Meet the Next Generation of Mainframe Talent

Through Ensono’s Mainframe Academy, the IBM Champions program, and a mentorship mindset, Ensono is shaping the next generation of mainframe talent.  

New generations of IT professionals exploring career paths may have heard the phrase, “the mainframe is dead.” With the popularity of modern tech careers—in fields such as artificial intelligence (AI), cloud, and cybersecurity—young people often overlook mainframes because they’re a thing of the past, built on legacy technology. Right?

Not so fast.

Mainframes are thriving and aren’t going anywhere. The technology powering them is constantly evolving—like with IBM’s brand-new z17 mainframe, which integrates advanced AI and security features—to meet the needs of businesses today, tomorrow, and into the future.

At Ensono, we’ve observed how important it is to invest in new mainframe professionals who bring fresh perspectives to a traditionally niche space. This is especially relevant for clients whose operations rely on mainframes for stability, performance, and compliance. Building a strong pipeline of mainframe expertise is no longer optional—it’s essential to long-term IT resilience.

A Millennial in a Mainframe World

“I fell into a career in mainframe. I came in, enjoyed it, decided to stay, and here we are.”

– Caroline Whittaker

Trial by Fire

With no prior exposure to mainframes in school, Caroline entered the field with a clean slate. She quickly learned how wide the generational gap was—not only in age, but also in how knowledge was shared. Some of her colleagues had been working on mainframes for 30 or 40 years and had a limitless amount of institutional knowledge.

Caroline leaned into her colleagues-turned-mentors’ experiences, learning through real-world exposure to client work, solving challenges in complex environments early in her career, and building confidence by asking a lot of questions. The generational divide also revealed a significant skills gap—something that isn’t new in the industry.

Passing the Torch to Inspire Future Generations

Today, almost a decade into her mainframe career, Caroline sees herself in a “sweet spot”—experienced enough to lead, but still close enough to the learning curve to help others climb it. As a mentee turned mentor, Caroline is paying it forward by helping bridge the generational divide. By documenting knowledge in a cohesive and organized manner, advising newcomers, and advocating for mainframe careers, she’s creating accessible learning paths for the next generation.

That spirit is at the heart of Ensono’s Mainframe Academy, a structured program that evolved from the internship that launched Caroline’s career. When Caroline started the internship, she was given a 700-page IBM Redbook guide to study and learn from. Today, Mainframe Academy training includes labs, videos, and other interactive modules that have been created for ease of use, access, and understanding. The Academy is designed to give new talent the tools, mentorship, and hands-on experience they need to succeed in a field that’s both complex and business-critical in many industries worldwide.

For clients, this means having access to a consistently trained, highly capable team that not only understands the strengths and strategic value mainframes offer, but also knows how to evolve them to meet modern business demands.

“Millennials are bridging the skills gap. People in my age group are not super common in the field.”

Advocacy in Action: The IBM Champions Program

Caroline is an IBM Champion, an annual title awarded to non-IBM employees who demonstrate advocacy and technical expertise in IBM technologies. Individuals must be nominated and selected based on their contributions over the past year. The program recognizes individuals who actively contribute to the IBM community through activities such as speaking at conferences, writing technical content, leading user groups, contributing to open-source projects related to IBM technologies, and providing feedback to IBM product teams. In return, Caroline is granted access to valuable resources and networking opportunities.

Being named a Champion isn’t for everyone—or easy to obtain. It requires significant time, commitment, and dedication. Ensono is proud to have seven IBM champions dedicated to this continuous learning and mentorship.

How IBM Champions Drive Client Success

IBM Champions like Caroline have early access to IBM product roadmaps, technical briefings, and exclusive education from industry leaders, helping clients navigate modernization with confidence.

Being named an IBM Champion isn’t just recognition—it’s a differentiator. Champions bring best practices, early insights, and share direct client feedback with IBM, assuring client needs are heard by those shaping the technology. It’s like giving clients a voice on the inside, so they know they’re being represented not just as clients, but as partners.

Entering a New Era of AI-powered Mainframes

Mainframes are rapidly evolving. The IBM z17 mainframe, for example, is built with AI acceleration and quantum-safe encryption—technologies designed to meet tomorrow’s challenges. Caroline sees AI as a tool, not a replacement. She uses AI to write code, prep for presentations, streamline routine tasks, and accelerate learning—freeing up time for more strategic work.

“We need to look at ourselves as AI handlers. We need to work with it and use it as a tool to do the tedious things.”

Looking Ahead

Caroline’s story reflects what’s possible when mentorship, opportunity, and curiosity meet. As the industry continues to navigate the mainframe skills gap, structured training and advocacy programs will be critical to ensuring continuity and enabling progress.

Whether you’re a CIO trying to build mainframe bench strength or a technology leader preparing for modernization, cultivating next-gen mainframe talent isn’t just about filling roles. It’s about securing the future of systems your business can’t afford to get wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions:

How is Ensono helping close the mainframe skills gap?

Ensono supports the next generation of mainframe professionals through structured training, mentorship, and technical exposure. Programs like the Mainframe Academy and the IBM Champions initiative help develop talent and ensure continuity for mission-critical systems.

What is the Mainframe Academy?

The Mainframe Academy is a hands-on training program that equips early-career professionals with the skills, tools, and mentorship needed to succeed in enterprise mainframe environments. It helps bridge the generational knowledge gap and supports long-term workforce resilience.

What does it mean to be an IBM Champion?

IBM Champions are recognized technical leaders and advocates who contribute to the IBM ecosystem through thought leadership, community engagement, and client enablement. Having IBM Champions on staff gives clients early visibility into product roadmaps and a stronger voice in shaping the future of the platform.

What challenges do newcomers face when entering the mainframe field?

Newcomers often face a steep learning curve due to limited exposure in school, generational knowledge gaps, and the complexity of mainframe systems. Structured programs and mentorship help flatten that curve while introducing modern DevOps and automation practices alongside traditional mainframe skills.