The Stuff Stars Are Made of
It takes that level of commitment to learn the skills required for success on the platform that serves as the backbone of the world’s transactional infrastructure. That’s one reason why Emmanuele Porchia, Db2 system programmer at BPER Bank, was captivated by the IBM Z mainframe after being exposed to it “almost by chance” at the bank’s training academy.
"Before that experience, I didn’t know much about the platform,” Porchia says. “But once I started learning about it, I was immediately fascinated by its robustness, reliability, and the critical role it plays in enterprise computing."
It's a common theme: The more you learn about the mainframe, the more enamored you become. Nishka Sardar, technical consultant at Vertali, found herself drawn to the mainframe while attending her first GSE UK In-Person conference in 2023. "It was interesting to see how the technology created decades ago is still incredibly relevant and important in the present day," she says.
Motivated Learners
Once you gain an appreciation for the mainframe’s central role in the global economy, “you should develop a deep motivation to be a part of this space by whatever means,” says Jonathan Shields, mainframe operator at The Cigna Group. Shields learned his mainframe skills through a combination of formal training, intensive on-the-job experience, essential documentation and active community involvement.
That community is another factor that drew the 2025 Rising Stars to the mainframe. Adia Sakura-Lemessy, mainframe technical consultant at Broadcom Mainframe Software, was first exposed to the mainframe community when she attended her first SHARE conference as a college senior. “I knew very little about the technology at the time, but I felt an immediate connection to the welcoming and close-knit mainframe community,” Sakura-Lemessy said.
Given that some of this year’s Rising Stars didn’t even come from computer science backgrounds, they might be forgiven for having known little about the platform before taking jobs that would revolve around it.
Joseph Martinez, senior support engineer at Broadcom Mainframe Software, pivoted to the mainframe after earning a degree in biomedical engineering and developing wireless devices to capture sound and brain signals. “Since the z/OS operating system was new to me, I approached learning by breaking down each component to understand its function and integration,” Martinez says.
Fresh Eyes, New Approaches
Those who stand out in their first few years on the mainframe are forming a bridge to the mainframe’s future by bringing new technologies and disciplines to the ecosystem.
Vishy Ramaswamy exemplifies this phenomenon. Ramaswamy, senior architect for Broadcom Mainframe Software, pivoted to the mainframe after spending 25 years building expertise in cloud and distributed systems. “I hope to bring cloud-native thinking to mainframe engineering, and to help customers unlock new possibilities through modernization,” Ramaswamy says.
Matthew Hollister, a mainframe business specialist with Broadcom Mainframe Software, helps customers find new solutions, too. It took him just two years working with the mainframe become a trusted asdvisor to federal and commercial clients, guiding them modernization, optimization and strategic transformation. Also hosting a peer network of "next-gen" mainframers within Broadcom, Hollister brings a rare blend of technical fluency, business insight and community leadership.
Jake Labelle also wasted little time becoming a valuable resource for the mainframe community, having brought general cybersecurity skills to his role as a penetration tester and security researcher at Broadcom Mainframe Software. As he began that work, he quickly discovered critical vulnerabilities that IBM subsequently patched, making the entire platform safer.
Says Emre Tunar, director of R&D software at Broadcom Mainframe Software: “Despite being in this space for a relatively short period of time, (Labelle) is already well recognized by veteran industry experts such as Ray Overby, Phil Young (Soldier of Fortran), Chad Rikansrud and Michael Jordan due to his discovery of several critical z/OS vulnerabilities and new mainframe exploit methods such as privilege escalation using REXX.”
Beyond the Tech
A set of fresh eyes can benefit the mainframe ecosystem beyond the realm of technology as well. For instance, Steven Santos brought along new perspectives when he became an IBM business development manager for ISV solutions on IBM Z and LinuxONE, having started his career with the company as a global sales specialist.
“On the operational side,” Santos says, “I’m working to streamline processes around sales enablement, outreach and ecosystem visibility—including initiatives such as the IBM Z and LinuxONE Solutions Directory for external access and targeted partner engagement campaigns.”
Taylor Hrupek also brought a sales background to his role. As a mainframe business specialist at Broadcom Mainframe Software, Hrupek helps customers make critical decisions and modernize their mainframes with tools like Zowe. Based on the testimony of Phil Sutherin, the mainframe client services consultant at Broadcom Mainframe Software who inspired Hrupek to start working on the platform, those customers are in good hands. “I have never met an individual who was more driven to learn, follow up and take action,” Sutherin, at Broadcom Mainframe Software, says of his 11 years working in tech.
To get up to speed, those who are new to the mainframe rely on the supportive community they’ve found surrounding the platform, and this year’s Rising Stars are already turning around to support the technologists who are next in line, eager to share their knowledge with not only their teams but with mainframers in general.
They present at conferences, host user group sessions and contribute to online knowledge repositories like the Mainframe Open Education Project’s GitBook. These Rising Stars do all this knowing that by helping other mainframers, they are helping to sustain a critical ecosystem that they plan to be a part of for a long time.
"I still have a lot to learn,” Hrupek admits, “but I know that the mainframe isn't going anywhere, and I want to stay in the mainframe space for the next 30 years.”
