In this episode of the Mainframe Connect podcast's I Am a Mainframer series, host Steven Dickens welcomes Natalie Carrillo from IBM to share her fascinating journey into the mainframe ecosystem. From choosing marketing over systems engineering to becoming a key player in nurturing IBM Z's global Independent Software Vendor (ISV) community, Natalie discusses her role in fostering innovation, collaboration, and skill development. She dives into the excitement around the z17, the impact of AI in onboarding new talent, and the vibrant, welcoming mainframe community. Natalie also shares her advice for aspiring mainframers and her vision for the platform’s future, including advanced AI agents and quantum-safe cryptography. Tune in for an inspiring conversation about community, technology, and resilience!