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It’s been a while since I posted anything here – we’ll last month had been full of travel. It may well be the longest I’ve been away from home as well.
In this blog post, I’ll share my full experience at KubeCon Atlanta 2025 – from volunteering at CloudNative Rejekts and hosting my first-ever panel to delivering my first official KubeCon talk on marketplaces in internal developer portals. I’ll also highlight the incredible community spirit that makes these conferences so special. Plus, I’ll take you through my unforgettable side trip to Peru and Abu Dhabi that followed shortly after.
KubeCon has become a defining part of my journey, blending my passion for cloud native technologies, community engagement, and travel into a whirlwind of learning and connection. Looking back at my first KubeCon in Chicago 2023, I never imagined that within just a couple of years, I would be speaking, volunteering, moderating panels, and making lifelong friends across the globe.
Now, here I am reflecting on my latest experience in Atlanta, a post that comes a little late, thanks to my post-KubeCon vacation tradition, as always!
A Bit of Backstory: My KubeCon Journey So Far
KubeCon has grown into more than just a conference for me, it’s a marker of growth, learning, and community bonding in the cloud native ecosystem. My first blog post about KubeCon was after my debut at Chicago 2023, where I nervously gave a smaller talk at the CloudNative Rejekts event. That first international talk was a milestone that opened doors to more speaking and volunteering opportunities.
Since then, I’ve been fortunate to attend and speak at several amazing KubeCons:
- KubeCon Europe, Paris 2024 was my first time experiencing the European vibe of cloud native conferences. The beautiful city, great food, and intense tech talks made it unforgettable.
- KubeCon US, Salt Lake City 2024 deepened my connections with the platform engineering community and showed me how rapidly the cloud native ecosystem is evolving.
- KubeCon India, Delhi 2024, my first KubeCon on home soil, was a proud moment and a chance to connect with fellow Indian technologists.
- KubeCon Europe, London 2025 gave me the chance to explore the UK tech scene and attend fascinating sessions on open-source governance.
- KubeCon India, Hyderabad 2025 brought the KubeCon magic back home, mixed with the spice of local culture and cuisine. And the best part was that I wasn’t a speaker, but a Co-Chair leading the conference.
Each event has been a learning curve and an opportunity to grow as both a speaker and community member. And of course, as with every KubeCon, I made sure to take a vacation immediately after the conference to recharge and explore new parts of the world.
Volunteering at CloudNative Rejekts: Coming Full Circle
One of the highlights of KubeCon Atlanta 2025 was volunteering again with CloudNative Rejekts. For those unfamiliar, CloudNative Rejekts is a fantastic b-side conference that happens right before KubeCon. It’s a space for experimental, community-driven talks that were rejected at KubeCon and give them another change.
My journey with Rejekts began at Chicago 2023, where I gave my first international talk. Since then, I’ve always tried to give back by volunteering. This year was no different: I signed up to volunteer and was stationed at the registration booth, welcoming attendees with a smile and engaging in friendly conversations. Manning the front desk offers a unique perspective: you see the diversity of people entering, their excitement, and the sheer scale of the event firsthand.
I also had the honor of emceeing one of the tracks. This was my first time emceeing, and the experience was exhilarating! The venue, the Academy of Medical Sciences at Georgia University, was fabulous: contemproray European architecture, spacious, and perfectly suited for a tech event.
Moderating My First Panel at Platform Engineering Day
KubeCon Atlanta also marked a milestone for me: I hosted my first-ever panel! This happened during Platform Engineering Day, a dedicated day focusing on the culture, tools, and challenges of platform engineering.
The panel centered around the Cloud Native Platform Engineering Certification Program, a community-driven initiative many of us helped shape. The discussion was rich and covered everything from curriculum design to adoption challenges and future directions. It was fascinating to hear from practitioners, educators, and CNCF project leads all in one room.
I won’t lie, moderating was nerve-wracking at first. Keeping the conversation flowing, managing time, and ensuring everyone had a chance to share wasn’t as easy as it looks. But the positive feedback was encouraging, and I even recorded the session for those who missed it, you can watch it below.
My First KubeCon Talk: Marketplaces in Internal Developer Portals
Speaking of firsts, KubeCon Atlanta was special because I gave my first official KubeCon talk! Until now, my talks were limited to Platform Engineering Day or smaller community events, so this was a huge step forward.
My talk was titled “Economics of Platforms: Building Marketplaces beyond Golden Paths” where I discussed how golden paths: standardized, curated workflows guiding developers, can sometimes become bottlenecks at scale. I proposed adopting a marketplace model, where diverse tools and services coexist, allowing teams to choose solutions based on their needs.
The session sparked many interesting discussions, and I was bombarded with questions afterward: a clear sign the topic resonated with the audience. If you want to watch and share your thoughts, here’s the video.
Community Volunteering Beyond the Stage
KubeCon is as much about community as it is about technology, and I immersed myself in community activities throughout the event. I volunteered for several CNCF activities, including conducting tours of the CNCF Project Pavilion. Acting as a guide, I took groups around various booths and demos, helping attendees understand the rich ecosystem of CNCF projects.
Another memorable moment was leading a discussion for first-timers at KubeCon. It was heartwarming to see a diverse group of newcomers eager to share their experiences, challenges, and excitement. Many expressed feeling overwhelmed initially – which is understandable given the scale of the conference – but they left with renewed enthusiasm and practical tips.
On the community front, our platform engineering group hosted daily coffee meetups. These informal gatherings became a highlight, the relaxed setting encouraged candid conversations, networking, and sharing of best practices. Witnessing the participation and energy from everyone was a testament to how vibrant and supportive this community is.
Post-KubeCon Vacation: Peru and Machu Picchu Adventure
Now, onto a part of this experience I’m particularly thrilled about, my post-KubeCon vacation! True to my tradition of taking a breather after every conference, I embarked on a 5-day trip to Peru – a country I had long dreamed of visiting.
This trip was significant for multiple reasons:
- It was my first time traveling to a new continent (South America).
- I crossed the equator for the first time.
- I explored Lima, soaking in the colonial charm and savoring Peruvian cuisine.
- I ventured to Cusco, the gateway to the Andes and Inca culture.
- And, of course, I made the pilgrimage to Machu Picchu, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
Planning this trip was a bit challenging. The flights were long, and I had to factor in jet lag, altitude adjustment in Cusco, and the physical demands of hiking. But thanks to careful research and advice from fellow travelers, everything went smoothly.
I’ve shared snippets and stories from this adventure on Instagram already (check out my highlights Lima, Cusco, Machu Picchu), and I promise a full travelogue blog post will come soon. Besides Peru, I had a two-day stopover in Abu Dhabi on the way back, which was a fascinating contrast – modern, luxurious, and culturally rich.
This journey not only satisfied my wanderlust but also reinforced how KubeCon has made me a more confident traveler and global citizen. Speaking on international stages opened my mind to new cultures, and traveling solo across continents has been transformative.
Wrapping Up: Reflections on KubeCon Atlanta and Beyond
Looking back on KubeCon Atlanta 2025, I feel a mix of pride, gratitude, and excitement for what lies ahead. Each KubeCon has taught me something new – whether it’s technical insights, community building, or personal growth. Volunteering at CloudNative Rejekts reminded me of my beginnings, hosting the panel pushed me to develop new skills, and delivering my first KubeCon talk was a milestone I’ll cherish for quite some time.
The community spirit, vibrant discussions, and chance to connect with passionate people worldwide make KubeCon a truly unique experience. And the tradition of post-event travel keeps the flame of curiosity and exploration burning bright.
If you’ve enjoyed reading about my journey, I encourage you to follow me on LinkedIn for work updates and more stories from the cloud native world and beyond. And of course, stay tuned here at Social Maharaj for upcoming travelogues and tech reflections.
If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment below. You can also reach out to me on Twitter at @Atulmaharaj or DM me on Instagram at @Atulmaharaj.
