A good work culture says a lot about the company. One such stellar example is that of Oracle, especially after Saurabh Netravalkar’s recent stint. His life extends beyond the cricket field, where he serves as senior executive at Oracle, perfectly juggling his responsibilities as a software engineer and a sportsman.
After Netravalkar architected United States of America’s (USA) unforgettable win over former champions Pakistan at the ICC World T20 2024, the Oracle techie’s LinkedIn profile became the talk of the town on social media. Netizens were quick to create and share memes highlighting Saurabh’s unique situation.
Oracle’s commitment to fostering a flexible and encouraging work environment, allowing him to excel in both fields has been highly appreciated. This support has provided the necessary resources and understanding to pursue his dual aspirations.
Netravalkar took to social media platform X, thanking his company for pursuing his dreams.
Netravalkar is not alone. Recently, Naveen Rao, VP of GenAI at Databricks, missed the Databricks AI + Data Summit 2024 because he was driving at Le Mans.
Tech X Sports
Apart from cricket, Oracle has also partnered with the Formula 1 Red Bull Racing team. The partnership allows Red Bull to leverage Oracle’s machine learning and data analytics capabilities on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI) to optimise data usage across their business operations, including car performance, race strategy, and fan engagement.
Indian tech companies are also becoming the go-to partners for sports federations and organisations around the world. The companies are using AI and analytics to help teams, partners, and other stakeholders to enhance the overall experience of their favourite sports.
Owing to its non-controversial and aspirational nature, sports provide a relatively safer platform in comparison. Overall, sports sponsorship in India witnessed ₹15,000 crore in 2023, up 10.95% from ₹14,209 crore a year ago, according to a report by ESP Properties, a division of GroupM.
Here are a few tech firms that are helping boost athletes.
Tech Mahindra, in 2020, partnered with Kings XI Punjab for digital fan engagement and contributed to the glitch-free 2014 FIFA World Cup by deploying hundreds of employees in Brazil and Hyderabad.
In June 2022, the company further boosted chess popularity in India by associating with the FIDE Women’s World Cup and FIDE Women’s Grand Prix, following a torch relay at its campuses.
Adani Group Chairman Gautam Adani expressed pride in supporting young chess prodigy Praggnanandhaa, commending his rapid progress and dedication to winning laurels for India. Praggnanandhaa thanked the Adani Group for their trust in his abilities and commitment to representing the nation.
A cricketer who knows how to code
Oracle fosters a diverse, inclusive culture valuing balance, teamwork, and personal growth, encouraging employees to pursue passions beyond work. This holistic approach sets a benchmark for other tech companies to create fulfilling work environments.
Netra’s cricket passion exemplifies Oracle’s work-life balance, demonstrating how personal fulfilment boosts professional performance.
This supportive environment is not exclusive to Netra. Oracle’s work culture is shaped by its appreciation for the diverse interests and talents of its employees, a philosophy reflected in the company’s broader approach. This culture is inspired by leaders like CEO Larry Ellison, who is known for his athletic pursuits in sailing.
Apart from Netravalkar, several other cricketers also had careers in technology before stepping onto the cricket field.
Dedication or Toxicity?
Recently, Saurabh Netravalkar’s sister Nidhi revealed that the US bowler carries his laptop and does office work from the hotels.
Speaking on CricketNext, Nidhi said, “He knows that when he’s not playing cricket, he has to give 100 per cent to the job. So right now, when he’s working, he carries his laptop everywhere. And he has the freedom to work from anywhere.”
“Even when he comes to India, he brings his laptop. He’s working. So after the match in the hotel, he’s doing his work. He is pretty dedicated like that.” she added.
Amidst this, came the disclosure about his professional life, internet users criticised Oracle for its detrimental work environment and denying him time off, aiming to maintain his concentration on the tournament. Meanwhile, others praised his dedication and commitment.
The revelation about the techie’s work-life balance sparked curiosity among people, leading them to speculate about his earnings both from his professional work and cricket. One such user on X had a question whether the star bowler would get paid time off from Oracle beyond 18 days?
Although we might overestimate Saurabh’s cricket earnings, it is crucial to remember that his primary income source is most likely his demanding job at Oracle.
