Oluwasegun “Duro” Durosinmi didn’t always picture himself working with innovative technology. His first love was soccer. “I got too tall, so I picked up basketball, and was pretty decent at it,” he recalls. “Then, I got a scholarship to go to college.” That scholarship brought him to Northern Illinois University (NIU), where he became a Husky on the basketball team. But Duro’s ambitions extended far beyond the court. He also wanted to embrace a new academic challenge: computer science.

“I chose computer science because I wanted something that was a challenge,” Duro says. “I also wanted to learn something that could help people solve their problems.”

Freshman Enters Mainframe Ecosystem

When Duro began college, he knew almost nothing about the mainframe compared to his college peers. That changed thanks to his Assembly class professor, Geoffrey Decker, who introduced him to the enterprise IT community at SHARE and encouraged him to attend his first SHARE conference in Washington, D.C. earlier this year.

“At my first SHARE, I was just there to network and learn more about the Z platform,” he says. “Everyone I met was so eager to get young people involved and to share their knowledge. That really stuck with me.”

Others he met at the event encouraged him to check out IBM Z Xplore, which allowed him to start earning badges and explore the tools for himself. The experience boosted his confidence. “I went to SHARE Cleveland [this summer], and I was even more confident when speaking with experts,” he says.

The Value of SHARE Extends to Students

For Duro, the SHARE conferences were much more than just a networking and education event. They provided career-changing opportunities. “Going to the conference was really good for me, and for my peers, too. Most of them after the event in Washington, D.C., got jobs,” he says.

He loved the lectures, hands-on labs, and opportunities to hear directly from enterprise IT professionals about their day-to-day work. More than anything, though, it was the generosity of the community that left its mark. “You get to meet people and hear their stories, why they’re so happy to see you there, and many of them become mentors,” Duro explains. “At SHARE, I reconnected with Dusty Rivers, an IBM Champion, and it was inspiring.” Duro originally met Rivers at NIU’s Z day on campus in 2024.

These connections opened doors. At SHARE Cleveland, Duro was already in the middle of the interview process with Rocket Software after receiving a referral. When he reconnected with Rocket experts at the event, the networking further strengthened his opportunities. Duro ultimately landed a role at Rocket Software and entered the company’s NextGen Academy program. “Everyone in the program is so supportive,” he says.

Building a Future at Rocket Software

As part of Rocket Software, Duro is immersed in learning about enterprise computing tools being used at Rocket, particularly Db2. “I know I’m still young in the space, but I have a lot of mentors who are pouring their knowledge into me,” he says. “Someday, I’ll pour that knowledge into the next generation, too.”

He has already started encouraging friends and peers to attend SHARE and other enterprise IT and mainframe-related conferences: “It’s a space that needs new folks to join, and I’m excited about the future of it.”

Discovering the Everyday Impact of Mainframes

The deeper Duro has gone into his studies and work, the more he’s realized just how important the mainframe is to everyday life. “Seventy percent of the world runs on the mainframe,” he says. “If you’re flying, getting your passport, making credit card transactions, or doing your banking, it’s all happening on the mainframe. It’s part of everyone’s day-to-day life, even if they don’t realize it.”

This realization adds even more meaning to his work. According to Duro, “Before I went to SHARE, I didn’t know about the mainframe at all. Now I see how it shapes so many essential services we all use.”

Expanding Into AI and Modernization

Beyond databases and Db2, where he has cultivated a growing interest, Duro is also deeply curious about artificial intelligence (AI) and modernization. According to Duro, a SHARE Cleveland session on vibe coding opened his eyes to the benefits and challenges of AI use by mainframe teams. “That session stuck with me because it showed what people should be aware of when using AI, especially when they incorporate it into their systems,” he explains.

Duro adds, “A lot of us young folks are super interested in AI, and the fact that the mainframe community is working to integrate it — that’s exciting.” For him, AI represents not just an industry trend but a powerful tool to make work faster and more efficient. He envisions AI helping to answer questions, manage data, and automate tasks within Db2. Duro explains, “It will help me be faster at my job and make the whole system more effective.”

A Supportive Community

Outside of conferences, Duro continues to stay connected with the mainframe community through platforms like Discord and IBM’s New to Z program. “It’s a supportive space,” he says. “Sometimes you listen to leaders like Joe Winchester, Rosalind Radcliffe, Darren Surch, or Dusty Rivers online, and then when you meet them in person, they’re so approachable and willing to share their time. That means a lot.”

IBM Z Champion Laticia Carrow and IBM Champion Lezlie Browder are some of his more recent mentors, connections Duro also made through SHARE. He points out that the community’s willingness to communicate, mentor, and share knowledge is one of the biggest reasons he has grown so quickly in the space.

Looking Ahead

Duro’s journey from athlete to the mainframe reflects a spirit of curiosity, adaptability, and ambition. Soon, he’ll be moving to Northwest Arkansas to continue building his career with Rocket Software and expanding his expertise in mainframe tools and AI. “I’m super excited,” he says. “I want to keep learning, keep meeting new people, and sharing my journey so that others can be inspired to get on board with the mainframe. There’s a lot of opportunity here, and I want to help more young people see it.”