IBM Champion @Donna Hudi 

Donna’s path into technology wasn’t paved by formal education or traditional career tracks. Growing up in the Midwest, she simply aspired to support herself. Her early career in finance administration took a pivotal turn when she was invited to participate in a technology project. That invitation sparked a fire. What followed was a relentless pursuit of learning—teaching herself system administration, then programming, and ultimately launching a dynamic career in IT. Today, she looks back not with pride at a single accomplishment, but with humility at the many lives she’s helped elevate.

Her passion for IBM Z is rooted in z/OS, a platform she describes as endlessly powerful and full of surprises. “I learn something new about z/OS almost daily,” she shares. That curiosity and dedication are matched only by her belief in the strength of the IBM Z community—one she didn’t even know existed until she was welcomed into it eleven years ago. With no prior mainframe experience, Donna was embraced, mentored, and educated by the community. That experience left a lasting impression, and it fuels her advocacy to this day.

Though she’s now more comfortable speaking publicly, Donna finds her fulfillment in facilitating success for others. She’s the person behind the curtain—organizing, mentoring, pairing new mainframers with seasoned mentors, helping students prepare resumes, or working with first-time presenters. It’s in these moments—quiet and often unseen—where Donna makes the biggest impact. Her joy comes from seeing others step confidently into the spotlight, knowing she helped make that possible.

Her advice to those just beginning their journey in mainframes is refreshingly direct: "Ask questions. Keep asking until you understand." She believes in the power of persistence and the generosity of tenured professionals who are eager to share what they know. Sometimes, all it takes is the right question asked in the right way, and Donna has made a career out of uncovering the gold hidden in every answer.

Events like GSE Nordics in Gothenburg have become favorites for Donna—not because of the size or spectacle, but because of the meaningful, candid conversations that take place. She values the opportunity to learn from experienced peers and absorb knowledge that only face-to-face dialogue can provide.

As she looks ahead to IBM TechXchange, Donna is energized by the scale and scope of what the event offers. From technical sessions to global networking, it’s a place where ideas are born and partnerships thrive. But perhaps closest to her heart is Z Day, where she contributes through the Open Mainframe Project’s Marketing Committee. Last year’s record turnout set a new bar, and this year promises to be even more impactful.

Donna Hudi is a living reminder that advocacy doesn’t always wear a microphone. Sometimes, it’s the quiet, consistent presence—the mentor, the supporter, the listener—that drives real transformation. And in Donna’s case, that presence has helped shape the future of the IBM Z community, one conversation at a time.

Lightning round:

• What would be your superpower and why? Speed. The faster I am the more I can get done. Even as pathetic as that sounds.
• Bucket list trip?  I have a very large list of places I have never been that I want to make sure to visit. Places like Italy, Greece, and France are very high on my list.
• Ice cream or cake? Ice cream!
• Cats or dogs? Do I have to pick? I like animals in general. However, in my household we have never had cats. Only dogs, birds, and fish.
• Summer or winter? Summer. I absolutely hate being cold! 
• Morning or evening? Morning. I am usually up between 3 and 4 a.m. most days and when everything is quiet and I have space to myself and I can watch the sunrise. That is my happy place.
• eBook or paper book? I tend to be a bit old school. My mother was a librarian, so I was always surrounded by books. So I prefer paper books. BUT, I now prefer not to have to carry them around with me, so find myself doing more and more eBooks simply for the convenience.
• TV shows or movies? Movies. Oddly, the TV is on at my house constantly but to me it is just background noise most of the time. I don't care what is on it.  Don't ask me what I want to watch, "I don't care" is the answer you will get. But there are a couple of movies that I absolutely love and will stop every time to watch. One such move is Tombstone with Val Kilmer. If the channels are being flipped and that movies is on, I will stop the search and watch however much is left of it EVERY TIME!
• A night out or a night in? A night in. When I was young I was a bit of a party animal, but I got that all out of my system and prefer a quiet night in.
• Cannonball into the pool or dip a toe in first? I can't swim, I sink! So I am a toe dipper.
• Go-to karaoke song? Bon Jovi's Livin' on a Prayer. But I tend to refrain from participating in karaoke because there is no one on this planet that wants to hear me not be able to carry a tune to save my life.
• Drive or fly? Fly. I don't sit still well for long periods and would rather get to my destination sooner rather than later and enjoy that.