Is Mainframe a Dead-end Career or the Next Gold Rush?

Once seen as a relic, the mainframe has mounted a powerful resurgence, proving itself mission-critical in industries from insurance to finance to healthcare. But just as the platform is asserting its status as a modern, flexible platform worthy of first-class IT ecosystem citizenship, a looming skills gap threatens to stall that momentum.

In this episode of Maven Cast, millennial mainframers and 2025 IBM Champions Steven Perva and Caroline Whitaker explore the forces pushing the mainframe forward and the barriers holding it back. Together, they unpack how AI, automation, and community leadership are shaping the future of the field and what it will take to bridge the generational divide.

You’ll hear:

• Caroline’s journey from mainframe outsider to enterprise unicorn
• An empowering perspective on what AI means for the future of mainframe ops  
• 2 critical keys to keeping mainframe skills and knowledge alive and well
• Why the next generation of tech professionals should take a closer look at the mainframe—and the ultimate pitch for attracting them
• And much more!