We’re excited to kick off the 2026 Season 2 of the New to Z: Road to SME podcast with IBM Champions  Steven Perva and Emma Skovgård, exploring how community, curiosity, and modern tooling are shaping the next generation of mainframers.

In this episode, we talk about their unconventional paths into the mainframe world and their work building vibrant communities like the Systems Z Enthusiast Discord and Dinoframe. They share lessons on learning curves, modern tools like Python on Z, and the communication skills that help new and experienced mainframers thrive. A quick, inspiring look at two leaders shaping the future of the platform.