Schlemmer: From Admin to CEO
Portfolio - People | Mar 11, 2025 | EIN
Ann Schlemmer's career began unexpectedly when she applied for a job at a database company to get healthcare benefits. After an eight-year break from her banking career, Schlemmer joined MySQL as an admin/business analyst. She navigated through various mergers, including Sun Microsystems being acquired by Oracle, leading her to expand her responsibilities. Later, Schlemmer joined Percona, a company known for managing and supporting open-source databases effectively. Despite initially lacking technical skills, Schlemmer's leadership and management expertise led her to the role of CEO. Her journey underlines the importance of communication, collaboration, and learning. Percona is now managed by a diverse team, including three women in prominent roles. Schlemmer advocates for women in the male-dominated open-source industry to follow their passions, emphasizing creativity in technical roles.
Sectors
- Technology
- Open Source Software
Geography
- United States – Ann Schlemmer is based in Oregon, and Percona operates primarily within the context of the US market.
- United Kingdom – The article references a meeting in London, highlighting a European connection.
Industry
- Technology – The article focuses on Schlemmer's rise in a tech company and the role of open-source databases.
- Open Source Software – Percona specializes in open-source database management, aligning with the industry's emphasis on software freely available to the public.
Financials
Participants
| Name | Role | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ann Schlemmer | CEO | People | Ann Schlemmer is the CEO of Percona, having progressed from an admin role within the company. |
| Percona | Company | Company | Percona provides support and services for open-source databases like MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. |
| MySQL | Predecessor Company | Company | Open-source database company where Schlemmer initially worked. |
| Sun Microsystems | Acquired Company | Company | Acquired the division where Schlemmer worked before being bought by Oracle. |
| Oracle | Acquiring Company | Company | Acquired Sun Microsystems, continuing the consolidation in the tech industry. |
| Peter Zaitsev | Former CEO | People | Founder of Percona and previous CEO preceding Ann Schlemmer. |
| BBC, Groupon, Alcatel-Lucent | Clients | Company | Clients that have utilized Percona's database management services. |