Responsabilidade social
How the Kyndryl Foundation is helping close the global skills gap
artigo
18 de ago. de 2026
Technology is never the exclusive focus for new Kyndryl Distinguished Engineer Kunio Namba. He begins each engagement evaluating business outcomes. Does the customer need faster order processing? Fewer billing errors? More accurate inventory tracking? More timely delivery? Whatever the requirement, Kunio starts with the result — not the process. By combining generative AI with Kyndryl’s deep operational expertise, Kunio helps customers manage complex challenges faster and at greater scale.
How can agentic AI-driven automation and application layer modernization transform enterprise IT operations?
Kunio Namba: While we tend to focus on daily technical tasks, from the customer’s perspective, what we should truly be thinking about are the results they’re seeking. How do we help them accelerate order processing? Avoid defects in their billing processes? Ensure inventory accuracy? Deliver on time? And how do we optimize our customers’ systems to help them lower risk across the board? In other words, Kyndryl’s focus is always on operations that continuously optimize customers’ business outcomes.
With AI, we’ve been able to refine our approach to these challenges. Of course, we devote a significant amount of effort to translating our customers’ business needs into technical solutions and executing them. Traditionally, experienced engineers would validate and explore such improvements. But it’s difficult to ensure consistently high accuracy through this process. This is where the combination of generative AI and Kyndryl’s global knowledge becomes a differentiator. From identifying problem areas to selecting improvement methods based on global expertise and validating whether those methods will work effectively in the target system, generative AI can support and automate much of this process.
However, achieving the initial goals while meeting enterprise-level operational standards requires a comprehensive approach to generative AI. This includes preparing automation engines, enriching automation content, and integrating toolchains across the business application environment. Meanwhile, avoiding business defects requires even more intelligent handling. Even when the root cause is known, customers still need protection while waiting for a patch.
That’s where Kyndryl Bridge comes into play, especially its AIOps capabilities. By leveraging the Kyndryl Bridge platform, organizations can significantly accelerate the implementation of AI-driven use cases. And because Kyndryl can use our set of Best Practices to act proactively to apply fixes before breaks occur, and provide reliable workarounds quickly, customers increasingly view us as a trusted partner.
What passion drew you to this line of work, and what advice would you give to your younger self?
Namba: At my core, I am driven to challenge new areas that others have not yet explored or may hesitate to approach, and to deliver unique, one-of-a-kind results. I have consistently achieved outcomes through that mindset. For Kyndryl to grow, I believe we must excel in new and unique technology domains, and I feel that my strengths align well with that direction.
To my younger self, I would have said, “Develop your writing skills. It’s important to structure your thoughts logically and communicate them clearly to others.” I also would have advised myself not to hold back my ideas for fear that they might be inadequate or untested. Instead, I would have encouraged myself to share them, and engaged with others to refine them.
At my core, I am driven to challenge new areas that others have not yet explored or may hesitate to approach.
What activities do you enjoy in your spare time?
Namba: I had the chance to lead a volunteer activity at the Kyndryl Japan Summit, and we decided to pursue a Japan-themed Guinness World Record challenge by creating a QR code featuring Japanese cultural symbols using combinations of origami cubes. We needed 1,234 cubes, each requiring six origami components. That meant creating more than 7,300 individual origami pieces that we assembled into one large piece of art. Everybody pitched in, and I personally made about 200 cubes. We would never have been able to do it without working as a team. Not only did we establish the Guinness World Record for Largest Display of Modular Origami Cubes, but we had a lot of fun.
When I'm not doing things like that, I like to tinker with electronics. I enjoy working with LEDs, building and repairing audio equipment, and creating new things from junk parts. I like fixing things and assembling something new from what others might discard, although my wife does not quite share my enthusiasm.
