Kubernetes Community Leadership: Breaking Contribution Barriers

In this episode, host Katherine Druckman chats with Nikhita Raghunath, a Staff Software Engineer at VMWare leading the Kubernetes engineering team. Nikhita shares her journey into open source contribution, her experiences with Kubernetes, and the importance of diversifying roles in open source communities beyond coding. She also discusses the challenges many face when contributing to open source, from time constraints to language barriers, and provides practical advice on navigating these hurdles. The conversation takes an exciting turn as Nikhita expresses her enthusiasm about the intersection of AI and cloud native technology and their potential to benefit each other. She concludes the episode with valuable advice for new contributors, emphasizing the importance of personal research and initiative when approaching open source projects. This episode is a must-listen for those interested in open source contribution, Kubernetes, and the future of AI in cloud native technology. 00:00 Introduction and Guest Background 01:23 Journey into Programming 03:29 Getting Involved in Open Source 12:27 Challenges in Open Source Contribution 16:43 Advice for New Contributors 18:59 Addressing Limitations in Open Source Communities 22:00 Exciting Developments in Open Source Technology 24:32 Final Thoughts and Advice for New Contributors   Guest: Nikhita Raghunath is a senior member of technical staff at VMware, a member of the Kubernetes Steering Committee, and is responsible for the overall governance of the Kubernetes project. She is also a Cloud Native Computing Foundation (CNCF) Ambassador and an international public speaker.