COMMON Board Nominee Todd Stewart: Building the Next Generation of IBM i Talent

In this episode of The Incredible i Show, Peg Tuttle sits down with COMMON Board Nominee Todd Stewart to talk about the future of the IBM i community—and how we get there together.

With over 40 years in IT and a unique background that includes service as a firefighter and chaplain, Todd brings a thoughtful and grounded perspective on leadership, service, and community.

Todd shares how organizations can successfully address the IBM i skills gap by investing in young talent, why modern development tools like VS Code are helping level the playing field, and how initiatives like COMMON 2030 and N2i are shaping the next generation of IBM i professionals.

This conversation is all about building what’s next—while honoring the strength of the community that’s already here.

🔑 What You’ll Learn

•  Why the IBM i skills gap is a talent opportunity—not a limitation 
•  How hiring and developing young developers is working today 
•  The impact of COMMON 2030 and the N2i initiative 
•  Modern development on IBM i: open source, DevOps, and VS Code 
•  Integrating IBM i with IoT and modern technologies 
•  The importance of changing perception within the enterprise 
•  Todd’s leadership approach: servant leadership in action 
•  Why community is the foundation of long-term success 

💬 Memorable Quote

“You don’t need to find people with IBM i skills—you need to find talented people and grow them.”

📣 Connect & Learn More

If you're attending POWERUp, be sure to catch Todd’s sessions and connect with him in person. You can also find him on LinkedIn to continue the conversation and share your ideas for the future of the IBM i community.

🎧 About the Show

The Incredible i Show is your go-to podcast for conversations around IBM i, hybrid cloud, modernization, and the people shaping the future of the platform.