When people think about career transformation, they usually imagine years of planning, major opportunities, or carefully calculated moments. But in my case, everything started inside a truck.
The HackaTruck MakerSpace, a project brought to my university in partnership with the Eldorado Research Institute, became the first major turning point in my journey. What initially seemed like just another academic experience ended up opening doors I never imagined I would walk through.
Shortly after, I attended a lecture about mainframes presented by Gelsa de Almeida Novais. That was the first time I heard about the IBM Z ecosystem from a completely different perspective: not as an “old” technology, but as an essential infrastructure that supports banks, payment systems, government operations, and critical services around the world.
At the end of that lecture, I was encouraged to apply for the IBM Z Student Ambassador Program.
At that moment, honestly, it felt far from my reality. English was still a major insecurity for me, and I didn’t feel prepared to participate in a global program. Even so, I decided to try. And that decision completely changed my life.
My Role (and How I Got Here):
Today, I serve as an IBM Z Student Ambassador, helping spread knowledge about mainframes and bringing students closer to the mainframe ecosystem, showing how this technology remains essential to the modern world.
My journey in the mainframe universe has been shaped not only by studies and technical experiences, but also by the way I chose to position myself within the community: sharing knowledge, connecting people, and encouraging other students to explore opportunities in this field.
Everything started when I participated in the HackaTruck MakerSpace project, developed in partnership with the Eldorado Research Institute. Shortly after, I attended a lecture about mainframes presented by Gelsa de Almeida Novais, who encouraged me to apply for the IBM Z Student Ambassador Program.
At that moment, the opportunity felt distant. English was still an insecurity for me, and participating in a global program seemed far beyond my reality. Even so, I decided to try. And that decision completely transformed my path.
How Being an Advocate Changed My Career:
Becoming a mainframe advocate accelerated my growth in ways I never imagined.
It helped me:
∙ Build confidence in public speaking and knowledge sharing
∙ Create connections with professionals and students from different parts of the world
∙ Understand that technology is also about community, collaboration, and human impact
Throughout this journey, I participated in training sessions, mentorships, events, and initiatives that completely expanded my perspective on career growth and innovation.
I also started to realize that many opportunities arise through the connections we build. The ambassador program and the community played a fundamental role in both my personal and professional development.
A Moment That Stuck With Me:
There was a moment when I realized that sharing knowledge could truly transform other people’s journeys. By talking with students, recommending opportunities, sharing career advice, and introducing the mainframe world to people who had never been exposed to it before, I began to see something much bigger than technology itself.
Many of those people had the same insecurities I once had: fear of English, fear of public speaking, career doubts, and the feeling of not being “ready enough” for major opportunities. Being able to help them see possibilities that once felt distant was incredibly meaningful to me.
At the same time, this experience also made me realize something important about myself.
The IBM Z Student Ambassador Program naturally connects communicative, outgoing people who enjoy public speaking. And honestly, I never considered myself the most extroverted person in the room. But I realized that what truly caught the attention of IBM professionals was my proactivity and my ability to keep moving forward.
Even without having all the answers, I kept participating, learning, building projects, creating connections, and constantly seeking growth.
Maybe I take one step forward. Maybe two. Sometimes I might even take one step back. But I keep moving.
And it was exactly that consistency that opened unexpected doors for me.
This experience taught me that impact does not only come from the loudest voices in the room, but also from those who consistently keep building, learning, and helping others every single day. That was when I realized that proactivity, curiosity, and the willingness to take action can be just as powerful as any technical skill or extroverted personality.
What I’m Known For:
As an advocate and IBM Z Ambassador, I am becoming known for:
∙ Explaining complex technologies in a simple and accessible way
∙ Encouraging students to explore the IBM Z and mainframe ecosystem
∙ Creating connections between technology, education, and community
I also enjoy showing newer generations that mainframes remain highly relevant and deeply connected to modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, hybrid cloud, automation, and cybersecurity.
My Favorite Way to Advocate:
My favorite way to advocate is through public speaking, mentorship, projects, and community building.
I enjoy sharing real experiences and showing that opportunities can come from unexpected places. Many times, a lecture, an academic event, or a project can completely change someone’s path, exactly as it happened to me.
Sharing knowledge is one of the most powerful ways to create impact.
What Keeps Me Excited About This Space:
What motivates me the most is seeing the real impact technology can generate.
Mainframes continue evolving constantly while supporting critical operations all around the world. At the same time, there is an enormous opportunity for newer generations to enter this field and help shape the future of this technology.
Beyond that, continuous learning and the human connections built throughout this journey are what keep me constantly engaged.
Advice for Future Advocates:
If I could leave some advice for people starting their journey in the community or looking to become technology advocates, it would be this:
∙ Embrace opportunities, even when they seem bigger than you
∙ Don’t wait until you feel “ready” to start, growth often happens during the process itself
∙ Participate in events, hackathons, communities, and academic projects with a genuine desire to learn and build connections
∙ Share what you learn, even if you are still at the beginning of your journey, teaching is also one of the best ways to learn
∙ Surround yourself with people who challenge you to grow and inspire you to keep evolving
∙ And most importantly: keep moving forward
You do not need to be the most experienced person, the most extroverted, or the one with all the answers. Very often, what truly sets people apart is consistency, curiosity, and the willingness to keep trying, learning, and building despite insecurities.
Technology changes constantly, but one thing remains essential: people willing to learn, share knowledge, and create impact in the lives of others.
Sometimes, a single opportunity, conversation, or project can completely change your journey, just like it changed mine.