Guest: Jena White
Organization: CNCF
Show: KubeStruck
Topic: Kubernetes

When Jena White walked into KubeCon Atlanta, her first impression was simple: “Big.” But by the time she left three days later, the software developer and startup co-founder had gained something far more significant—a toolbox of ideas, networking connections including a job interview, and the confidence that she absolutely belongs in tech. For someone attending their first tech conference ever, that transformation didn’t happen by accident. It happened because CNCF got accessibility right.

The journey to that moment started far from the cloud native ecosystem. White spent years working as a clinical lab researcher before COVID and life circumstances forced a career reevaluation. Her mother suggested revisiting computers—something White had always excelled at—and a coding bootcamp became the bridge to her new career path.

“I’ve always been really good with computers my entire life,” White explains. “When I went into college, I decided that I wanted to do something more science and math based. I worked in labs as a researcher, and then I ended up in a clinical lab. Life happens, family happens, COVID happened, and it caused me to make the decision that I needed to step back and reevaluate.”

That decision led her not just to software development, but to co-founding a startup with two partners who have extensive experience in larger, often Deaf-owned companies. The three share similar passions and ideas—and importantly, the autonomy to build their vision without a large company dictating their approach.

White’s connection to CNCF came through an unexpected source: a friend who happened to be an interpreter and had worked at a previous conference in Salt Lake City. Learning about CNCF’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Working Group (DHHWG) opened up an entire world. Within a day of that conversation, White was researching and discovering the broader community.

What she found at KubeCon exceeded expectations. Eight interpreters were available without White having to manage logistics—a stark contrast to her experiences in educational and medical settings throughout her life. A WhatsApp group connected her with interpreters before arrival. When she mentioned doing interviews and presentations, support was immediate and seamless.

“This experience with this organization has been the most accessible experience I’ve ever had,” White emphasizes. “I went into school with interpreters. Growing up, I went to doctor’s appointments with interpreters. I’ve had good, bad and other experiences. This experience here—I don’t have to work out the logistics. They are already available to me.”

The accessibility extends beyond logistics to culture. Deaf culture, White explains, is naturally open and welcoming. The monthly Zoom meetings of the working group create familiarity before in-person meetings, making first encounters feel like reunions with old friends rather than awkward introductions.

White is part of CNCF’s Merge Forward initiative, which encourages inclusion for historically underrepresented groups in tech. Led by Catherine Paganini of Buoyant, Merge Forward encompasses seven groups including Deaf and Hard of Hearing (the most established), Blind and Visually Impaired, Deep Roots (focused on Black, Indigenous, and people of color), and Neurodivergency groups.

The Deaf and Hard of Hearing Working Group’s mentorship culture particularly stands out. Rob Kat, a well-known member, exemplifies the community’s knowledge-sharing ethos. “All I have to do is say something, and then he sends me a ton of resources,” White notes. “He doesn’t hold back, he just shares his knowledge, and he really wants to support us, because Deaf people can absolutely work in technology without any issue. We just have to build each other up.”

That support proved critical for someone initially hesitant about attending. Paganini had to convince White to come despite her concerns about being too new to the tech world. The encouragement proved transformative—White leaves with expanded networks, new business ideas, and crucially, the confidence that newcomers belong just as much as veterans.

On the technical side, White remains realistic about AI’s role in accessibility. While sign language recognition projects exist, they lag far behind spoken language translation. More importantly, AI cannot replace human interpreters in emotionally complex situations—medical emergencies, family crises, or nuanced business negotiations where emotional content matters.

“The problem with AI is the human emotional content is not there,” White explains. “In a college class or educational setting, or maybe for a business owner, that might be an appropriate use case. But there are a lot of other use cases where it isn’t appropriate.”

The startup journey brings its own challenges, though White’s perspective differs from typical narratives. Her experience in small companies was difficult, lacking the resources and support larger organizations can provide. The decision to found her own company with partners who understand Deaf culture and workplace needs came from recognizing they didn’t need external validation or structure.

For others facing similar paths, White’s advice is pragmatic: “When you fail in one area, that’s okay, you just need to move on to your next option or your next path. Even if you do fail at something, you are not wasting time, because you are going to work towards the actual solution.”

Perhaps most importantly, White challenges the common assumption about who benefits from accessibility initiatives. Accessible design doesn’t just help underrepresented groups—it improves experiences for everyone. Reaching out to people with different perspectives and accessibility needs creates better technology across the board.

“Any group of people who are underrepresented in tech, reaching out to them and seeing what those people have, as far as their perspective—it doesn’t interrupt anything,” White concludes. “It actually makes it better for everybody involved.”