2024 Reflections

As the year draws to a close, it’s time to reflect not only lessons learned but remembering our achievements! It’s often too easy to focus on the negatives but as my Mentor (a.k.a Debra Lilley) encourages the importance of fostering growth by reflecting on the positive aspects as we step into 2025! So here are some of my highlights of 2024…

January – I had the pleasure of being on the abstract review committee for Kscope24 Financial Close track! Lead by the insightful Terrance Walker!

February – I was lucky enough to be taken to see “Cirque de Soleil” at the Royal Albert Hall courtesy of the Brovanture theatre appreciation society! One of the many ways Brovanture recognises the teams contributions!

March – Brovantures’ very own ACE conference in Cyprus, a wonderful trip to celebrate our successes!

April – I received my acceptance into the Oracle ACE program, a worldwide advocacy recognition program which rewards and promotes individuals for their personal contributions to the Oracle community. Check out the website for more info or reach out to me, I’m always happy to chat on this subject: https://ace.oracle.com/pls/apex/ace_program/r/oracle-aces/home

May –  I Joined the UKOUG Shine Mentoring program as a mentor and helped turn LinkedIn Purple! A fantastic initiative spearheaded by Leona Chauhan and a heap of wonderful volunteers who helped structure this successful program. 

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June – Attended the Brovanture annual retreat at Centre parcs, a great time to catch up with all my colleagues from around the globe and the optimal balance of work and recreational activities!

June was a busy month we also attended the UKOUG Community Awards night at Redbull racing MK7, Brovanture came away with 2 awards, EPM Partner of the year Gold award for the 2nd consecutive year!  and my ACE partner in crime Lydia Maksoud won the UKOUG Woman in tech of the year!

July – was another busy month kicked off by the UKOUG Shine Summer Sizzler event at Oracle Reading, a great celebration event for the first mentoring cohort 

First up was a panel session “What I would tell my younger self” hosted by Philippa Clifford-Davies featuring Sundus Butt, Jerry Seager, Joanne Wallbanks and Sudipta Ray

We had some great breakout sessions and also heard from Leona and Jacqueline Ryan – Co-Chair of Oracles Women’s Leadership (OWL) program on collaboration with the Shine program in future events.

We also heard from 2 thought provoking motivational speakers! Ciara Banerji on Energy IQ and Lucile Kamar playing Boundaries Bingo and finally the “Mentors and mentees panel - key learnings from the programme”, hosted by Grace Honeysett, featuring Julie Harris, Cristina Arzuza, Andreea Vasiliu, Thalia Nguyen Phamova and Judit Chantler.

Next up, I had the honour of being selected to speak at Kscope24 in Nashville, ODTUG Kscope is the premier educational conference for Oracle technology users, attracting Oracle experts from all over the globe. with over 250 technical sessions, hands-on training, all-day symposiums, and networking with Oracle experts. This year’s agenda was jam packed with great content from Oracle, Partners, Oracle ACE’s and Customers!

   https://www.odtug.com/kscope24

The conference was held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Centre, another spectacular hotel 

I had the pleasure of travelling with my ACE partner in crime Lydia Maksoud and we just had to check out the music in the Honky Tonk bar!

I attended my first Oracle ACE dinner and was lucky enough to share a table with my fellow UK ACE’s and met Oracle’s famous Connor McDonald and had the biggest piece of chocolate cake I have ever seen! 

I presented “discoverIEs journey or discovery” sadly Katherine Mills couldn’t attend so we recorded her inputs so she was with me virtually!, I also spoke at the WIT luncheon on my experiences with the WIT mentoring program.

It was great to catch up with Brovantures Associate Director Roger Cressey and Rich Wilkie, VP Oracle EPM Product Management along with Many others!

And the finally event on “General Jacksons showboat” was a party not to be missed, Great food, exceptional music and lots and lots of dancing!

August – I presented a repeat of  “discoverIE’s journey of discovery” at the SAOUG webinar

September –  I Re-Certified as an “Oracle Financial Consolidation and Close 2024 implementation Professional”

October – I attended the Oracle EMEA EPM Roadshow 2024 at the Oracle offices in Reading, great to catch up with Oracle Product management and hear the latest updates!

And Tim German approached me with the opportunity to  lead the Kscope25 Abstract review committee for the Financial Close track! some amazing abstracts have been submitted and I'm excited for what is undoubtedly destined to be another remarkable conference!

November –  I Re-Certified as an “Oracle Account Reconciliation 2024 Certified Implementation Professional”

December –  Brovanture had a big presence at UKOUG conference in Birmingham, Andreea Vasiliu & Michel Schoolenaar Oracle product mgmt. presented on the AI Powered Finance with Oracle EPM which was standing room only!.

I had 4 sessions, Kicking off with my ACE partner in crime Lydia Maksoud with “3 EPM processes walk into a bar – and they all integrate with Cloud ERP!, next up was an “Interactive Multi  EPM Product Panel” Hosted by Brovantures Guillaume Slee, with Myself & Lydia plus Michel Schoolenaar  Oracle Director EPM Product Management and our Customer Nick Murray from AVON, I then presented “Elevate your HFM to new heights with EPM Financial Consolidation & Close (FCC)” and my last session was on one of the Shine panel Building Mentorships that last a lifetime hosted by Grace Honeysett.

Lydia and I also attended the UKOUG Oracle ACE Dinner held at the famous Ashas Indian restaurant! clearly a popular choice as there were 50 Oracle ACE's!

The UKOUG did something different at this years conference they had a closing Key note, Bonita Norris the youngest women to climb mount Everest, a remarkable and inspiring story!

Wow that was a busy year! it’s not until you sit down and put pen to paper that you can truly reflect and celebrate your successes!

Wishing you all good health, success & Happiness for 2025!

Until next year……….