Becoming a vExpert: An Inside Look into the VMware Community
As a virtualization enthusiast, I remember my early days in the community like it was yesterday. I hopped on Twitter to connect with like-minded individuals and soon found myself engaging with a group of people who would become my lifelong friends and colleagues. One person who stands out among the rest is Luigi Danakos, who would go on to become a good friend and fellow vExpert. He introduced me to the VMware community at large during my first VMworld conference, and it was an experience I will never forget.
At the time, I had no idea about the vExpert program, but over the years, I became more active in social media and online forums, participating in Twitter, Facebook, and the VMTN community forums. I also took on a more active role in my local VMUG, speaking and leading Hands-on Labs. These efforts paid off, and I eventually earned the title of vExpert.
Becoming a vExpert is relatively straightforward. Applications are accepted periodically, and you can submit your application on the vExpert website. However, the waiting game can be anxiety-inducing, as the selection process can take some time. But trust me, it’s worth the wait!
One of the newer opportunities for existing vExperts is the #SubPrograms. These are more specialized aspects of the VMware technology and community where you get to showcase, evangelize, and promote an area that you are passionate about. My passion has always been EUC (End-User Computing), and I have applied to become one of the first vExperts for EUC. You can read more about this Sub Program in the VMware EUC Blog post.
One of the coolest things about the vExpert program is the #SWAG. You know, the cool shirts, bags, toys, glasses that you get when you attend conferences!? A long-time vExpert and a friend of mine is married to an amazing woman who runs her own business STKPromotions #ShamelessPlug. Every year when the vExperts are announced, they create a pop-up shop where you can order all manner of #SWAG. Shirts, glasses, hats, and all sorts of #SWAG to show off that you are a vExpert.
In addition to the #SWAG that you can purchase from STK, there are also lots of opportunities to get NFR (Not For Resale) licenses from companies that support the vExpert community. And if you attend VMworld, you have a chance to get a #SwagBag that has all sorts of goodies inside. Last year, there was even a Raspberry Pi!
This year, there have been a number of really amazing conference calls/webinars set up just for vExperts covering many topics like Tanzu, Project Pacific, Cohesity, Runecast, and VMware Cloud Health just to name a few. These invite-only meetings are a huge perk to get ahead of the curve. Huge props to Corey Romero @vExpert/@vCommunityGuy for his endless support, hard work, and dedication!
In conclusion, if you are into technology, virtualization, VMware, and some or all of the tools that encompass this vast ecosystem and are active in your community (online and offline), I highly recommend you find out more and submit yourself to be a vExpert. Reach out to me with any questions, comments, or suggestions too! Until next time #StayVirtual.