Oracle Class Of June 1988, BOOTCAMP!
Twenty years ago today, June 13, 1988, I began my professional career with Oracle Corporation. I arrived on Sunday, June 12, just in time for an earthquake during a reception party for my fellow college graduates. The most impressive thing about meeting folks were their credentials: graduates from Harvard, Stanford, MIT and Carnegie-Mellon were most represented and a few folks, such as myself, from little old Purdue.
Sunday night before class, I became violently ill from food poisening. With almost no sleep, I can recall former Oracle CFO, Jeffrey Walker, telling the class that “…at Oracle, we set the bar high.” I never thought I’d make it through bootcamp.
Over the next three weeks, we learned Oracle’s products, sales skills, consulting skills, and a variety of other “soft” skills training. But mostly, we learned the Oracle Way. Of course, meeting Larry Ellison during evening events was very special. I often thought I might take over for him. After all, I’m much younger than Larry!
I’m very proud of the time I spent at Oracle, I met a lot of very good friends who I continue relationships with today. Indeed it was a terrific institution to begin one’s career. Upon graduation from bootcamp, everyone received Howard Miller quartz alarm clock, which works to this day. Enjoy!
