Kuntuala Oliveira, Sales Director at Oracle Brazilshares a unique perspective on the subject.
Originating from a lineage of artisans and traders, Kuntuala personifies herself as a black leadership, being the mother of Zuri, a two-year-old, and awaiting Malik’s arrival. Her journey is driven by a deep feminine, black and maternal empowerment.
During her first pregnancy, she faced fears about her worth and the challenges that lay ahead, especially about how Oracle and his team would react. It took her six months to share her pregnancy with people.
“We were at an in-person event and I felt the need to reveal it; my belly was already evident. I met our president, Alexandre Maioral, and announced: ‘I’m pregnant!’ To my surprise, he smiled and hugged me warmly. From that moment on, I was overwhelmed by Oracle’s support and love! This experience undoubtedly changed my perception of the company and the mission of being a mother.”
For the sales director, everyone who goes through motherhood needs support in three pillars: family, work and personal. If one of these points is out of balance, the person will possibly give up on work.
“Being a mother at a decision-making table changes the game,” says Kuntuala. “Women develop in many areas, I am a better person after pregnancy: more analytical, more empathetic, more creative and more responsive. It is important to have mothers within companies in strategic decisions, so that we can have a different society. The world will be much better, for both men and women.”
Although her experience was beneficial, the importance of including mothers in leadership positions and strategic decision-making in companies is a recurring theme in our society, especially in an attempt to change the thinking of managers who still perpetuate the view of motherhood as a barrier for professional advancement, as indicated by the study “Women at Work”, carried out by Opinion Box and Nielsen, in which 88% of women interviewed believe that pregnancy is still an obstacle in organizations when hiring.
Another leader and mother is Daniele Botaro, who heads the Culture & Inclusion team for Latin America at Oracle and puts her life lessons into practice for the company.
“I remember when Kuntuala told me she was going to be a mother and how apprehensive she was because Zuri was going to be born at the end of the fiscal year, just when sales targets are tighter and when her team would be under more pressure. It’s incredible to see how motherhood helped her to be a better leader and a better salesperson. She was even promoted after she became a mother.
At Oracle, we continue to work to create an enabling environment for women to advance, and we firmly believe that motherhood boosts your career. But it is essential to remember that being a mother is not a single identity. Here at home, my daughter has two mothers and we are completely different. Companies need to understand that these differences bring more value to decision-making and consequently impact business results. We recognize that our lives are interconnected and that truly effective leadership is one that puts people first.”
For Oracle, Mother’s Day is also an opportunity to reinforce that equity in the workplace begins with parents. After implementing the 10-week parental leave, the company observed how much the role of men in caring for children impacts their and their mothers’ work and leadership styles, contributing to a much more inclusive work environment.
*Story sent by Oracle