SMT Data speaker sessions at GS Forge Conference in November
In November we will join GS Forge conference in the UK with several speaker sessions:
Smarter WLM for Better Business Performance
Mary Solomon | VP of ITBI Services & Frank Tidemand | Lead Mainframe Performance & Capacity Advisor
How can smarter workload management improve mainframe performance and better support business priorities? In this session, Mary Solomon and Frank Tidemand will explore how aligning WLM policies with business-critical workloads can improve performance and resource efficiency. Learn practical approaches to workload prioritization, Sysplex balancing, and resource control to ensure stable performance where it matters most.
Time & Place: Thursday, November 5th 11:15am – 12:00, Woodcote
Leaving the Mainframe – Strategy, Hype, or Cost Illusion?
Gabriel Guth-Kaltschmied | Lead Mainframe Performance & Capacity Advisor
Is moving off the mainframe really the right strategy, or is the decision driven by hype and assumptions about cost? In this session, Gabriel will explore how workload analysis, cost transparency, and business mapping can help organizations make informed modernization decisions. Learn when the mainframe remains the best choice and when alternative architectures make business sense.
Time & Place: Wednesday, November 4th 14:15 – 15, Woodcote
Making Sense of SMF: A Beginner’s Guide to Mainframe Performance Data
Meena Chand | Mainframe Performance & Capacity Trainee
Ever wondered how mainframe performance data can be turned into valuable business insights? In this beginner-friendly session, Meena Chand, part of SMT Data’s Youth Talent Program, introduces SMF, the foundation of performance and capacity analysis on IBM Z. Discover how SMF data helps organizations understand system activity, optimize resource utilization, plan capacity, and gain greater transparency into costs.
Time & Place: Wednesday, November 4th 10:00 – 10:45, Suzuka
Youth Talent Program: Building the Next Generation of Mainframe Professionals
Meena Chand | Mainframe Performance & Capacity Trainee
As experienced mainframe professionals retire, how can the industry attract and develop the next generation of talent? In this session, Meena Chand, part of SMT Data’s Youth Talent Program, will share insights into the challenges and opportunities facing young professionals entering the mainframe industry. Discover how internships, mentorship, graduate programs, and industry initiatives can help bridge the skills gap and build a strong mainframe workforce for the future.
Time & Place: Monday, November 2nd 11:00 – 11:45, Monaco
Newbie Mainframers Talk Candidly
Meena Chand | Mainframe Performance & Capacity Trainee & 4 other Newbies
Meena Chand will be discussing her perspective on being new to IBM Z together with a panel of other young talents.
Time & Place: Wednesday, November 4th 16:30 – 17:15, Bentley
Attending GS FORGE?
We’d love to connect and discuss how these topics apply to your environment.
Reach out to schedule a meeting with the SMT team.
