To all the VMware and virtualization experts and evangelists out there in the world... in case you missed the news, the second half of the year VMware vExpert program nomination and applications for 2020 are now open!  Applications will be accepted now until July 19th, 2020 so don't delay.

What is the vExpert Program

If you aren't familiar with the VMware vExpert program and you're reading this, you need to learn more as it could change your life for the better.  I'm not kidding.  To help put things into context, let's start with a quick description to gain a better understanding of what it is.  Program lead Corey Romero describes it this way:

"The vExpert Program is about contributing to the community beyond your day job. The program is not focused on certifications or how much you know about the technology. Whether it’s blog articles, advocating VMware in your company, speaking sessions, book writing, code / script sharing or anything directly related to giving back to the community."

And the official program reads this way:

"The VMware vExpert program is VMware’s global evangelism and advocacy program. The program is designed to put VMware’s marketing resources towards your advocacy efforts. Promotion of your articles, exposure at our global events, co-op advertising, traffic analysis, and early access to beta programs and VMware’s roadmap. The awards are for individuals, not companies, and last for one year. Employees of both customers and partners can receive the awards. In the application, we consider various community activities from the previous year as well as the current year’s (only for 2nd half applications) activities in determining who gets awards. We look to see that not only were you active but are still active in the path you chose to apply for."

Members of the vExpert community have been able to get promotions within their company, new job opportunities elsewhere, and received offers to help write books, join speaking engagements, and more!

It's About Community

For years, there's been a misconception that the vExpert program is akin to the VMware certification process where you need to take a course, pass a test, etc.  Not so.  This is more about recognizing you for your evangelism efforts and helping others.  This is about community. 

I've been fortunate to be a part of the vExpert program since its inception, and I was given that distinction and honor with 299 other people.  Yes, the first class of vExperts numbered only 300 people, but the VMware community itself was much smaller back then, as was the VMware user base.  Today, there are nearly 2,000 vExperts from across 40+ countries.

Along the way, I've met some amazing people in the program, and made some really good friends and business contacts. For my part, I've been evangelizing VMware technology since 1999.  I've started numerous blogs, written for many different publications, spoke at VMworld and other trade shows, authored and published two books, was the technical editor for two of the early Dummies series of books, was the virtualization reporter for InfoWorld magazine for more than 8 years, and helped start my fair share of software companies leveraging VMware technology.  I've had (and am still having) a blast these last 20+ years.  We've all been fortunate to work with such a transformational technology.

At the end of the day, one of the true values of the vExpert program is the people, as it is with any community you join.

Each year, VMware brings together those individuals who have made some of the most important contributions to the VMware community, be them bloggers, book authors, VMUG members and leaders, speakers and presenters, application and tool builders, and general enthusiasts.  If that sounds like you, and you believe you should be awarded the distinction of becoming a 2020 vExpert, I highly suggest that you apply. 

vExpert Program Benefits

I would like to stress one thing.  The vExpert program shouldn't be about free stuff.  It is and always has been about community (have I made that point yet?).  So if you are looking to join this group just to get freebies, you are joining for the wrong reasons.

However, with that said, there are many benefits to receiving this award.  Some of which include:

• Networking with 2,000 vExperts / Information Sharing
• Knowledge Expansion on VMware & Partner Technology
• Possible Job Opportunities
• Blog Traffic Boost through Advocacy, @vExpert, @VMware, VMware Launch & Announcement Campaigns
• 1 Year VMware Licenses for Home Labs for almost all Products & Some Partner Products
• Private VMware & VMware Partner Sessions
• Gifts from VMware and VMware Partners
• vExpert Celebration Parties at both VMworld US and VMworld Europe with VMware CEO, Pat Gelsinger
• VMware Advocacy Platform Invite (share your content to thousands of vExperts & VMware employees who amplify your content via their social channels)
• Private Slack Channels

vExpert Paths

VMware has three paths to becoming a vExpert:

• Evangelist path - you might be an author, blogger, tool builder, public speaker, VMTN contributor, or help spread the good word in some other way
  
• Customer path - you might be a leader from a VMware customer organization, acting as an internal champion, or worked with VMware to build success stories, acted as a customer references, or given public interviews, spoken at conferences or were a VMUG leader
• VPN (VMware Partner Network) path - you might be an employee of a partner company, where you did event participation, a video, created IP, or did some public speaking engagements

Apply

Whatever your path, apply now!  The clock is ticking.

Here's the link you'll need to get started: https://vexpert.vmware.com/apply

Got questions?  Remember when I talked about community and people ready to help, well contact a vExpert PRO in your area and they can give you advice on how best to fill out the application: https://vexpert.vmware.com/directory/pro

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