Meet Roberto Cason, a Principal Solution Engineer from BMC Software. He has been an IBM Champion for an impressive six years. By openly sharing his knowledge with others, he sets a remarkable example of how collaboration and community can drive technology forward for everyone.
Roberto’s favorite IBM product is Database DB2 for z/OS, and he recently attended a few IDUG (International Db2 Users Group) events: IDUG Italy 2025 and IDUG Atlanta 2025, where he connected with other professionals and built on his existing knowledge. Speaking at events is his preferred form of advocacy, and notably, he has shared his expertise at past IDUG events.
Roberto has a long list of achievements. Among them, he is particularly proud of his journey to sharing his work with others. In the early years of his career, he kept his discoveries and results to himself, due to shyness, jealousy, and a natural tendency towards privacy, as many other technicians in his field do. However, he realized that this mindset was limiting and didn’t bring him any advantages—in fact, it was quite the opposite. He began to view his work differently, organizing internal company training sessions and running technical presentations at various events. “Participating in the IBM DB2 User Group and in the IBM Advocacy program was crucial,” he said, “I was able to leverage the Community to feel useful and gain recognition from many others. This experience made me particularly proud and helped me feel professionally validated.”
When asked what motivated him to become an IBM Champion, he spoke about the professional and social benefits of giving back to the technology community. In the mainframe technology sector, where Roberto works, sharing experiences is the primary way of learning. Professional skills in his field are difficult to acquire through formal education, so they are mostly developed in the workplace, through learning from others. This is why the community plays a crucial role—sharing information and experiences, whether successes or failures, accelerates personal growth and development. As for the social aspect, he emphasizes that being part of a community helps individuals avoid feelings of isolation. For instance, in small companies, a technician may find themselves working alone in a specific technological area, without the opportunity to interact with others who share the same focus. “Being part of a community provides the chance to seek advice, share decisions, and not feel alone in one's journey.” he said. Through being an IBM Champion and collaborating with the Community, he has been able to share his knowledge and expertise with others, giving back the benefit that was provided to him over the years.
To those interested in becoming an IBM Champion, Roberto offers this advice: “Dedicating part of your time for others, the Community in this case, will make you feel better.”