As KubeCon NA 2024 approaches, Katie Greenley, a seasoned CNCF community advocate, is ready for an action-packed week in Salt Lake City. Excited to connect in person with the CNCF community, Katie emphasizes KubeCon’s unique mix of technical learning and career-building opportunities. This year’s highlights include mentoring sessions, project tours, lightning talks, and themed discussions on AI, security, and community. Attendees are encouraged to visit the Project Pavilion to engage directly with project teams and join peer-led discussions in the Networking Nook.
In this episode, you will learn:
- How KubeCon supports career growth with mentoring sessions and networking opportunities
- What to expect at the Project Pavilion with project tours, live demos, and casual meetups
- Highlights of themed sessions focused on AI, security, and Kubernetes’ 10th anniversary
- Community-building opportunities at co-located events, ambassador-led discussions, and CNCF team meetups
This episode is sponsored by OVHcloud.
Bart Farrell (00:00.642)
Katie, we’ve got KubeCon just around the corner, and unlike a lot of us, you’ll be in the same time zone, so I’m happy you won’t have any jet lag. But your schedule is packed! I see you’ve got a calendar behind you with lots of stuff going on. What are you looking forward to about this particular KubeCon, having been to so many already? What should people keep in mind as they head to KubeCon in Salt Lake City?
Katie Greenley (00:21.726)
Yeah, of course. I’m so excited! Like you said, it’s going to be in my time zone, so I get to just fly quickly over the mountains and land in Salt Lake City. For this KubeCon, like many others, it’s more than just a conference, and that’s something people should really keep in mind. Of course, there are the technical tracks that everyone attends for learning, but this is also a place where you can really build your career.
We have a mentoring program, and I think a lot of people don’t realize they can sign up for peer mentoring. It’s great for students or anyone looking for career advice or ways to get started in the community. That’s happening on Friday. The Project Pavilion also holds a special place in my heart. George Castro has done a wonderful job building it up as a space where people can talk directly with project teams and get their questions answered.
Now we have project tours and a stage where projects can do quick demos or share ideas. And we have the “CrashLoop BackOff,” which is always a fun, live demo experience. So, if you’re not sure where to go, the Project Pavilion is a great place to make a friend!
Lastly, I think just being there on day one with everyone who’s come for the co-located events is going to be amazing. There are co-located events focused on specific topics and projects, and I’m excited to see how those dive into the future. Plus, the Project Pavilion lightning talks are a great way to set the tone for the week.
Bart Farrell (02:36.792)
Fantastic. Katie, for people who may not be familiar with all that you do, you’re very involved in the Ambassadors program. What will ambassadors be doing this KubeCon? I know you mentioned the Project Pavilion tours and mentoring sessions, which I personally have found valuable in the past. What else should we expect from ambassadors?
Katie Greenley (03:04.136)
We’ve got a lot of great things lined up for ambassadors at KubeCon! Along with the project tours, there’s a new space called the Networking Nook. It’s set up as tables during lunchtime where ambassadors will lead discussions on different themes throughout the week. Day one focuses on AI and platform engineering, day two on security, and the final day on community and Kubernetes’ 10th anniversary.
These tables have guiding questions for discussions, so if you’re unsure about how to get involved or where to start, you can join one of these tables and join the conversation. Ambassadors will be there to help guide you.
We’ve also got about 30 ambassadors giving talks, sharing their knowledge and expertise across various areas. Ambassadors will be around the Project Pavilion as well, supporting projects and hosting conversations. Plus, we have a KCD (Kubernetes Community Days) booth in the Project Pavilion where ambassadors will talk about upcoming 2025 events and how people can get involved. Our Cloud Native Community Groups, similar to Meetup.com, will also be represented there, so you can find a local group to connect with.
Bart Farrell (05:44.926)
Absolutely. There’s a conference aspect with wonderful talks, but it’s essential to set aside time to engage with the community. People will be thrilled if you come up and have a conversation about getting more involved in a local meetup or CNCF project. It sounds like a packed schedule. Is there anyone in particular you’d like to give a shout-out to who you’re looking forward to seeing in Salt Lake City?
Katie Greenley (06:21.118)
I’m really excited to see everyone from the CNCF team in person since we’re all remote. It’s always special to meet everyone face-to-face. I’m looking forward to seeing George, Jeffy, Bob, Libby, Chris, Priyanka, Joanna, and Taylor Dolezal. We don’t often see each other outside of events, so these moments are really special.
Of course, I’m also thrilled to see all the ambassadors, both familiar and new faces. I encourage people to stop me and say hi. Tell me what you’re about—I’d love to hear it and make you feel welcome in this community!
Bart Farrell (07:43.116)
Fantastic! Katie, I wish you an easy trip within your time zone to Salt Lake City. We look forward to seeing you there. Thank you for all the work that goes on behind the scenes. If you see Katie, be sure to say hello and thank her. We’ll see you soon in Salt Lake City. Take care. Cheers.
Katie Greenley (08:04.042)
See you soon! Thanks.