Oracle Experience: Championing Women Causes, Driving Women Inclusion

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Oracle Experience: Championing Women Causes, Driving Women Inclusion

Charity, they say, begins at home. This is very true for leading experiential agency in Africa, Oracle Experience as it has always championed the cause of women empowerment in urban and rural communities across Africa with a high concentration in Nigeria. The company does this through its foundation, The Felix King Foundation, FKF.

Over the years, the Foundation has come up with several initiatives and programmes worth millions of dollars to empower vulnerable women to overcome poverty through skill-based training, job creation, access to micro-finance, legal aid, medicare, scholarships for their children’s education among others.

Marshaling the gigantic ship that Oracle Experience has metamorphically become today is a seasoned industry professional, Felix Eiremokhai King. In a chat with Brand Communicator, he says Oracle Experience thrives on diversity. For emphasis, Felix explains that the growth and operations of the company is built around the very resourceful and hardworking women that abound in the company. As such, most of the employees at senior managerial level of the company are women. He adds that since women have contributed so much to the agency, it operates on three solid pillars base as parts of a mission to build on its female empowerment initiatives within and without the organization. Broken down, these pillars include the mission to develop, engage, and empower current and future generations of female leaders at Oracle Experience, empowering women to reach their leadership potential among others.

It is a no brainer therefore that the agency has made it into the very exclusive list of brands and agencies that are empowering women and helping them reach their highest potential, as well as breaking the glass ceiling professionally, personally and other ramifications of their lives. This project is influenced by the theme of the international Women’s Day Celebration with the hashtag, EachforEqual as well as one of the MDG goals thatcentredaround women empowerment.

Oracle Experience has proved to do just that. Brand Communicator’s Jeremiah Agadahad a chat with some of the women at managerial positions at the Below the Line, BTL, agency and came up with this report:

“At Oracle Experience, men are not dominating women”

Like many youth corps members undergoing their mandatory National Youth Service in Nigeria posted to Lagos, Linda Okaima Oba, a young fresh graduate from the Ambrose Ali University, Ekpoma in Edo State was just relieved to have found a place to carry out her one-year service. She entered and was accepted by Oracle Experience, having obtained a bachelor degree holder in English and other certified programmes.

A year down the line after her service, Linda was convinced that as a woman, she may have a better working opportunity working in an environment where there is equal opportunity for men and women to grow her career. When the opportunity came up for her to remain at the experiential company despite having a Degree in English language, she jumped at it.

Today, Linda has risen through the ranks to become one of the most respected female staffs of the agency, holding a top position as a Senior Client Service Manager. “At Oracle Experience, men are not dominating the women; in fact, some women are in high position as well. It depends on what one has to offer in discharging his or her duties regardless of the gender.”

“We aim to work for inclusive diversity by favouring equal opportunity”

Pamela Akpavie is the agency’s Head of Human Resource. She explained that Oracle Experience has created a balance for its staff in the sense that the agency knows and appreciates their strengths and assign projects to enhance those strengths. “There are departments that are female dominated and that’s because we know what has worked in the past with our clients and brands we represent. For me, I don’t see the sexes, I see human beings and that has let me function effectively and objectively. 

She adds, “Oracle’s Human Resource Management policy begins with a commitment to avoid discrimination of any kind. We aim to work for inclusive diversity by favouring equal opportunity in matters of recruitment, training, remuneration, job placement and career development in addition to creating a conducive work environment which includes telecommuting. The percentage of the feminine workforce is 34.7% which is great in my view

“Oracle is a company where you can thrive as a family woman”

Another amazing amazon in the agency is AwobajoOnomeor“Onomsky,” as friends and colleagues like to call her. She is currently the Client Service Manager. Speaking on the leadership and work culture of the agency, she said, “Oracle is a company where you can thrive as a family woman. The MD/ CEO is a great man who puts all staff before himself. He encourages going on leave when due, grant maternity leave, sick leave and so on. There is flexibility when it gets to women especially females with children. The HR is understanding and gives permission to females who truthfully deserves it. To cap it all, Oracle has been and is still good to me as a female,” she said.

Speaking on how the vision and the mission of the organizationhas helped boost her performance, Awobajo says “Oracle brings out the ‘extra’ in your ‘ordinary’ to make you extraordinary. I joined the organization as a fresh graduate with no knowledge of experiential marketing. Oracle has brought out the extra in me by giving me a platform for self-growth, self-actualization and enhanced my performance by giving developmental training and ensuring that I have a level playing field  to become a better person. 

“Oracle gives a chance to fail because they believe you have a better chance at succeeding and also learning from the failures. The failures are corrected and other challenges thrown at you. It is only at Oracle that the MD/CEO teaches staff and relates with the staff to help their development,” she emphasized.

“…Oracle Experience is an equal playing field regardless of gender”

At the managerial position of Oracle experience in the capacity of Senior Business Unit Manager (P&G) is another woman, AmakaEiremiokhae.Currently responsible for managing and strengthening client relationships, identifying new business opportunities, and coordinating with internal teams to deliver on client expectations among other duties.  Amaka who has remarkably worked on some award-winning campaigns including Oral B Market launch in 2011, safeguard antibacterial soap in2013 among others, explains that women in Oracle Experience are thriving in what can best be described as a male dominated territory.

“I really don’t see Experiential Marketing as a male dominated organization because here at Oracle, we have an equal playing field and success is our watchword, ” she says.

“At Oracle Experience, females are allowed to lead men”

Similarly, Mrs Lola Afeni, another Senior Client Service Executive is a woman contributing to the growth of the agency. She states that working with Oracle gives her the opportunity to showcase her God given talent. “Having formerly worked in an auditing firm, Oracle experience gives you the opportunity to showcase yourself.” 

She adds, “In a field filled with men, females in Oracle Experience are allowed to lead teams, also during trainings, females are not excluded.

Every year, Oracle Experience rewards the best staff that has made impacts within the year. Lola was a recipient of such an award, having performed much more than everyone else within 2019. She was rewarded with a cash gift.”

“Women are treated with extra care”

Many are of the belief that women are better finance managers than their male counterparts…how true this is, is subject to research. However, at Oracle Experience, a lady ToluwaniKusoro works in the finance department of the company in the capacity of a Finance Executive. Achartered accountant in view and currently running a master of business administration (MBA) program at Obafemi Awolowo University, she had worked at an audit company before joining Oracle Experience.

Speaking on the opportunities given to women in the organization, she says, “The management has soft spot for female staff and they treat them with extra care especially the married ones. The management also gives room for maternity leave with full salary payment.”

“Empower the woman, empower the nation”

For Ere Akinrinmade, yet another Senior Client Executive, the practice at the agency has always remained one built around the philosophy of empowering women for better nationhood. “One of the foundational beliefs of Oracle Experience is “empower the woman, empower the nation.” As a result, the organization encourages the growth of female staff via trainings, seminars and other opportunities geared towards their development. Also very important is the fact that the organization doesn’t make women feel like slaves to the job, especially those with families.”

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