Connecting to the Future
Continued
PHILLIPS: Oracle has been a key supporter of on-demand computing since 1999. Unlike many other software companies, we understand this growing market's importance and believe that it's now at an important inflection point in its development and direction. Oracle's technology and applications products are very well positioned to influence and drive this growing market. Our success with on-demand products like Siebel CRM On Demand and Oracle E-Business Suite On Demand speak to our commitment and leadership in on-demand computing.
PROFIT: What about the company's acquisition strategy? After years of homegrown software and few acquisitions, Oracle has acquired 28 companies in the past three years. How is the integration process going, and what can we expect to see in the future?
PHILLIPS: The results speak for themselves. Against all expectations and odds, the acquisitions have gone quite well. They've made us significantly more important to our customers and feared by our competitors. I need another [US]$50 billion to spend.
PROFIT: You came to Oracle after a successful career on Wall Street, rather than as a technology guy. How has that affected the way you've done your job at Oracle? How do you think you've changed since you started at Oracle?
PHILLIPS: It's hard to say how my background affected my approach relative to others since I only have my perspective. But it felt very familiar given all my years in the military, which is the one place where people get formal leadership training and manage large organizations at an early age.
PROFIT: Speaking of success, you were rejected 125 times before you got your first job on Wall Street. What kept you going? How do you think you finally got the offer you were looking for?
PHILLIPS: Well I only needed one person to say yes. The rest were irrelevant in my mind.
