In this engaging episode of the I Am a Mainframer podcast, Steven Dickens hosts a captivating conversation with Louisa Seers from IBM. As the product manager for the CICS portfolio and the technical steering committee chair for Galasa, an integral part of the Open Mainframe Project, Louisa shares insights into her journey at IBM. Beginning as an apprentice and blending work with education, she offers a unique perspective on her growth within the organization. Louisa delves into her role as a product manager, shedding light on the challenges and responsibilities that come with it. She passionat ..read more

In this episode of the "I am a Mainframer" podcast, host Steven Dickens engages in an enlightening conversation with Cynthia Overby, the Director of Security and Customer Solutions Engineering at Rocket Software. Cynthia shares her remarkable journey – from her humble beginnings as an intern to becoming CEO and President of Key Resources. Throughout the interview, Cynthia candidly recounts the challenges she encountered as a woman navigating the often male-dominated tech industry. Yet, her resilience and determination shine through as she reflects on the progress made and the evolving landscap ..read more

Dive into the fascinating world of mainframe technology with the latest episode of the "I am a Mainframer" podcast! Join host Steven Dickens as he delves into an insightful conversation with Andre Clark, a seasoned member of IBM's advisory level two support team. In this episode, Clark provides valuable insights into his role, addressing customer issues related to CICS on a global scale. His journey into the mainframe industry, sparked by a college class on z/OS, showcases the power of seizing opportunities and embracing challenges for personal and professional growth. Looking forward, Clark p ..read more

In this month's episode of the "I am a Mainframer" podcast, hosted by Steven Dickens of The Futurum Group, guest Donna Hudi, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Business Development at Phoenix Software, shares her career journey and insights into the mainframe industry. Donna discusses her background in enterprise tech, her transition to the mainframe world, and her experience as the Executive Director of SHARE, a nonprofit organization focused on mainframe technology. She emphasizes the sense of community within the mainframe industry and the importance of making connections and seeking guida ..read more

In this month’s episode of the “I Am A Mainframer” podcast, hosted by Steven Dickens of The Futurum Group, guest Megan Rupert provides valuable insights into the evolving mainframe industry, underscoring the importance of diversity, community engagement, and the continuous adaptation of mainframe technology to meet future challenges. Here are the top takeaways from their conversation: Event Management in Tech: Megan discussed her pivotal role in event execution at Broadcom, where she handles conferences, one-on-one executive meetings, and third-party engagements. Her work is integral in bringi ..read more

In this month's episode of the "I Am A Mainframer" podcast, hosted by Steven Dickens of The Futurum Group, guest Domenico D'Alterio shares insights into his career and the evolving mainframe industry. Currently working on the Zowe open source project at IBM, Domenico discusses how he joined IBM in 1999 as a developer, later transitioning into managerial and product manager roles, and reflects on the challenges he faced in adapting to mainframe technology and the skills required for it. Domenico goes on to recount his career progression at IBM, highlighting the importance of understanding custo ..read more

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, the October episode of the "I am a Mainframer" podcast features Luciano Gimeno, LinuxONE Sales Manager of North & Latin America at IBM. Host Steven Dickens, VP and Practice Leader at The Futurum Group, takes a deep dive into Luciano's journey from a z/OS programmer to a LinuxONE sales leader and how he embraced the continuous change in the mainframe world. Hailing from Argentina, Luciano has dedicated nearly two decades to the mainframe world. His career trajectory is a testament to his dedication and the versatility and dynamism that mainfram ..read more

On this episode of the “I Am a Mainframer” podcast, host Steven Dickens is joined by Jabrell McPherson, Shariif Ali, and Jason Lowe — all students at Albany State University in Albany, Georgia. Jason, a senior graduating in December, is interested in the mainframe space and is particularly drawn to the z/OS operating system and COBOL programming language. Jabrell is a senior graduating next fall. He was initially interested in front-end development, but after learning more about the mainframe at SHARE, he is now interested in exploring the back-end area. Shariif, a senior graduating next ..read more

Guilherme Cartier de Palma, Associate Director of Infrastructure/Cloud Architecture at Kyndryl, joined host Steven Dickens to share his insights on mainframe transformation in a recent episode of the “I Am a Mainframer” podcast. Cartier has over 10 years of experience working with mainframes, beginning his career in SysOps at IBM when he was 18 years old. He believes that a balanced approach is needed for mainframe transformation, with a strong focus on people, processes, and tools. He also emphasizes the importance of understanding the cultural impact of transformation and being prepared to c ..read more

On this episode of the “I Am a Mainframer” podcast, host Steven Dickens talks with Rick Perret, Head of Analyst Relations with Broadcom Mainframe Software. Their conversation highlights the growing importance of mainframes and how the Open Mainframe Project (OMP) is actively working to raise awareness and bring together professionals from various backgrounds to contribute to the platform's development and future growth. Rick talks about his involvement with the Open Mainframe Project and the importance of marketing and communication in the open-source community, emphasizing that contributions ..read more