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Meet & Greet: Sara Morley, Account Director at Oracle

In this week’s Meet and Greet interview, myGwork member Sara Morley talks about her roles as Oracle's Account Director and UK Lead for the company’s LGBTQ+ OPEN ERG network. She also shares insights into her professional and social life.




 

myGwork: Can you tell us a bit about your career journey to date?

 

Sara: I have been working in this industry for the last 22 years, and prior to that I sold fork lift trucks for 10 years. So I’ve always worked in a very gender-biased environment.

 

myGwork: What's the most challenging aspect of managing people right now?

 

Sara: In my role as chapter lead for the OPEN LGBTQ+ employee resource group (ERG) in the UK, I find it really challenging to get people engaged. We all have so many priorities and spinning several plates, there is so much demand on everyone’s time – even more so now with so many people working from home. The business day just seems to have got longer. So asking for someone’s time to be part of the OPEN network, although most people have great intentions, when it actually comes to doing something, most people find they just don’t have the time. So from my perspective, getting time from people to drive engagement is a real toughie!

 

myGwork: What attributes do you look for in new recruits and why? 

 

Sara: I look for people that have empathy and understanding; and people that are quite selfless, that do things in the LGBTQ+ community because they want to and because they care and not because it puts their personal profile in the spotlight. I also look for people that have drive and want to see change. Those are the people that will make suggestions and get things done. But actually, I don’t care. Anyone that wants to join our LGBTQ+ community and committee is very welcome. We are open to all.  



 

myGwork: How important is LGBTQ+ inclusion in the workplace for you personally? 

 

Sara: For me personally the LGBTQ+ community and more generically inclusion is hugely important. It makes a difference in all walks of life and especially in business. Some of the most amazing, creative and talented people I know identify as LGBTQ+. So to allow them to be themselves and know that not only will they be accepted but actually welcomed at the corporate table is paramount to a successful business and team.

 

myGwork: What's your favorite inclusion campaign to date and why? 

 

Sara: We have run an inclusion campaign at Oracle called Belonging; where a number of senior executives sign up and record themselves making a statement. Even though I have seen the videos hundreds of times, it still makes the hairs on my neck stand up every time I watch them.

 

myGwork: How do you encourage staff to have a work-life balance, especially with the increase in remote/hybrid working?

 

Sara: I refer back to a previous question. It's actually really tough. Most people's work lives encroach on their personal lives, I know mine does. I think the trick is (and it’s what I do) is to encourage others to put the work phone away at weekends and make sure your lap top is switched off and out of the way. I also put a note on the bottom of my emails asking people not to reply outside of their normal working hours.

 

myGwork: What's the biggest highlight of your career to date and why?

 

Sara: Many years ago, when I was selling forklift trucks, I was the first ever woman to sell them in the industry (which makes me feel a bit Emily Pankhurst) at the company I was working for. There were 143 men, and me! My second highlight would probably be winning the Chapter of the Year award for OPEN UK this year (2022).



 

myGwork: What was the last book you read? Any interesting take-aways?

 

Sara: I always read at bed-time, usually fiction because it helps me to unwind and sleep. I read a lot of crime and detective novels. In terms of other reading, I am totally committed to Simon Sinek and whenever I am looking for inspiration, I always read or watch him. I only wish more people would take notice of what he says, as it makes perfect sense and always resonates with me.

 

myGwork: What was your last holiday destination and where do you plan to visit next?

 

Sara: My last holiday was to Corfu and it was a holiday that had been put back by two years. We ended up being ill and flying home early! My next little get away is a weekend shopping with my girlfriends in Gibraltar.

 

myGwork: What do you to unwind at the end of a hard day?

 

Sara: Gosh so many things. I read. I love my garden. I love to walk, and I love to cook. But if there were two things that I absolutely couldn’t live without, they would be walking and dancing - my two favorite past times. 

 

You can find more about Sara and connect with her here.

 

Check out some of myGwork's other recent Meet & Greet interviews, including:

 

 

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