At IBM’s Think 2018 event in Las Vegas, Des Blanchfield caught up with Callista Redmond, the VP of the IBM Z ecosystem. In this segment of the interview, Callista discusses the highlights of the event, the importance of closing the skills gap, and the significance of the Open Mainframe Project.
Highlights of the Event
- The event kicked off with the announcement of the Master of the Mainframe winners, who participated in a global hackathon with 14,000 participants from 129 countries.
- The winners had the opportunity to hone their skills, network with each other, and collaborate to further their proficiency on the platform.
Closing the Skills Gap
- Callista emphasizes the importance of skills development not just at IBM, but across the industry.
- IBM is focused on building programs and opportunities to learn these skills and lowering the barrier to entry for developers.
- In 2017, IBM reached 40,000 developers worldwide, showcasing the company’s commitment to skills development and education.
Open Mainframe Project
- The Open Mainframe Project aims to bring open source tools and interfaces to the mainframe, including Linux and other platforms such as Hadoop and Spark.
- Callista highlights the significance of Linux in the mainframe ecosystem, as it runs major businesses and infrastructure globally.
Key Takeaways for Attendees
- Callista encourages attendees to dive deep into technical areas of interest and explore new capabilities in analytics, AI, and cloud consumption.
- She emphasizes the unique capabilities of the mainframe, including scalability, security, and reliability, and encourages attendees to consider the platform for critical business needs.
Engaging with IBM
- Callista urges attendees to engage with IBM after the event, whether it’s through learning modules, online resources, or connecting with the community.
- She emphasizes the role attendees can play in making a difference within their organizations and encourages continued learning and collaboration.
In conclusion, IBM’s Think 2018 event provided valuable insights into the future of mainframe computing and the importance of skills development in the industry. Attendees were encouraged to engage with IBM and continue their learning journey to make a meaningful impact in their organizations.
Stay tuned for more updates from IBM’s Think 2018 event and the upcoming developments from the IBM Z ecosystem.
