How to Stay Relevant in Tech: Learning from a CNCF Ambassador | Atulpriya Sharma x Akshay Kumar

Ever wondered how to navigate the fast-paced world of Cloud Native, Kubernetes, and AI without getting burnt out? In this episode, I sit down with Atulpriya - CNCF Ambassador, Principal Developer Advocate, and a mentor to thousands. We went deep into a 2-hour unfiltered conversation about his journey from a developer to a leader in the DevRel space. Whether you’re a first-timer preparing for KubeCon, a developer trying to understand Platform Engineering, or someone looking to build a thriving community like GrowIn, this conversation covers it all. Key highlights from this discussion: The evolution from Engineer to Developer Advocate (DevRel). Platform Engineering All about Developer Relations. How to stay updated in an industry where tools change every 6 months. Honest advice on AI in daily engineering workflows. Insider tips for first-timers at KubeCon India - 2026 (Mumbai) Connect with Atulpriya: LinkedIn:   / atulpriyasharma   Twitter/X: @TheTechMaharaj Follow the Host (Akshay Kumar): LinkedIn:   / akshayktwt   X (Twitter): https://x.com/akshayktwt GrowIn Community: Website: https://growin-community.vercel.app/ Timestamps: 0:00 - Intro 0:30 - The Guest Welcome 4:30 - Atul's college journey 43:45 - CNCF Ambassador 54:10 - Platform Engineering 1:00:22 - The Dan Kohn Scholarship 1:05:40 - First KubeCon India (2024) 1:10:55 - Why many CFPs get rejects 1:17:50 - Communities 1:24:55 - All about DevRel 1:32:38 - Open Source importance 1:41:45 - AI in todays work 1:56:45 - How to learn new tools 2:00:20 - KubeCon India Mumbai-2026 (how to utilise time at conferences) #CloudNative #DevOps #KubeCon #PlatformEngineering #DevRel #Kubernetes #AtulpriyaSharma #GrowInCommunity