DISRUPT, the Ultimate EUC event, is back bigger, better, and braver than ever before in 2023. Following a highly successful in-person event last month in Munich that drew more than 1,000 of the EUC industry's leading innovators and disruptors, IGEL will host its North American event in Nashville, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center from April 3-5.

To get the inside scoop ahead of the event, VMblog spoke with Enit Nichani, Vice President Marketing, Global Events, IGEL. 

VMblog: Let's talk about what DISRUPT is. What should folks who haven't attended before know about the event?

Enit Nichani: DISRUPT is the only event, focused solely on the EUC space. Attendees will hear from influential speakers from HP, LG, Lenovo, Citrix, ControlUp, Flexxible, Microsoft, Nerdio, VMware, Workspot and more through informative keynotes, breakouts, bootcamps, roundtables, and panels on key topics affecting the EUC universe now and in the future.

VMblog: What's the theme for this year's event?  I've seen a lot of talk about "YES!"  Can you talk a little about that?

Enit Nichani: If the last several years have taught us anything, it is that the way we work has forever changed. EUC has made it possible for organizations to innovate and push through every door that was once closed, creating opportunities to drive secure connectivity regardless of where employees are working; improve organizational efficiencies and reduce costs; recruit and retain talent from anywhere in the world; and optimize the experience the user has with their digital workspaces. This is what YES means within the context of DISRUPT23 - we are saying YES to all these things in the form of knowledge sharing, new ideas, and visionary thinking.

VMblog: As DISRUPT is billed as "The Ultimate EUC Event" - what do you see as some of the biggest challenges that companies will face in 2023 in the EUC space?

Enit Nichani: It's about staying informed and educated about the latest technology innovations in the EUC space. It is difficult for organizations to stay on top of every single new development and opportunity available to them, and that is why we bring thought leaders from across the EUC space together for DISRUPT.

Over the course of 2.5 days, attendees will learn from industry leaders including HP, Lenovo, LG, Citrix, Microsoft, VMware, and others, about the trends they should be paying attention to and gain knowledge that they can then take back to their organizations to help drive more meaningful decisions around the technologies and solutions they are using to enable remote and hybrid work.

VMblog: We're finally getting back face-to-face with one another in 2023.  What do you anticipate attendance will be like at DISRUPT? What are you expecting?

Enit Nichani: Whether through small groups, or larger conferences, people are reminded of the importance and creativity that comes from being face-to-face to collaborate, learn, and grow together, and that is something that we can offer them when they say YES to attending DISRUPT23 in Nashville. Registrations are going well, and we expect to draw hundreds of attendees to this event from across the EUC space.

VMblog: Who is sponsoring DISRUPT23?

Enit Nichani: During DISRUPT23, attendees will get first-hand access to technical product and services demonstrations by IGEL Ready partners and event sponsors.

Diamond-level event sponsors and exhibitors include LG Business Solutions, HP, and Lenovo. Platinum-level sponsors are Citrix, Flexxible, Microsoft, Nerdio, VMware, and Workspot. Gold-level sponsors include 7SIGNAL, ControlUp, and PrinterLogic. Silver-level sponsors include 10ZIG, Alludo (formerly Parallels), Cameyo, DeviceTrust, eG Innovations, Imprivata, Intel, Liquidware, Liquit, LoginVSI, Nexthink, Nutanix, FRAME by Nutanix, Rimo3, Seal Shield and Tricerat.

DISRUPT23 is also being supported by top IGEL channel partners in EMEA and North America including Alchemy Tech Group, Bechtle, Computer Product Corp., Connection, e360, Ferroque Systems, Gotham Technology Group, Group24, IntraSystems, M7 Global Partners, NetPlans Cloud Solutions, SHI, SVA, and XenTegra.

IGEL is also pleased to be receiving support from the Citrix User Group Community (CUCG) and VMware User Group (VMUG). Distribution partners sponsoring DISRUPT23 are ADN Distribution GmbH, Arrow Electronics, and Ingram Micro.

VMblog: What are some of the hot topics being discussed on stage at DISRUPT this year?  Who are some of the big names that will be presenting?

Enit Nichani: At DISRUPT23 in Nashville, one of the hot topics of discussion will be IGEL COSMOS. Unveiled at DISRUPT23 in Munich, COSMOS is a unified, agile platform to securely manage and automate the delivery of digital workspaces, from any cloud. Offering a modular architecture, granular endpoint control and end-user freedom, COSMOS is designed to enable organizations to garner the full power of current-day and future clouds with extensive control, while powering great user experiences for today's hybrid work.

Additionally, one of the most significant new cloud services adding additional value to COSMOS is the IGEL App Portal. The App Portal delivers a full range of validated applications from IGEL's vast IGEL Ready technology partner community designed for use on IGEL OS-powered devices. Since the App Portal operates separately and independently from the IGEL OS endpoint operating system, it sharply streamlines the process of application integration, introduction, and qualification for IT teams since there is no longer any dependence on the classic, highly integrated software release process. 

IGEL will host a panel on Tuesday, April 4, during the opening keynote session which begins at 8:15 a.m., featuring several IGEL customers who will share insights on the benefits they are already seeing with IGEL COSMOS.

VMblog: Sustainability is a hot topic these days and we see that IGEL is working to make DISRUPT23 as carbon neutral as possible. What can you tell us about this?

Enit Nichani: IGEL's hope is for a sustainable future for all and one of the ways we are doing this is by reducing the amount of swag that is given away at DISRUPT23. IGEL has also forged a partnership with Plant-for-the-Planet in support of the Trillion Trees campaign, a global restoration program which mobilizes tree planting to restore forest ecosystems. With this partnership, IGEL is underscoring its mission of sustainability with a commitment to planting and protecting 20,000 trees.

The partnership with Plant-for-the-Planet is part of IGEL's comprehensive sustainability program that starts with its product offering. With IGEL OS, companies can decrease CO2 emissions by reducing overall energy consumption on the device, use and reuse endpoint devices well beyond the typical three-to-four-year PC refresh cycle, realize significant CapEx savings, and engage in programs for responsible IT asset disposal to minimize e-waste. For more information on how to support sustainable IT with IGEL, visit: https://www.igel.com/sustainability.

VMblog: What do you want attendees to take away from DISRUPT23?

Enit Nichani: We want our attendees to go back to their organizations inspired, re-energized, and armed with actionable ways to use the technologies and solutions enabled by IGEL and our IGEL Ready partner ecosystem to optimize and secure the rapidly evolving modern work experience.

VMblog: Where can someone find out more information about DISRUPT?  And how can they sign up and register?

Enit Nichani: To register, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/igel-disrupt23-tickets-463925422427. Registration is $399 per person.

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