Get to know Jana
We’re thrilled to recognize Jana Vonšák from Slovakia as our first-ever female Golden Kubestronaut. A dedicated DevOps Security Engineer with a background in software development, Jana brings a rare blend of development and security expertise to her role. Her passion lies in embedding robust security practices into cloud-native environments, ensuring applications are both scalable and secure.
Outside of her day-to-day work, Jana is a strong advocate for continuous learning and community engagement. Her curiosity and drive to explore new frontiers in the cloud-native ecosystem have earned her all of the CNCF certifications.
When did you get started with Kubernetes and/or cloud-native? What was your first project?
I began working with Kubernetes about three years ago when I joined the Technology Delivery International (TDI) unit at Deutsche Telekom, making the leap from software development into the world of DevSecOps. It was a significant transition — and admittedly a bit overwhelming at first — but I quickly grew to enjoy the new challenges and the dynamic, fast-paced nature of the cloud native ecosystem.
My first project involved an in-house WAF-as-a-Service solution already running on Kubernetes and spanning multiple clusters. Working within the security division, applying Kubernetes security best practices has been a core part of my journey — and it’s a topic I remain deeply passionate about.
What are the primary CNCF projects you work on or use today? What projects have you enjoyed the most in your career?
The primary CNCF projects I currently work with include Kubernetes, Helm, Argo, Prometheus, Grafana, and CloudNativePG. Each tool brings unique strengths to the table, and together they create a powerful, well-balanced ecosystem — it’s tough to pick a favorite.
There are also a few projects I’m not actively using yet but would love to explore further, especially Kyverno and OpenTelemetry. Both offer exciting capabilities that I’m eager to integrate into my work in the near future.
How have the certs or CNCF helped you in your career?
The certifications themselves haven’t had a major direct impact on my career — aside from attracting a lot more random recruiter messages on LinkedIn. However, the preparation process was incredibly valuable, especially for the hands-on exams. You simply can’t fake your way through those; you need a solid grasp of the core concepts, the ability to navigate the documentation efficiently, and the confidence to apply your knowledge in real-world scenarios.
When I began studying for the Kubernetes certifications, I was in a position where I had to quickly and thoroughly understand the entire ecosystem for a project I was assigned to. Following the official domains and competencies outlined in the exam guides turned out to be the most effective and structured way to achieve that.
What are some other books/sites/courses you recommend for people who want to work with k8s?
When it comes to preparing for certifications or deepening your Kubernetes knowledge, official documentation is always the best source of truth — it’s your most reliable companion. Beyond that, there are several hands-on resources I highly recommend:
- Killerkoda – Excellent hands-on labs that let you practice real scenarios.
- KodeKloud – Great course content with interactive labs. They operate on a subscription model, but many of their courses are also available individually on Udemy.
- Kim Wüstkamp’s CKS Course – Formerly on Udemy, now freely available on YouTube. It’s a fantastic resource for CKS preparation.
- Killershell Mock Exams – Challenging, but definitely worth doing to get comfortable with the exam environment and expectations.
What do you do in your free time?
Most of my free time is joyfully spent with my two amazing kids and my husband — and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. When I do carve out a bit of time for myself, you’ll usually find me lifting heavy things for fun (a.k.a. weightlifting) or out on a run.
Last year, I completed my first Spartan Beast race — and I think I’m officially hooked. I’m already looking forward to joining again and beating my previous time.
What would you tell someone who is just starting their K8s certification journey? Any tips or tricks?
Kubernetes can feel overwhelming at first, but the key is hands-on practice. Start experimenting early — spin up a local cluster, break things, fix them, and repeat. Tools like Kind and Minikube are great for getting started and building confidence in a safe environment.
Also, get comfortable with the official Kubernetes documentation. It’s incredibly detailed and allowed during the hands-on certification exams. You don’t need to memorize everything — but knowing how to quickly find what you need is a huge advantage.
The more time you spend working with Kubernetes, the more everything will start to click. Stick with it, and you’ll begin to see how all the pieces fit together.
Today the cloud native ecosystem is way more than Kubernetes. Do you plan to get other cloud native certifications from the CNCF?
Currently, I have all of them… let’s see what the future will bring!
What else would you like to share in this feature?
I absolutely love the Kubestronaut community! Honestly, I didn’t expect this to be such a big part of the experience when becoming a Kubestronaut, but it’s turned out to be one of the best perks. It’s a space filled with curious, supportive people who are always ready to share knowledge and offer advice.
KubeCon + CloudNativeCons will never be the same for me — not only will I get to attend incredible talks in person, but I’ll also finally have the chance to meet some of these inspiring individuals face-to-face. I’m already looking forward to it.