Keynote
AI and the Oracle Database
Jeff Smith, Oracle America
All of your Oracle Databases, regardless of edition, version, or location are now available for your language learning model (LLM) and AI assistants to accomplish your tasks and requests. This session will demonstrate a range of use cases for a business user, developer, or administrator. We'll also cover how to keep it secure, and do a lots of live demo - all powered by our MCP Server, Oracle SQLcl.

Applications

Integrating APEX with the Oracle E-Business Suite
Michael Brown, BlueStar (ACE Associate)
This session will cover the technical details of extending EBS functionality using Oracle APEX. We will examine the new method from Oracle added with ATG 12.2.13, which is included in EBS 12.2.14, as well as a homegrown method that uses EBS usernames and passwords and works with any EBS version. The session will also discuss the advantages of using the APEX low-code environment to extend the E-Business Suite.

Oracle EPM Narrative Reporting: Streamlining Corporate and Management Reporting
Prakash Malmarugan, NexInfo Solutions Inc.
Discover the power of Oracle EPM Narrative Reporting for corporate and management reporting. This session showcases how to create integrated reports by sourcing data from both Oracle and non-Oracle applications. Learn how to streamline the reporting process, ensure data accuracy and deliver insightful narratives that align with business needs. Gain practical insights into building seamless integrations to enhance your organization’s reporting capabilities. Understand Oracle EPM Narrative Reporting’s role in corporate and management reporting. Learn how to integrate data from Oracle and non-Oracle applications into Narrative Reporting. Explore best practices for streamlining reporting processes and delivering actionable insights.

The Best New Features in EBS Common to Most Applications 12.2.4 - 12.2.14+
Susan Behn, Rite Software (ACE Director)
An Oracle ACE Director highlights key new features in EBS Applications versions 12.2.4 to 12.2.13 that affect most users after upgrading. These include improvements in the user interface, search, flexfield functionality, security and workflow. Many features enhance the user experience by streamlining daily tasks. The session also covers common “gotchas” to help you plan for upgrade risks. The discussion focuses on foundational EBS tools known as Foundation (FND), Application Object Library (AOL) and Application Technology Group (ATG).

E-Business Suite WebLogic Server Performance Tuning and Monitoring -- Quick, Easy and Accurate
Michael Barone, OATC Inc. (ACE PRO)
E-Business Suite WebLogic Server for cloud and on-premise environments covers key topics including performance tuning and monitoring, as well as WebLogic Server’s built-in features. The session will highlight the use of the WebLogic Server Utility, or WLSU, for performance analysis. It will also cover performance monitoring scripts available through the WebLogic Scripting Tool, or WLST. Additionally, best practices for automated retention and purging of WebLogic Server logs and access logs will be discussed.

Oracle EPM Predictive Cash Flow for GAAP, Non-GAAP Reporting & Cash Forecasting
Prakash Malmarugan, NexInfo Solutions Inc.
Discover how Oracle EPM’s predictive cash flow capabilities enable the creation of GAAP and non-GAAP reports using both direct and indirect methods. Gain insights into how cash flow predictions improve financial planning and how seamless integration with source systems, including general ledger and sub-ledgers, enhances data accuracy and reporting efficiency. This session demonstrates practical approaches to streamlining cash flow management while ensuring compliance with financial standards. Understand Oracle EPM’s predictive cash flow capabilities for GAAP and non-GAAP reporting using direct and indirect methods. Learn how cash flow predictions aid in effective financial planning and decision-making.

Java Code Signing with EBS-It's a Whole New World
Michael Brown, BlueStar (ACE Associate)
In June 2023, all commercially issued code signing certificates were required to be secured using a hardware token, which could be delivered as an HSM or a secure USB key. Unfortunately, this broke all the EBS ad utilities that sign the jar files. In August 2024, Oracle released patches to fix the utilities. This session will review a method to sign your jar files using the secure USB key. Then it will cover how to convert to the updated method from Oracle. The session will also discuss lessons learned about code signing over the last two years since the conversion became necessary.

Oracle EBS on OCI - Hight Availability and Disaster Recovery Configurations
Biju Thomas, Data Intensity
This session provides a deep dive into the enhanced business continuity capabilities of Oracle Cloud. It analyzes the high availability and disaster recovery solutions available on OCI, focusing on strategies to achieve stringent recovery point objectives and recovery time objectives. A core component of the discussion will be the Full Stack Disaster Recovery service, detailing its advantages for comprehensive disaster recovery. The session will also cover the latest disaster recovery options introduced with the newest Cloud Manager release and outline recommended, resilient EBS architectures for both ExaCS and DBCS on OCI, optimized with Full Stack Disaster Recovery.

From Pit Stops to Fast Lanes: How Oracle Cloud ERP Transformed a $11B Automotive Retailer
Srinivasan Pakkirisamy, SPL Consulting
Picture your financial processes flowing effortlessly, free from IT bottlenecks, with decisions made faster and smarter than ever. In this session, learn how Oracle ERP Financials transformed operations for Advance Auto Parts, an $11 billion automotive retailer. From automating key financial workflows to providing actionable insights, discover how Oracle ERP is reshaping the way this industry leader handles its finances. Whether you are a CFO, analyst or IT professional, you will gain strategies to streamline processes, reduce errors and achieve substantial ROI. Walk away with the tools to empower your teams and drive impactful results, just like Advance Auto Parts did with Oracle ERP.

Data (Not Database)

Real-World Insights through AI Vector Similarity Search using Python
Veronica Dumitriu, Oracle America
In this session, we demonstrate an AI-powered ecommerce solution that uses vector similarity search with Python, the python-oracledb driver and Oracle Database 23ai. The database hosts a catalog of product images represented as vector embeddings. When a user provides a new image, the system queries the database to retrieve the most visually similar items. You will learn how to generate image embeddings using AI models, store them as native vectors in Oracle Database and leverage built-in AI vector search capabilities to power image-based product discovery, recommendations and personalization.

Oracle Technical and Functional: Using AI Assistants for All of Your Simple and Complex Tasks
Michael Barone, OATC Inc. (ACE PRO)
This session explores how AI assistants are transforming both technical and functional tasks in the Oracle ecosystem. From simple queries to complex automation, attendees will see how tools like ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Perplexity AI, Claude AI, and Grok3 AI can enhance productivity, accuracy, and convenience. Through live demos, we’ll show how to use AI to generate SQL for monitoring (e.g., tablespace usage, session details), automate repetitive tasks (such as backup scheduling and user management), and explain ORA error codes with actionable solutions. The session highlights how AI—powered by machine learning and natural language processing—can support Oracle professionals with SQL, SQL*Plus, PL/SQL, Linux scripting, predictive analytics, and seamless integration with tools like OEM. Whether you’re troubleshooting or streamlining workflows, this session delivers practical examples of AI in action.

Generating OAC Semantic Model Using LLMs
Konstantin Zhernevskiy, Data Intensity
This presentation guides you through building a complete Oracle Analytics Cloud semantic model covering the physical, logical and presentation layers using ChatGPT and the OpenAI Python API. You will begin by crafting precise prompts for automated schema introspection, pulling table definitions and relationships straight from your Oracle database. From there, you will learn how to identify fact and dimension tables and turn them into logical model objects that capture your analytic business rules. Next, you will enrich that model with hierarchies and calculated measures, then automate the presentation layer by mapping those logical entities into intuitive subject areas. After validating your repository with real-world query tests to ensure accuracy and performance, you will wrap everything up with a Python toolkit that orchestrates the entire workflow from prompt creation to repository deployment so you can repeat and refine the process with minimal effort.

Talk to Your Database, Really! (SELECT AI De-Mystified)
Karen Cannell, TH Technology (ACE Director)
Imagine talking to your database and getting answers back. With SELECT AI, this is possible. With SELECT AI and APEX, asking questions of your database and receiving answers in various formats is also possible. Sounds crazy? It is not. It is totally doable. Attend and learn how. We will delve into SELECT AI by describing and demonstrating the basics, how to get started, the fundamental commands, how to create a profile, tweaking that profile for best results, where vectors may help, the learning curve, and ideas for incorporating SELECT AI into your APEX or other applications. Imagine the possibilities.

Oracle Graph and Financial Sector Fraud Prevention
Valli Ramanathan, FreddieMac (ACE PRO)
Data analysis can reveal patterns, uncover fraud, provide product insights and guide buying and selling decisions. Visualizing data as graphs offers deeper insights, and Oracle Graph Server makes this possible by mapping relationships between data points. Oracle supports multiple data models including JSON, XML, spatial data and graph structures. Its graph analytics engine, available in Oracle Database and Oracle Autonomous Database, uses graph algorithms, pattern matching and visualization to help users discover new insights. This session covers how to configure and implement graph technology using a fraud prevention use case in financial services. Banks and credit card companies must identify suspicious transaction patterns, detect indirect links to fraudulent accounts, and uncover complex money laundering schemes involving layering through many small transactions. Oracle Graph enables these tasks through in-memory graph storage and fast analytics. Setup is simple, providing scalable, secure visualization with access to more than 50 built-in graph algorithms.

Fusion Data Intelligence - Deep Dive
Konstantin Zhernevskiy, Data Intensity
In this session, you will see how Oracle Fusion Data Intelligence pulls finance and supply chain data from Fusion Apps into the Autonomous Data Warehouse via prebuilt pipelines and delivers it in Oracle Analytics Cloud, all managed for high availability, security and governance. You will learn how Oracle’s semantic layer organizes your ERP and SCM data into ready-to-use subject areas, metrics and hierarchies without manual modeling. We will demonstrate the Metadata Workbook for installing the ERP and SCM workbooks, adding custom KPIs and hierarchies, and best practices for promoting changes from sandbox to production. You will also discover how to bring third-party and legacy data sources into FDI, with tips for staging, transformation, data quality checks and hybrid-cloud data residency compliance. By the end, you will have a clear roadmap for starting your FDI trial and accessing the ERP and SCM analytics.

Generative AI and LLMs with Oracle OCI Generative AI Services
Kai Yu, Independent
This session introduces generative AI and large language models, or LLMs, to Oracle technology professionals. It covers a technical overview of LLM basics, architecture, fine-tuning techniques, prompt engineering and fundamentals of code models. Using examples, the session will also cover OCI generative AI services such as pre-trained generational models, model inference and dedicated AI clusters.
Important topics such as retrieval-augmented generation, vector databases, semantic search, the LangChain framework (prompts, models, memory, chains) and AI agents will also be discussed. A demonstration will show how to build AI agents with the OCI GenAI Agent service.
Attendees will learn the following:
An introduction to generative AI and LLMs, including basics, architecture, fine-tuning, prompt engineering and code model fundamentals
OCI generative AI services such as pre-trained generational models, model inference and dedicated AI clusters
Key topics including retrieval-augmented generation, vector databases, semantic search, the LangChain framework and AI agents
How to build AI agents using the OCI GenAI Agent service

Development
A Picture is Worth 1000 Words: Master Handling Images in APEX
Karen Cannell, TH Technology (ACE Director)
A picture is worth a thousand words, but how can developers effectively manage images in APEX? With so many images come many questions: How should photos be loaded, and in what form? Where should they be stored? What are the best practices for displaying, downloading, editing and updating images within APEX? This session aims to demystify handling images in APEX. We will explore a range of the latest recommended options—both declarative and code-based—for uploading, resizing, storing and displaying images across various use cases, including APEX forms, report types and other components. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the most efficient methods for incorporating images in APEX applications, along with valuable insights and the confidence to easily integrate images into their own APEX projects.

Autonomous Code Generation with AI
Ahmed Aboulnaga, Independent (ACE PRO)
The landscape of software development is undergoing a significant transformation fueled by the latest breakthroughs in AI, especially with the emergence of generative models and large language models (LLM). Although the use of AI in code generation is still in its infancy, the results are extremely promising. Microsoft GitHub Copilot and Windsurf are among those leading the way, while others such as Cline and Mercury Coder Mini are also making waves. This presentation provides an overview of AI concepts, engines and capabilities. It covers in detail the process of generating Java, Python and PL/SQL code, from basic coding assistance to complex code and even full-fledged applications. Attendees will learn about effective strategies, understand limitations and view practical results of leveraging AI through natural language and reverse engineering to revolutionize their approach to software development. In the hands-on demo, we will compare how far we can get with autonomous AI code generation versus AI as a coding assistant.

Oracle APEX GenDev Overview
Jayson Hanes, Oracle America
Oracle APEX brings AI into the developer fold to enhance development success by leveraging AI for many APEX developer tasks, from building a data model to using natural language to build SQL and troubleshoot it, to enabling APEX applications to use chatbots that work with RAG (declaratively) and go beyond with Oracle Database 23ai Vector Search, and more. This session will present an overview of what APEX is and how developers of all skill levels can build almost any kind of web application imaginable, anywhere Oracle Database is available.

A New View of Database Views
Michael Rosenblum, Dulcian Inc. (ACE PRO)
Too many of us have been taught that views are nothing more than stored SQL statements. The goal of this presentation is to challenge this notion and move beyond the technicalities to the significant role that well-designed views can play in contemporary database solutions. Today’s views are highly advanced. They can be built on top of user-defined functions, use SQL macros, include complex INSTEAD-OF triggers (including composite ones), be used for editioning and even have constraints. With these capabilities, views can serve as an isolation layer between UI-driven data representation, which is heavily denormalized and customized, and DBA-driven data representation, which is normalized with referential integrity constraints and foreign keys. This presentation will show that keeping business logic in the database provides a much higher level of flexibility, manageability and performance. There are some traps and pitfalls — for example, you need to understand how the cost-based optimizer resolves nested views — but these are avoidable. Real-life examples will show that the role of views is seriously underestimated.

Oracle Database High Availability: Handling Planned and Unplanned Outages
Veronica Dumitriu, Oracle America
Ensure business continuity and minimize downtime with Oracle Database high-availability features and the latest advances in Transparent Application Continuity (TAC). This session demonstrates how to design and implement resilient systems that can withstand planned and unplanned outages. We will explore Oracle technologies such as RAC, TAF, FAN, DG and Application Continuity, and discuss their role in maintaining uninterrupted operations. Examples and best practices apply to a wide range of programming languages, including Java, Python, Node.js, ODP.NET, C, PHP and Go.

Leveraging AI for Oracle EBS Extensions, Customizations, and Development
Bill Dunham, OATC Inc. (ACE PRO)
This presentation explores the integration of AI (ChatGPT and others) into the Oracle EBS development workflow, demonstrating how AI can enhance productivity, streamline troubleshooting and optimize SQL and PL/SQL queries. Participants will gain insights into leveraging AI for workflow automation, API utilization, debugging and documentation. The session will also highlight how AI can assist in user support, customization and adherence to best practices within Oracle EBS environments. By the end, attendees will understand how to effectively use AI to improve efficiency and innovation in Oracle EBS development. Understand AI capabilities: Learn ways AI (ChatGPT and others) can assist Oracle EBS developers in improving productivity and troubleshooting. Optimize SQL and PL/SQL queries: Use AI (ChatGPT and others) to generate, refine and optimize queries for Oracle EBS modules. Leverage EBS APIs and interfaces: Apply AI (ChatGPT and others) to integrate and utilize Oracle EBS public APIs, and to automate common EBS tasks.

Real Results with APEX: 8 Applications, 5 Clients, 1 Powerful Low-Code Story
Jonathan Coreil, Datavail
In a world where off-the-shelf software often falls short, low-code platforms like Oracle APEX are empowering developers to build tailored solutions that drive real business value quickly. In this session, we will explore how APEX was used to develop eight powerful applications across five diverse clients, each designed to solve unique, niche problems that traditional systems could not address. Through these five real-world stories, you will see how APEX accelerates the delivery of robust, secure and scalable enterprise applications with minimal code and maximum impact. We will dive into the business problems tackled, the design and development approaches used and the outcomes achieved. Whether it is automating legacy processes, bridging gaps between systems or enabling smarter decisions through custom dashboards, these applications showcase the versatility and potential of APEX in action. Walk away inspired with practical insights, design ideas and development strategies you can apply to your own APEX journey, no matter how niche the challenge.

User-Defined Function Calls in SQL: One, Two…Many?
Michael Rosenblum, Dulcian Inc. (ACE Pro)
During years of development experience, I have constantly seen that the biggest blunders happen when developers assume how their systems will behave. What’s worse, they may be right 95 percent of the time, or for performance-related issues, their misunderstanding might not matter. But that “black box” approach eventually causes major production issues and 4 a.m. calls. Using user-defined functions in SQL is one such area. In 2014, I wrote a whole book chapter on the topic. It started with basic EMP-DEPT examples shown to a group of developers: here is a query with a function inside, here are your tables. I asked them to tell me how many times that function would fire. Even senior people were wrong more than half the time. The goal of this presentation is to provide the audience with everything needed to change the trend. This includes both thinking patterns, with a similar set of interactive examples, and tools and mechanisms such as an introduction to PL/SQL Hierarchical Profiler, 10046 trace and result cache. With the new generation of developers coming from different backgrounds, it is critical to remind them of the core engineering approach: if you cannot measure it, you cannot manage it. In the cloud, the costs of mismanagement include real money, as you may incur unnecessary CPU usage, and damage to our reputation, since it is easier to blame Oracle rather than properly train developers. We, as a community, should stop this and make sure people use the power of Oracle databases efficiently.

Oracle APEX New Features
Jason Straub, Oracle America
This session will cover the top new features in the latest release of Oracle APEX and beyond, as only a member of the APEX development team can deliver. The session will be light on slides and heavy on live demonstrations.

APEX & AI - Create Smart Enterprise Apps Like a Pro!
Jonathan Coreil, Datavail
Elevate your Oracle APEX skills by harnessing the power of AI integration. In this session, you will learn how APEX can seamlessly blend with AI to create smart, enterprise-grade applications that are dynamic, secure and cutting edge. Discover how to leverage AI models via RESTful APIs, enhance apps with intelligent automation and deliver predictive insights that impress stakeholders. See how an oil and gas company used APEX integrated with AI to build an asset tracking system, boosting efficiency by 30 percent through predictive maintenance.
Learning objectives:
Master integrating AI models into APEX using RESTful APIs for intelligent, next-generation apps
Explore a real-world demo of an oil and gas company’s AI-powered asset tracking system built on APEX
Learn how to build secure APEX apps that handle AI workloads and sensitive data with confidence
Explore best practices for balancing AI functionality with clean, user-centric APEX app designs

Infrastructure

8 Easy Steps to Secure your Oracle Database
Erik Benner, Mythics LLC (ACE Director)
No one wants to be in the news after their data has been stolen. In this session, you will learn eight easy steps to secure your Oracle Database. Each step will include an example, including the tools used to implement the security. This session covers both 19c and 23c, with new 23c security features included as bonus steps. It addresses both database configuration and processes you should be using today.

AWR Deep Dive: Truths, Troubles, and Tuning Techniques from the Field
Roger Cornejo, Accenture Enkitec Group (ACE Director)
AWR is not just for DBAs. After decades of tuning Oracle databases, the speaker has learned a key lesson: don’t rely on canned reports when plain SQL can solve performance problems faster and more accurately. In this fast-paced session, you will learn how to mine the depths of Oracle’s Automated Workload Repository (AWR) and Active Session History (ASH) to uncover performance insights that default tools often miss.
You will learn how to:
• Interpret Active Session History and SQL-level metrics in sqlsta
• Detect anomalies across thousands of performance metrics
• Reveal hidden CPU bottlenecks and inefficient workloads
• Analyze redo, undo, temp usage, IOPS, throughput, SQL arrival rates and more using simple SQL
The session will also challenge conventional tuning habits and demonstrate how tactical fixes buried in Oracle Advisor data can evolve into a strategic, insight-driven approach to performance optimization. Attendees will walk away with practical SQL snippets, tuning techniques and a fresh perspective on how to fully leverage AWR. Whether you are troubleshooting slowdowns or scaling for growth, this session equips DBAs and developers alike with the mindset and tools to become proactive performance engineers.

Clean-up Now: Purging and Archiving Prior to Lifting EBS to OCI!
Bill Dunham, OATC Inc. (ACE PRO)
As more organizations seek to migrate their EBS and non-EBS applications to Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, there are opportunities to clean up data by purging and archiving to minimize the initial cloud footprint. This session will discuss various options throughout the Oracle EBS applications and Oracle technology that can help with the clean-up process. Join us for a frank discussion, options and open conversation about lifting EBS applications to OCI.

Upgrade Like a Hero – Journey from 19c Standalone DB to 23 AI CDB
Valli Ramanathan, FreddieMac (ACE PRO)
Upgrading to 23ai is highly sought after, but if you are in a 19c standalone configuration, you must convert to a Container Database (CDB) before upgrading. This can be challenging for clients who require additional testing with legacy applications. The presentation will cover the best options for switching from standalone to CDB configuration and will help with in-place and out-of-place upgrade options from 19c to 23ai. Technical steps for converting the standalone database will be detailed, along with some automation options to ensure all environments are handled consistently without human error. Out-of-place upgrade details to achieve zero downtime will also be illustrated.

Oracle Database 23ai for AI: Bringing AI to Your Data
Sean Stacey, Oracle America
Attend this session to learn how Oracle Database 23ai can address your AI needs. Oracle Database 23ai offers much more than support for vectors. Did you know you can use AI in the database to generate synthetic data, communicate in natural language with your data and perform agentic operations—all from inside the security of your own Oracle Database?

Oracle 23ai Ain't Your Grandpa’s Database
Erik Benner, Mythics LLC (ACE Director)
Do you think Oracle Database technology is old, stuffy and boring to develop in? That is not the case with Database 23ai. In this session, learn how 23ai has turned the model upside down, offering developers an easier database engine that includes features like JSON Duality, integrated AI and machine learning technology, a polyglot of languages to develop procedures in, full multimodal architecture and more. Discover how you can develop faster and make life easier for operations teams by eliminating a fleet of single-purpose databases while improving security and performance.

Oracle E-Business Suite Application DBA Online Patching (ADOP) an Overview with Tips (EBS Technology Stack SIG)
David Channell, OATC Inc. (ACE Associate)
This presentation will provide an overview of ADOP functionality. It includes research links, support notes and tips that offer information beyond what is available in various user guides and references. The presentation demonstrates how to ensure systems are healthy and ready for patching by periodically running a Patch Cycle using Full System Cleanup parameters along with various reports.

APEX & ORDS for DBAs and System Admins
Rich Soule, Talan
"Hey, can you set up APEX for me? It’s easy. All you do is install APEX and ORDS, and then it’s ready to go," says the developer to the DBA or system admins. Unfortunately, all too often, the answer is not "Sure," but instead, "What about security?" followed by "What about this, or that, or something else?"
If you are a developer who wants to answer the "What about?" questions or understand how APEX and ORDS (Oracle REST Data Services) work at a technical level, a DBA or system admin who has never implemented APEX and ORDS, or an experienced DBA or system admin who wants to learn how to implement APEX and ORDS in a more supportable and maintainable way, this session is for you.
You will leave with clear step-by-step instructions for:
Providing database developers with the functionality of the APEX packages and APIs without exposing your database to browsers
The correct way to allow database developers to reach out of the database to web-based resources
How to install and configure ORDS middleware, especially with recent changes in ORDS implementation architecture, so that APEX applications and REST services can be served from your database
This is a 2025 update of Kscope23’s Oracle APEX Top Speaker award-winning session, featuring the latest versions of Oracle Database, Oracle APEX and ORDS.

Oracle Database 23ai Roadmap: What's New and What's Next
Sean Stacey, Oracle America
Attend this session to learn about the latest version of the Oracle Database and the roadmap. Find out what is new and what is next.

Upgrade to Oracle Database 23ai: Best Practices and Customer Experience
Alex Zaballa, Oracle America
Upgrading is as easy as pushing a button, but what if you could do it even faster? With AutoUpgrade and refreshable clone PDBs, you can significantly reduce downtime and streamline the upgrade process. In this session, we will demonstrate how to upgrade to Oracle Database 23ai with minimal disruption. We will cover key pre- and post-upgrade best practices for a smooth and efficient transition. Don’t miss this opportunity to optimize your upgrade strategy and maximize database availability.

Professional Development

My So Called CX Life
Rhianna Albert, Accenture Enkitec Group (ACE Associate)
What Does a ’90s TV Show Have to Do With a Career Journey?
Join Rhianna, CX lead at Accenture and Oracle Ace, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, innovation and growth in the tech industry. With more than 20 years of experience in customer experience, development and consulting, Rhianna will share valuable insights on navigating a tech career as a woman leader. In this session, Rhianna will reflect on her professional journey, highlighting milestones and challenges she faced along the way. She’ll discuss her work at Accenture, where she champions diversity and innovation, and explain how her role as an Oracle Ace amplifies her impact in the industry. Attendees can expect engaging stories that underscore the importance of resilience, mentorship and lifelong learning. Rhianna will also explore current trends in customer experience and technology, offering practical advice to help professionals grow personally and advance in their careers. The conversation will include time for audience questions, encouraging open dialogue around the opportunities and challenges in today’s tech landscape. This session is designed to inform and motivate aspiring leaders and tech enthusiasts alike.
Key Learning Objectives:
Leadership Strategies: Learn effective techniques to foster innovation and inclusiveness in tech.
Navigating Challenges: Gain tools for overcoming obstacles as a woman in technology, informed by Rhianna’s personal experiences.
Customer Experience Excellence: Discover best practices for delivering standout digital experiences, backed by over two decades of expertise.
Mentorship and Networking: Understand the value of building strong professional relationships and seeking mentorship for career growth.
Embracing Change: Get insights on how to adapt to rapid technological changes and turn them into opportunities for success.
Empowerment in Tech: Feel empowered to take bold steps in your career and advocate for diversity within your organization.

Turning Tough Talks into Productive Conversations
Susan Behn, Rite Software (ACE Director)
This presentation explores strategies for navigating difficult conversations effectively. It provides practical tools for approaching sensitive topics with clarity and empathy, helping individuals communicate openly while maintaining respect and understanding. The session focuses on balancing the delivery of challenging messages with active listening, managing emotions and fostering constructive dialogue. Participants will learn techniques to address conflict, offer feedback and handle disagreements in ways that strengthen relationships and promote mutual respect.

From Policy to Practice: What Oracle Doesn’t Want You to Know About Licensing
Michael Corey, LicenseFortress (ACE PRO)
As infrastructure environments expand across on-premises, public cloud and hybrid cloud platforms, maintaining software license compliance has become more complex than ever. Navigating vendor policies, conflicting information and fear-based messaging makes it challenging to find clear, actionable guidance. This session will examine current software licensing trends, outline key differences between Oracle’s stated policies and actual contractual obligations, and offer guidance on licensing Oracle in virtualized environments. It will also cover best practices for license management and explore how Oracle is adapting its audit strategies. Although the primary focus is on Oracle, the insights shared will also apply to other major vendors, including Microsoft, IBM and SAP.

CX & the City: A Career Story in the Oracle Universe
Rhianna Albert, Accenture Enkitec Group (ACE Associate)
In a world of cloud solutions, customer data and digital transformation, CX & the City follows the real-life journey of Rhianna, a woman in tech and Oracle Ace forging her path in the Oracle ecosystem. From her early days as a college student to becoming a trusted voice in customer strategy, this session explores the bold moves, unexpected turns and game-changing projects that helped shape her career.
Through candid reflections, quirky but relatable stories and practical insights, Rhianna shares how she navigated male-dominated environments, stayed curious amid constant change and turned challenges into opportunities for innovation and leadership.
Whether you are just beginning your career or searching for your next big step, this story offers inspiration, resilience and a reminder that with the right platform—like Oracle CX—you can design not only exceptional customer journeys but also your own professional path.