Get to know Sathish
This week’s Kubestronaut in Orbit is Sathish Kumar Venkatesan, an IT professional from Brampton, Canada, with over 16 years of diverse experience spanning cloud technologies, DevOps, and system administration. Currently serving as a Principal Cloud Customer Engineer at the Royal Bank of Canada, Sathish works on Kubernetes solutions, cloud infrastructure, and automation. He’s passionate about giving back to the tech community, actively contributing to open-source projects like Backstage and Istio. Sathish values collaboration, continuous improvement, and staying curious about emerging trends in the ever-changing IT landscape. Relatedly, he’s launched a website, DevOpsCloudJunction (DOC J), aimed at fostering connections and learning among enthusiasts of cloud-native technologies, DevOps practices, AI, and Kubernetes.
If you’d like to be a Kubestronaut like Sathish, get more details on the CNCF Kubestronaut page.
When did you get started with Kubernetes and/or cloud-native? What was your first project?
In 2018, while working with Life Fitness Singapore, I started exploring Kubernetes by evaluating the migration of our microservices architecture to a containerized environment. This project involved assessing the benefits of Kubernetes for scalability, resilience, and operational efficiency, which marked my entry into the cloud-native ecosystem. It was a pivotal experience in understanding the potential of Kubernetes for managing modern applications.
What are the primary CNCF projects you work on or use today? What projects have you enjoyed the most in your career?
Backstage, Istio, FluxCD, ArgoCD, Prometheus, and Grafana are some of my favorites.
How have the certs or CNCF helped you in your career?
CNCF certifications have significantly boosted my confidence by validating my expertise in cloud-native technologies. They helped deepen my understanding of Kubernetes and related tools while providing a structured learning path. These certifications have enhanced my career prospects by showcasing my skills to employers and clients.
What are some other books/sites/courses you recommend for people who want to work with k8s?
I recommend checking out Mumshad Mannambeth’s CNCF endorsed content on Udemy or KodeKloud for anyone looking to get started with Kubernetes. These resources provide comprehensive, hands-on learning experiences. Here are some great options:
- KodeKloud’s Kubernetes for the Absolute Beginners – Hands-On
- KodeKloud’s Certified Kubernetes Administrator (CKA) course
- Killercoda for interactive scenarios
- Killer.sh for CKA/CKAD practice
- Iximiuz Playgrounds for Kubernetes Labs
These sites offer practical labs and real-world scenarios to sharpen your Kubernetes skills.
What do you do in your free time?
In my free time, I like to take walks, read books on various topics, listen to music, and keep myself informed about the latest advancements and trends in technology.
What would you tell someone who is just starting their K8s certification journey? Any tips or tricks?
For someone starting their Kubernetes certification journey, I’d recommend setting up a home lab environment to practice regularly. Focus on mastering the fundamentals, as they form the foundation for everything else. Take hands-on practice exams and work through real-world scenarios. Consistent practice is key to success, so don’t just memorize—make sure you truly understand how Kubernetes works.
Today the Cloud native ecosystem is way more than Kubernetes. Do you plan to get other cloud native certifications from the CNCF ?
Yes, I plan to pursue all the other CNCF certifications to deepen my expertise across the cloud-native ecosystem. Expanding my knowledge beyond Kubernetes will help me stay updated and versatile in working with the broader range of cloud-native technologies.