Lerato Kalane

Doing business as a DBA

For Lerato, each day begins with monitoring database health, checking for performance anomalies, and ensuring integrity across the bank’s IMS systems. She optimizes high availability large database (HALDB) partitions and troubleshoots any failures affecting customer transactions. Lerato says she enjoys problem-solving—diving deep into systems issues, analyzing error codes, and optimizing complex database interactions that keep their banking services reliable.

Lerato says that one particularly exciting part of her job is database recovery control (DBRC)—ensuring that logs are correctly maintained and that backups are structured to support instant failovers. Another aspect of her work she enjoys involves collaborating with application teams to integrate new technologies like change data capture (CDC), which allows interactions between IMS databases and web applications without compromising security or performance.

Reliability you can bank on

The IMS-powered mainframe is the backbone of banking operations for Lerato’s employer. It enables high-speed transactions, secure storage of customer data, and real-time processing for services like fund transfers, loan approvals, and fraud detection. By leveraging IMS Fast Path and HALDB databases, Lerato and her team help ensure instant transaction processing, improve customer experience, and increase operational efficiency.

Mission-critical powerhouse

Lerato says that being an IMS DBA is an exciting, empowering and fulfilling role because she’s responsible for “managing the kind of massive, mission-critical data systems that banks, airlines, and government agencies rely on daily. My expertise helps keep them running smoothly and securely. When there’s a hiccup, it’s up to me and the team to diagnose and fix it. Troubleshooting is challenging but deeply rewarding when we crack a tough issue,” says Lerato.

“There’s a technical thrill in making systems run faster and more efficiently,” says Lerato. She is excited about her role’s impact and how her team can help “modernize mainframe applications, integrate them with APIs, and integrate them with the cloud. We make sure the mainframe remains relevant in a digital-first world—accessible and relatable.”

Community counts

For Lerato, the community behind the mainframe is what sets it apart. “One of the most incredible aspects of this journey has been the mainframe community. It’s the most welcoming, supportive, and collaborative space I’ve ever encountered. Knowledge sharing isn’t just encouraged; it’s a core part of the culture. The people here are always willing to guide and uplift others.” For new mainframe professionals, Lerato suggests they join the New to IBM Z User Group within the IBM Z and LinuxONE Community, designed to help deepen technical skills and expand peer networking and connections. She also recommends the IBM Mainframe Skills Depot, an online learning platform with a vast number of courses, access to labs and other hands-on learning opportunities, and certifications for IBM Z and mainframe related skills.

The opportunity of a lifetime

“Mainframe IMS DBA skills are highly valued. My knowledge places me in an elite club where professionals with deep IMS expertise are critical assets,” says Lerato.

For anyone considering a career in IBM Z, Lerato offers encouragement and guidance. “Starting a career as an IMS DBA is a fantastic choice, especially if you love working with high-performance, mission-critical systems.” She also emphasizes that continuous learning is key to a career in mainframe. “Stay future-focused. But more than anything, build relationships and connections by engaging with mainframe professionals. Look for entry-level roles to gain experience and stay curious.” Lerato emphasizes that mainframe professionals are highly valued and in demand, and she adds “remember to be patient with yourself and your journey.”