In the latest Mainframe Voices episode, the conversation turns to one of the most important gateways into the platform today: open source. Rather than centering on a single product announcement, this episode explores how contributing to open source on IBM Z is helping people discover, enter, and grow in mainframe careers.
Open Source as a Gateway
For many professionals and students, open source has become their first real hands‑on experience with mainframe technologies. By working on community projects, they gain practical skills, learn modern tooling, and see how mainframe fits into today’s hybrid and cloud‑connected environments.
Guests describe how issues, pull requests, and community discussions have helped them build confidence and a portfolio they can point to when talking with employers. Open source lowers the barrier to entry, making it easier to experiment, ask questions, and learn in public alongside experienced contributors.
Featuring:
- Steven Dickens – CEO and Principal Analyst, Top 3 Global Technology Industry Analyst, Advisor to Tech Vendor Executives
- Sarah Julia Kriesch – Senior Lead, Mainframe Architect & Open Source Evangelist – zCloud @Kyndryl
- John Lovett – Head of Education & Customer Engagement for the Mainframe Software Division @Broadcom Inc.
- Junior Tamekem Tadiffo – IBM Z Student Ambassador
- Marcus Davage – Lead Product Developer@BMC Software
- Hunter Johnson – Product Marketing Engineer@Beyond Code(Broadcom)
Building the Future Workforce
A key theme in this episode is how open source supports the industry’s ongoing skills transition. As experienced mainframers move into new roles or retire, open communities give new talent a structured yet welcoming way to get involved.
Mentorship, documentation, and collaborative roadmaps all play a role in helping newcomers understand the platform’s strengths while working with familiar practices like Git, CI/CD, and APIs. This blend of traditional reliability and modern development workflows is shaping a new generation of mainframe professionals who are comfortable across platforms.
Why This Matters
The perspectives shared in this episode highlight that open source is not just a set of tools or repositories; it is a career enabler. By providing visibility, real‑world experience, and a supportive network, open source is helping people turn curiosity about mainframes into concrete opportunities.
“Mainframe Voices was created to showcase diverse perspectives within the mainframe community,” says Rahat, producer of the Mainframe Connect podcast series. “With this episode, we’re celebrating the way open source is creating new pathways into this critical technology.”
Watch the Full Episode
Do not miss these insights on how open source is opening doors for mainframe careers and inspiring the next wave of professionals on IBM Z. Watch the full episode to hear how contributors at different stages of their journey are using open source to learn, connect, and grow.
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