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Influential Mainframers Trivia

May 9, 2025

Trivia

Influential Mainframers Trivia

Sonja Soderlund

Sonja Soderlund is an Oregon-based B2B freelance writer. Whether writing about mainframe computers, educational technology, or sustainable retail, she strives to bring clarity to complex issues. Connect with her or LinkedIn.

April at Planet Mainframe was all about celebrating today’s Influential Mainframers, and if you’re looking for inspiration, the full list of honorees is well worth a look. Today, seeing women’s names among industry leaders might feel expected—but it certainly wasn’t always this way. 

This week’s trivia quiz explores the history of some of the pioneering women who helped blaze the mainframe trail, from the earliest days of computing to the present. These trailblazers made lasting contributions as programmers, engineers, and innovators, leaving an indelible mark on mainframe computing through their technical achievements, leadership, and advocacy. Their work helped shape both the foundation and the future of enterprise IT.

Take the quiz and see how much you know!

1. Frances E. Allen was the first woman to receive which prestigious award in computer science?

 
 
 
 

2. Which IBM Fellow is known for her work in modernizing mainframe development through DevOps?

 
 
 
 

3. Pam Taylor held which leadership position in the SHARE organization?

 
 
 
 

4. Betty Holberton was one of the original programmers of which early computer?

 
 
 
 

5. What milestone did Anna McKee achieve in the IBM “Master the Mainframe” competition?

 
 
 
 

6. Margaret Hamilton coined the term “software engineering” while working on which historic project?

 
 
 
 

7. Sister Mary Kenneth Keller was the first American woman to earn a doctorate in which field?

 
 
 
 

8. Which two women on this list were deeply involved in the development of COBOL?

 
 
 
 

9. What role did Frances Allen play in advancing compiler technology for mainframes?

 
 
 
 

10. What pioneering contributions did Rosalind Radcliffe make to DevOps in the context of mainframe computing?

 
 
 
 

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