Practice Manager
When we last spoke to Adam Brady in 2020, the army veteran shared his experiences transitioning from military to corporate life. From juggling deployment and college, through to serving in the reserves, he encountered Oracle through a chance meeting at a military recruitment fair.
Three years on, he’s been promoted twice and is thriving as a practice manager on the Oracle NetSuite Shared Resource Team (SRT). He’s putting his military experience to good use heading up more than 40 US and Canada based consultants. Now, he has his eye on helping other veterans develop their skills while driving a great customer experience.
He recalls the atmosphere when he first joined the team as hugely energetic and very challenging.
“When I came into this role as an enablement lead, everything was moving at a million miles per hour, and I was just trying to keep up! It took me almost a year and a half to truly understand all the inner workings”.
Comfortable with being uncomfortable
“We talk a lot about learning how to be comfortable when we are feeling uncomfortable, I had to truly embrace it. Fast forward to August of 2021 and I got promoted to senior enablement lead with the main emphasis of training new college graduates and experienced hires”.
Even in his new senior role, Adam could see there was a lot more to learn. To succeed, he needed to dig deep and reflect.
“As a senior enablement lead, it was still a process of learning how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable but this time around, I understood the program more. I had learned from mistakes and capitalized on things I did well.”
Challenging situations
Soon after, a leadership role appeared in the SRT and he knew he had to once again get out of his comfort zone and go for it.
“I had been in enablement for almost two-and-a-half years, and I felt like I understood the program and wanted a new challenge. I applied, I interviewed, and I got it!”
It’s clear that his military experience helped him to stay composed in challenging situations, but he sees that as part of an even bigger set of values.
“The military has taught me to leverage my leadership skills, lean on my team for help, exercise discipline to push through demanding times, have adaptability in times of uncertainty, resiliency to bounce back, and problem-solving to handle complex situations,” he shares.
Constructive and respectful leadership
Teamwork is the backbone of the military and essential to the success of any major project. Being a leader means cultivating the connections that let teams excel and Adam views his role as that of a cultivator of team performance.
“In the military we lean on our team and the individuals to our right and left to accomplish the mission and tasks at hand. It’s the same at Oracle. You lean on your colleagues, managers, senior leaders, and team leads for support and guidance to get you through.”
“Building and maintaining a great team takes a combination of skills, qualities, and actions. Having clear communication is the foundation of any successful team. As a leader, it’s my duty to communicate team expectations, goals, and objectives clearly and effectively. You must also be able to listen to your team and give them feedback in a constructive and respectful way.”
“Open and honest”
Communication isn’t a one-way street though, and he’s keen to stress how sometimes you need to be able to take a step back to be most effective. That’s why he emphasizes “being open and honest and having the courage to admit when you are wrong.”
Adam is keen to state that courage is another quality learned from military life that goes far in any career.
He emphasizes: “Being brave in challenging situations. Being able to inspire and motivate my team, even when times are challenging. Embracing diversity and fostering an inclusive culture. And lastly, celebrating success and recognizing the achievements and milestones of my team members.”
Veterans supporting veterans
These are all factors Adam attributes to his military career and they’re still relevant to his role today. He also gets the chance to see how they serve fellow veterans around Oracle through his involvement with the Military Affiliated Veteran Employee Network (MAVEN).
MAVEN is a tight network of veterans who have found their way to Oracle. As well as representing their views and needs, the group offers mentoring and career guidance to veterans at all stages from transitioning to corporate life to career development.
It’s something Adam feels makes a meaningful difference and sets Oracle apart from other employers.
“Our work environment includes military veteran managers, military veteran enablement leads, and consultants who understand the unique challenges that veterans may face as they transition to the corporate space and are there to help support them along the way.”
“Overall, NetSuite’s commitment to hiring and supporting veterans makes it an attractive workplace for those who have served our great country.”
Adam’s experiences on active duty and in the reserves have served him well in his new career. And it’s clear that his military background has left him well-equipped to handle any challenges that might come his way. He also believes that if he can do it, then other veterans should feel empowered to do the same.
“Be courageous and do it!” he urges. “There are so many skills our veterans have learned and developed in the military that are directly translatable”.
Visit our veteran careers page to hear more stories from veterans at Oracle or explore our latest open roles to join a team that understands the value of your experience.