In this episode of The Vertali Podcast, host Ed Nell is joined by two technical consultants on Vertali's New to Z training scheme - Nishka and Simran - to talk about how they discovered mainframe, what drew them to it and what the last eleven months at Vertali have looked like.
From a university society president to a student who walked into a cybersecurity conference knowing nothing about mainframes and came out passionate about RACF security, both Nishka and Simran have taken unconventional routes into a field that is less male dominated than most people assume.
Key Takeaways
The mainframe community is what draws people in and keeps them there.
Both Nishka and Simran cite the energy at conferences, the willingness of experienced professionals to share knowledge and the genuine sense of welcome as the thing that made mainframe feel like somewhere they wanted to be.
Mentorship at the right moment makes all the difference.
Simran's decision to reach out to security consultants at her first conference - and being taken seriously by both Niall Ashley and James Loftus - shaped the direction of her entire career within months of discovering mainframes existed.
Sharing your journey publicly helps the people who come next.
Both Nishka and Simran talk about the importance of documenting their progress - not for their own benefit, but to show students still at university that there is a job at the end of the mainframe path. Proof matters when the destination feels uncertain.
Mainframe has a more equal gender history than most of IT.
Far from being a male dominated field, mainframe has roots in women's computing going back to the Second World War. Both guests argue the community today reflects that history more than most tech industries do.
Key Moments
\"I didn't know if running a society and doing all this mainframe stuff was actually going to lead me anywhere.\"
\"I very rarely get nervous when presenting now - and when I was at school, I had a lot of anxiety.\"
\"You have to go out and find the information - because it is not going to find you.\"
About The Vertali Podcast
The Vertali Podcast explores the world of cybersecurity and how businesses can protect their most valuable assets. From cutting edge technologies and the latest trends to practical insights on securing critical infrastructure, each episode brings expert knowledge and real experience to help organisations stay ahead of evolving threats and build resilient systems.
How to Get in Touch
To find out more about Vertali or to schedule a consultation:
Website: vertali.com
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