Overcoming Impostor Syndrome: My First VMUG Presentation Experience

As a long-time member of the VMware User Group (VMUG), I was honored to be invited to hold a short presentation at the Norway VMUG meeting in November. However, as the day of the event approached, my nerves began to get the better of me. What if I wasn’t interesting enough? What if I forgot everything I wanted to say? Could I really do this? These were just some of the thoughts racing through my mind as I struggled with impostor syndrome.

Despite my doubts, I was determined to push through and make the most of this opportunity. I had always secretly wanted to speak at VMUG, and now was my chance. With the support of my colleagues in Proact and VMUG leaders, I decided to take the leap and prepare a presentation about my first trip to VMware Explore.

As I began preparing my presentation, I took notes and pictures to make it a mix of tips, experiences, and humor. I also wrote a blog post about the subject: My First VMware Explore. The weeks leading up to the event, I spent several hours each day working on my slide deck and practicing in front of the mirror.

On the day of the event, we started off with some pizza and mingling. It was great to meet some people I had never met before and talk about shared experiences and current projects. The amazingly talented Amanda Blevins talked about Multi-Cloud Services, and my brilliant co-workers Rudi Martinsen and Christian Mohn discussed news from VMware Explore. Then it was my turn.

I don’t remember much of what I said during my presentation, but I do remember how sweet everyone was before and after I spoke. The VMUG community is incredibly inclusive, and I felt very supported throughout the entire experience. Everyone was so kind and encouraging, which helped me overcome my impostor syndrome.

Looking back on my first VMUG presentation, I realize that it wasn’t as scary as I thought it would be. It was a great opportunity to share my experiences and learn from others in the community. If you ever get asked to present at VMUG, I highly recommend doing it. It might be daunting at first, but it’s also very rewarding.

I’m certain I’ll send in some session ideas going forward, and I look forward to continuing being an active member of the community and cheering on new speakers. Overcoming impostor syndrome was a challenge, but it was worth it in the end. So don’t let fear hold you back – embrace the opportunity to share your knowledge and experiences with the VMUG community. You never know where it might lead!