myGwork spoke to Angela Äinschi Jacobsen from Oracle about inclusivity and visibility in the workplace
BY DYLAN MANN-HAZELL, IMAGES PROVIDED
Angela Äinschi Jacobsen spoke with myGwork about her extensive career at Oracle and her work as the founder of the German chapter of Oracle’s Pride network, OPEN. She shares insights into her personal journey of coming out, highlighting the challenges she faced growing up in a strict Catholic environment and the importance of visibility and inclusivity in the workplace. Äinschi also discusses Oracle’s efforts to create an open and supportive environment for LGBTQIA+ employees.
Hello Äinschi! Could you tell us a bit about your background and the career path that led you to your current position at Oracle?
I started my apprenticeship at IBM in Munich in 1987 and have been at home in the IT industry ever since. I started as the first telesales employee for Oracle Germany in 1994. Since I was always able to take on new and challenging job roles at Oracle – from sales to marketing and business development, coupled with social commitment – I had the opportunity to keep developing without having to change companies. Last year I celebrated my 30th anniversary with the company.
My journey into IT began in 1987 with an apprenticeship at IBM in Munich – and it still continues today. In 1994, I was the first telesales employee at Oracle Germany. Why did I stay? Because I was always able to rediscover myself here – be it in sales, marketing, business development or social commitment. Every chapter challenged me and shaped me further. I celebrated my 30th anniversary in 2024 – and I still feel the same curiosity as on the first day.
Can you tell us something about your childhood – where did you grow up? Did you have any hobbies?
I was able to grow up and live in a part of Germany where many people like to go on vacation: near Munich in the countryside of Upper Bavaria. My parents had simple jobs and we never owned a car or a house. Even though money was tight back then, my parents attached great importance to ensuring that my sister and I received a good upbringing and education. I started piano lessons at the age of five and learned to swim and ride a bike very early on. My father gave me a real racing bike for my 14th birthday – that was something very special at the time and I loved cycling very much.
Can you tell us about your personal journey with the LGBTQIA+ community?
I think I was what you would call a typical closet lesbian. My mother was very involved in the Catholic church and I grew up in a strict Catholic environment. My coming out was a quiet, long process. I didn’t talk to my family and close friends about my identity until I was 32. I took many more years to come out at work. So, I know what invisibility feels like – and how liberating it is to let it go. In 2018, I founded the German chapter of our Oracle Pride network “OPEN”. Being visible doesn’t just give me strength – it also takes away the fear of others. And that’s my why.
How does Oracle strive for inclusivity and provide an open space for LGBTQIA+ employees?
At Oracle, no one has to hide any part of their identity. Support for our OPEN network is not lip service – it’s lived. Whether through training, clear policies, gender-neutral spaces, sensitive language or visible allies in management – a space is created here in which we can feel safe. This is not a given – and that is precisely why it is so valuable. I think Oracle understood early on that employees can only do a good job if they feel comfortable and safe and don’t have to be afraid. We are offered this safe space here!
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