James Eldien had been workingat Retek Inc. for five years when Oracle acquired the retail management softwaredeveloper in the summer of 2005. Initially being an international HR Manager ina company with 585 global employees, you would think James had his work cut outfor him when he suddenly had to manage more than 46,000 employees in a new company.However, he’d soon find out that Oracle’s distinct culture would be his bestally in tackling such a daunting task—and that he would get so much more out ofit.
Starting off as an HR rep atOracle, James quickly realized he was developing leadership skills he hadn’thad the opportunity to develop. “At Oracle we really spend more timepartnering with leaders in the organization to be successful,” saysJames. Through empowerment he was able to own the relationship he had with thebusiness and drive it forward. Whether it was by bouncing ideas off his managementchain to reinforce his path, or by getting additional insight from other teammembers on how to do something differently, James had the ability to drivethose partnerships however he felt it best.
Though this leadershipapproach certainly came as a godsend to James, it was his peers and co-workerswho made it all work. “The depth of knowledge and skills thatOracle employees have is just unbelievable.” This diverse workforce alsomeant he could learn different aspects of the business as a whole, as well ashow Oracle as a company makes a difference in the world. The inherentindividual development that occurs in this kind of environment is a reflectionof the opportunities that exist every day at Oracle. “I feel that even 11 years later,I’m still learning.”
This understanding andleveraging of Oracle’s corporate strengths has allowed James to move up theladder quickly: from HR rep to HR business partner, to Senior HR businesspartner, to Manager, to Senior Manager, to Director, to Senior Director. And inthe 11 years it’s taken him to reach such a lofty position, he’s enjoyed perksthat pertain to all Oracle employees: a flexible work-life balance; the abilityto work from home; a diverse and inclusive work environment; and, evidently,career growth—which has also had an especially positive effect on certainemployees.
Today, as Senior Director,James Eldien believes that if you can prove you’re the type of employee thatstrives to acquire knowledge, engage in leadership, and master the functionsthe company needs, not only will Oracle support your growth, but will provide “endlessopportunities.”
The career you want ishere. Click here to explore HR opportunities with Oracle. Select HR as the JobCategory to see all our current openings. You can also learn about HRopportunities at Oracle by contacting James here.
About the Author: Aaron Mayagoitia has an unpronounceable last name and a passion for music, cars, and cats. He's copywriter by day, and binge watcher, listener, and reader by night. You can follow him on Twitter.
