In this episode of the Mainframe Connect podcast's I Am A Mainframer series, Gerald Mitchell, Chief Testing Tools Architect and Senior Technical Staff Member at IBM, shares his journey in the mainframe industry. From his early days as an intern at IBM in 1997 to his current role revolutionising testing tools, Gerald offers unique insights into mainframe modernisation. He challenges common misconceptions about COBOL and other mainframe technologies, emphasising that modernisation isn't about abandoning platforms but optimising usage. Gerald discusses his work with Watson Code Assistant and the critical importance of validation in the development process. A highlight of the conversation is Gerald's vision for the future of mainframe technology, focusing on sustainability, AI integration, and bringing testing closer to code.