Following her resignation from Oracle, ex-MD Lenore Kerrigan is working on her golf swing. Describing her current sabbatical as her first break since university, Kerrigan is also concentrating on her family life and catching up on her reading.
"Europe wanted to maintain the status quo -- I wanted change," says Kerrigan. Following the worldwide IT market recession, Oracle, usually known for its maverick attitude, has taken the conservative route. "With the market as it is now, I believe that this is the right strategy for them. I joined Oracle at the wrong time," says the woman whose key goal is change.
She believes her time as managing director of the local subsidiary was not wasted. "I have learnt a lot about corporate governance," she says, commending the King report on the subject. "No management book could have taught me what I learnt in a year at Oracle. The market has changed. Through change, you learn so much."
Despite speculation regarding her resignation, Kerrigan says she wishes Oracle well and still admires the company. "I don`t have any bitter feelings towards Oracle. I will be watching the company from the sidelines. I was -- and still am -- passionate about Oracle."
Kerrigan is still undecided on her next employer. She has committed to staying in SA, and says she does not want to start her own company. "I`m a corporate animal," she says. "I don`t know where I`m going yet, but I`m quite excited about certain possibilities.
"I`m sure that whatever I`ll do, I`ll either compete with or work with Oracle," she adds.
Meanwhile, Kerrigan`s two children (aged 10 and 12), her husband, and her golf game are getting the attention she says has been lacking due to her strong Taurus focus on her career. She says that when she does enter the market again, she wants to maintain a healthy balance between work, health and family.
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