IOUG interviewed Stewart Bryson about his experience as an Oracle ACE. Recognized for their technical expertise, Oracle ACEs contribute knowledge with articles, technical advice, blog posts, and tweets. Oracle ACEs are proven Oracle experts.

When did you become an Oracle ACE?

Only recently. I was notified in August 2011.

What does this experience mean for you personally and professionally?

It’s something I am very proud of. I sometimes pinch myself when I think about the company my Oracle ACE puts me in. When I go to the ACE functions, I look around and see my professional heroes — the ones that have inspired me over the years.

Has your status as an Oracle ACE helped you in your career?

Absolutely. It provides instant credibility for my technical expertise but also portrays me (hopefully) in a positive light. I’ve received assistance and inspiration from the ACEs over the years, and this award lets people know that I regularly do the same. It’s important to me that people know that the Oracle community is important to me because it’s been so supportive of me over the years.

In your current role researching, writing and teaching for Oracle professionals, what has been your biggest achievement? What has been your biggest regret?

From an achievement perspective, I consider the Oracle ACE to be right up there. But there are other less tangible achievements that I take to heart. When Oracle users stop me at a conference or even in the airport to let me know that I’ve made a difference to them in their career, there is simply no way to quantify what that means to me. My only regret is that I didn’t get started sooner. I should have started sharing a long time ago; but when I think about that regret, it simply encourages me to make up for lost time.

Do you have any advice for novices in this industry?

Get out there! I learn more technical content by interacting in the community than I ever did doing my actual job. Start writing; start blogging; start speaking. I guarantee that you have something important to say. There’s always someone less experienced than you are, and what you have to say might be exactly what he or she needs to hear.

Do you have any advice for IOUG members for their own careers?

It’s similar advice, really: Take advantage of the nearly limitless resources that IOUG provides you. Get out of your office or cubicle and start participating. You have to go to COLLABORATE at least once. The IOUG represents such a reciprocal opportunity: The more you put into it, the more you’ll get out of it. There’s a place for you out there — you’ve just got to start looking.