Israeli American’s path to CEO and chair of Oracle
Source: Terra.com.br
Many are familiar with Oracle, a giant in the computer software industry that had a particularly great first quarter in 2024. The company “turned rivals into customers,” according to Barron’s. But few outside the industry know who’s responsible for the company’s affluent streak of late. Who is Safra Catz? And how did she come to lead a prominent US conglomerate?
Personal Background & Immigration to the US
Born in Holon, Israel, to a Romanian immigrant, Safra Catz emigrated to Brookline, Massachusetts, when she was six years old. In 1983, she graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and completed a J.D. at the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Professional Background
Catz held many investment banking jobs after graduating. She started out as a banker, then became a managing director, and then senior vice president at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette. In 1999 Catz joined Oracle, which started her long tenure in various positions at the computer software giant. She became the company’s president in 2004, served as the CFO from 2005 to 2008, and became the CEO in 2014. She is credited with leading almost 130 acquisitions at Oracle, including a $10.5 billion takeover of PeopleSoft. In addition, she was a director of HSBC from 2008 to 2015 and was elected to the board of directors at the Walt Disney Company in 2017. She lectures at Stanford University.
Achievements & Contributions to US Economy
In 2009, Forbes ranked her as the 16th most powerful businesswoman. Fortune named Catz the 11th most powerful woman in business in 2023. She was the highest-paid woman at Fortune 1000 companies in 2011, receiving an estimated US $51,695,742 in total compensation. Her current net worth is $2 billion. In addition to her many accomplishments, in 2022 Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas appointed Catz to the Homeland Security Advisory Council.
