Anshul Agrawal
Senior Manager, Product Development
BMC Software
Pune, Maharashtra, India
This piece is part of the 2026 Planet Mainframe Influential Mainframers series.
The mainframe has always been built on trust. Decades of reliability, scale, and performance have made it the backbone of global enterprise computing. But trust alone doesn’t secure a platform’s future. That takes people willing to evolve it—and to bring others along.
Anshul Agrawal is one of those people.
A Senior Manager of Product Development at BMC Software with over 17 years of experience, Agrawal is helping shape what comes next through his leadership of the AI for IMS initiative. His work integrates generative AI, machine learning, and agentic automation directly into enterprise IMS environments—demonstrating that the mainframe doesn’t have to choose between its legacy strengths and an intelligent, automated future.
For Agrawal, this transformation isn’t theoretical—it’s already happening.
“Working within the mainframe community—especially in an environment where AI is actively embraced—is incredibly motivating. The opportunities and support I receive from my leaders make a significant difference. I strongly believe AI will transform how we operate and manage mainframe systems, and this transformation is overwhelmingly positive. It’s critical that we embrace AI both as consumers and as providers, wherever applicable.”
That perspective defines his approach: practical, optimistic, and grounded in real-world application.
Turning Complexity into Clarity
What sets Agrawal apart isn’t just what he builds—it’s how consistently he shares it.
From technical sessions at SHARE and the GSE UK Virtual Conference to deep dives on IBM zIIP optimization and IMS Managed ACB readiness, his work helps experienced practitioners navigate complex transitions with confidence. These are not surface-level discussions—they are the kinds of insights that directly impact how organizations operate and modernize.
He has also been a featured voice within the Planet Mainframe community, presenting to the Virtual IMS User Group at a critical moment of architectural change. Rather than waiting for best practices to emerge, Agrawal contributes in real time—helping others move forward faster and with less risk.
Knowledge sharing, for him, isn’t an add-on. It’s part of the job.
Building the Next Generation
That same commitment extends beyond the current workforce.
Each week, Agrawal works directly with students at VIT Pune, introducing them to IBM Z through hands-on learning experiences like IBM zXplore. Many arrive unfamiliar with enterprise computing as a career path. He ensures they leave with both awareness and curiosity.
He’s also taken that message into broader academic and innovation spaces, including events like Robotex at MIT University Pune—bringing mainframe conversations into rooms where they’re rarely heard.
For Agrawal, the future of the platform depends on visibility as much as innovation.
A Community-Driven Technologist
Recognized as an IBM Influencer in 2025, Agrawal represents a model of modern mainframe leadership—one that blends technical depth with community investment.
Whether organizing IBM Z Day watch parties, publishing technical articles, or mentoring the next generation, his work reflects a consistent belief: progress only matters if people can access it, understand it, and build on it.
An influential mainframer, Anshul Agrawal is helping ensure that AI doesn’t just arrive on the mainframe—it belongs there.
You can connect with Anshul Agrawal on LinkedIn.
Follow @PlanetMainframe and #pmfinfluentialmainframers on LinkedIn to congratulate this year’s honorees.
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