My name is Yetunde Obakeye, and I’m honored to be selected as a mentee for the Mainframe Open Education (MOE) program. Under the mentorship of Lauren Valenti, Nanxi Meng, and JJ Lovett, I had the opportunity to work on enhancing marketing and communication for MOE. I contributed to initiatives aimed at promoting education, awareness, and accessibility around mainframe technology.
My contributions included but not limited to:
- Organizing, promoting, and facilitating panel discussion: “Mainframe Education in Universities: A Global Faculty Perspective”.
- Reviewing and providing input on the Mainframe Open Education GitBook, with a focus on mainframe career awareness and readiness
- Developing a communication plan to raise awareness across the mainframe community
- Reviewing and updating the Mainframe Open Education website to reflect current initiatives and content
- Initiating the plan for an MOE Hackathon to encourage community-led content creation
- Reviving and repurposing the MOE Monthly Community Meeting to drive engagement and foster dialogue.
All activities were structured on a weekly basis, with specific deliverables discussed with mentors for implementation and tactical follow-up. Working on enhancing marketing and communication initiatives also inspired me to write my first article “Beyond Code: The Skills Every Aspiring Mainframer Needs” which you can read https://hubs.la/Q03z501H0
In addition to soft skills, developing technical skills and effectively navigating the mainframe career path is crucial especially for students and new mainframers. To support this, I collaborated with the incredible teams at Broadcom and TechChannel to organize a global panel discussion on mainframe technology, scheduled for 18th September. Registration is now open. Click here to register https://lnkd.in/e4tbQyHa.
I also took responsibility for the continuous review and update of the Mainframe Open Education (MOE) GitBook, a powerful, freely accessible resource for anyone passionate about building a career in mainframe technology. Recognizing its value, I created a new chapter titled “Curriculum” currently being developed in collaboration with one of my mentors, Nanxi Meng. This chapter serves as a repository to equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to leverage mainframe technology in data analytics, data science, data engineering, and AI within modern enterprise environments.
Through my research, I discovered that many individuals are unaware of this valuable resource. To address this gap, I submitted a proposal to present it at the upcoming GSE UK Conference in November 2025 which has since been accepted. You can view the accepted proposal below and session listing here conferences.gse.org.uk/2025/agenda/presentation/3961
One of the tasks I particularly enjoyed was developing a strategic communication plan for the Mainframe Open Education community. This thought-provoking exercise involved mapping out a journey that reflects the identity of the mainframe community and recognizing key contributors who champion mainframe technology. The plan is structured for bi-monthly rollout and is designed to be adaptable based on community needs and evolving priorities. The plan provides a cohesive framework to strengthen engagement, learning, visibility, and collaboration across the mainframe ecosystem.
The chart above shows 84.5% of Gen Z are active on platforms like Instagram and TikTok and to tap into this demographic and raise awareness of careers in mainframe technology, I have created dedicated accounts on these platforms for targeted outreach. These will officially launch in October with the goal of engaging younger audiences through relatable, informative, educative and inspiring content. The account handles are provided below:
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/mainframeopeneducation?igsh=MXg3NDJhbHNtZXBndQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr.
TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/@mainframeopeneducation?_t=ZN-8ys1TD0Nfrq&_r=1
The implementation of these deliverables, coupled with careful attention to detail, led me to realize that one of the main communication channels Slack and Flickr, the photo and video hosting platform on the Open Mainframe Project (OMP) website Home – Open Mainframe Project, were not functioning as intended. The before-and-after rectifications are as shown, demonstrating the improvements made to ensure smooth communication and resource sharing within the community.
To achieve results, foster collaboration, and promote shared community responsibility, I engaged key stakeholders as part of a strategic review to discontinue the monthly MOE Community Meetings. This decision was aimed at driving higher engagement and creating more focused, impactful interactions within the community.
I have had a rewarding mentoring summer, during which I learned the profound impact of marketing and communication in creating awareness, organizing initiatives, and promoting mainframe technology. This experience has strengthened my passion to continue contributing to open-source projects, especially the MOE GitBook, which serves as a valuable resource for individuals to grow and develop their careers. I plan to continue implementing the initiatives outlined during my mentorship, including the MOE Hackathon, promoting MOE Student User Group while also improving and expanding them as needed. I also envision presenting MOE projects at more conferences, sharing insights and fostering broader engagement.
I am deeply grateful to all my mentors and their colleagues who took time to support me despite their busy schedules and commitments. I also appreciate The Linux Foundation who made this mentorship program possible. You all have provided me with real-world experience and new opportunities in the open source and mainframe ecosystem.
I would like to close by sharing another educational article I wrote, which highlights one of the skills that made my mentorship experience truly memorable.
Beyond Code: Collaboration at the Heart of Mainframe Success
According to thought leaders in career development and digital transformation, teamwork, problem-solving, adaptability, and time management are essential power skills not just for those entering the world of mainframe technology, but for anyone aiming to excel in today’s fast-paced tech-driven professional landscape. These skills drive collaboration, build resilience, and boost productivity, enabling individuals and teams to thrive amid constant change and innovation.
With the rapid pace of digital transformation affecting both organisations and individuals, collaboration is increasingly essential in today’s workplace. Being a team player involves cooperating with others, nurturing relationships, and valuing diverse perspectives. Developing the right skills and mindset will help you become a more effective team member, especially in the context of mainframe work. As Don Tapscott, business executive and consultant, noted “Collaboration is important not just because it’s a better way to learn. The spirit of collaboration is penetrating every institution and all of our lives. So learning to collaborate is part of equipping yourself for effectiveness, problem solving, innovation and life-long learning in an ever-changing networked economy.” The Globe and Mail June 7, 2013
Hurray!!!, The Open Mainframe Project (OMP) turns 10
The Open Mainframe Project (OMP), under The Linux Foundation, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year. Its mission is to increase a vibrant community by removing obstacles to Open Source adoption on the mainframe, showcasing the mainframe’s technical and business value, as well as supporting resource sharing for community growth. This milestone is a testament to collaboration across the ecosystem including companies such as Broadcom, IBM, Kyndryl, BMC, Rocket Software, SUSE, Zoss Team LLC, Phoenix Software International, CONVERGE, alongside over 20 academic institutions as well as associations such as SHARE, Guide Share Europe(GSE)-UK among others. Collaboration within the OMP also birthed 13 mentorship programs which includes COBOL, Feilong, Galasa, COBOL Programming Course, Zowe, as well as the Mainframe Open Education. As a mentee with Mainframe Open Education (MOE), I was able to achieve these deliverables and more through the support of an innovative community, where collaboration remains the hallmark of success.
The collaboration between mainframe community members has made and is still making the mainframe technology the future of IT that is not just surviving but evolving as a broad enterprise IT community, reaffirming that Mainframe is far from dead. Mainframe technology with the incorporation of artificial intelligence is rapidly advancing, solving global problems and delivering innovative solutions. Just as important collaboration is in the workplace , so is collaboration important in modernising your mainframe applications to the cloud, reiterating that the mainframe continues to be the foundation of innovation in enterprise computing.
Next on my LinkedIn page, I’ll explore more skills every aspiring mainframer needs to thrive in this collaborative ecosystem.
By Yetunde Obakeye
