Safra A. Catz

Catz was born in Holon, Israel, to Jewish parents. She moved from Israel to Brookline, Massachusetts at the age of six and graduated from Brookline High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1983 and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School in 1986. Catz was a banker at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette, serving as a managing director from February 1997 to March 1999 and a senior vice president from January 1994 to February 1997. In 1999, Catz joined Oracle as senior vice president. She became a member of the company's board of directors in October 2001 and president in early 2004. Catz temporarily served as the CFO from 2005 to 2008, and became the sole chief executive officer following co-CEO Mark Hurd's passing. In 2009 she was ranked by Fortune as the 12th most powerful woman in business.