees across Oracle to capture stories that showcase our company, culture and career opportunities, and help candidates envision their #LifeAtOracle.


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