Open Mainframe Project Summer Mentorship Series: Midterm Updates – At this midpoint, our selected mentees are reporting in. Below, you’ll learn what they’ve built, the challenges they’ve overcome, and their goals for the rest of the summer. We’re proud of every contribution and eager to see what comes next. Hear from Yetunde Obakeye, University of Wolverhampton, United Kingdom below.
The enterprise computing industry is often associated with deep technical expertise ,and when you hear about mainframe technology, what comes to mind is JCL, RACF, COBOL or CICS, however success in this field goes beyond coding and system management. Soft skills like communication, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, and time management are equally critical for aspiring mainframers. These skills empower professionals to collaborate effectively, troubleshoot efficiently, manage workloads, and navigate the complex environments in which mainframes operate. For students and early-career professionals, building a solid foundation in these areas can be a game-changer as well as taking steps in the right direction.
Communication
Just as network adapters move large files over a computer network and make sure they don’t block other data, Communication is about transmitting and understanding information clearly across people and channels, it includes both verbal and non-verbal interactions that create shared meaning. Effective communication is the cornerstone of success in every industry, especially in enterprise environments where cross-functional collaboration is essential. In fact, it might just be the most important soft skill you’ll need. It can shape your career trajectory, strengthen professional relationships, and improve your ability to solve problems and work alongside like-minded professionals. For new mainframers, learning to communicate by asking clear, concise questions alongside active listening driven by curiosity can unlock mentorship, guidance, and growth opportunities. Just as hybrid cloud strategy goes beyond technology, communication is more than just talking, it fosters adaptability and collaboration to drive business outcomes. It’s often the first step toward finding your niche in enterprise computing, especially in environments like IBM Z systems. Interestingly, there is “IBM Mainframe Communications Concepts 2.4” as a course available through Interskill Learning.
Curiosity
Effective communication begets curiosity. Curiosity is the engine of learning and the drive to understand the unknown. It’s not about having all the answers; it’s about being eager to discover what you don’t yet know. Take this example: someone says, “Most people don’t know the one thing that makes COBOL so powerful…” If you feel a strong urge to find out what that “one thing” is, that’s Loewenstein’s curiosity gap in action.
Your brain wants to fill in the missing piece. Being curious about this technology that continues to evolve alongside AI and modern cloud platforms is more than justified. It’s a technology that supports critical operations globally in banking, healthcare, aviation, transportation, and more, with unmatched security, scalability, reliability, and zero downtime. In short: it’s absolutely worth being curious about the world’s quickest and safest platform, that keeps growing in response to changing business requirements and technological advancements
Level Up Through Learning
To harness and develop your communication and curiosity skills alongside technical growth, explore these valuable platforms:
- Mainframe Open Education – Open Mainframe Project
A community-driven platform with resources for mainframe education made freely for all.
- Mainframe Education | Beyond Code
A learning initiative focused on merging soft skills with technical mainframe concepts provided by Broadcom
- IBM SkillsBuild
Offers free digital credentials in soft skills, career readiness, and mainframe fundamentals.
- IBM Z Xplore Learning Platform
A hands-on gamified environment for learning IBM Z systems while building problem-solving and communication skills.
- MyInterskill LMS
A comprehensive learning management system for in-depth enterprise computing and soft skill development.
- Conferences: Attending both virtual and in-person conferences such as GS UK Conference, SHARE Cleveland, IBM TechXchange 2025 – Orlando, FL – October 6-9.
These platforms provide learning paths that combine technical training with communication, it is curiosity-driven, propagates exploration, and collaborative learning, strengthen these skills alongside technical foundation, makes you not only a better mainframe, you’ll be a better teammate, a better problem-solver, and ultimately, a more impactful professional.
