vExpert Applications are Open!
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to join this amazing program & community. Applications will be open from June 1st, 2020 to July 19th, 2020 and the awards will be announced on July 17th.
What the Program is About
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. Wether 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.
If you are not sure if you would qualify, reach out to a vExpert PRO. The PROs vote on applications and are the best resource to help you with the process. They are a very friendly group of professionals who speak many languages and represent 40 countries.
Benefits of being a vExpert
Here’s is list of some of the benefits for receiving the award.
- Networking with 2,000 vExperts / Information Sharing
- Knowledge Expansion on VMware & Partner Technology
- Opportunity to apply for vExpert BU Lead Subprograms (see below)
- Possible Job Opportunities
- Direct Access to VMware Business Units via Subprograms
- 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 for vExpert and the BU Lead Subprograms
vExpert BU Lead Subprograms
In the past few years we launched vExpert Subprograms which are all BU driven and lead. This year we have 7 subprograms with an 8th kicking off after this award announcements. The BU driven programs consist of a dedicated VMware resource from the Business Unit to engage and lead the program. The programs offer NDA sessions as well as BU road maps, beta opportunities, product feedback, zoom meetings with the BU and more. You can see the programs and who’s in them by going to the vExpert Directory. All of the programs require approval via an application process similar to the vExpert application.
Which Path Should you Apply for?
Evangelist Path
The Evangelist Path includes book authors, bloggers, tool builders, public speakers, VMTN contributors, and other IT professionals who share their knowledge and passion with others with the leverage of a personal public platform to reach many people. Employees of VMware can also apply via the Evangelist path. A VMware employee reference is recommended if your activities weren’t all in public.
Customer Path
The Customer Path is for leaders who evangelize VMware. We are looking for passionate customers who do the work to evangelize within their organization or worked with VMware to build success stories, act as customer references, given public interviews, spoken at conferences, or were VMUG leaders. The actives must not be related to your position within the company, i.e. not being paid for evangelizing VMware. A VMware employee reference is recommended if your activities weren’t all in public.
Partner Path
The VPN Path is for employees of our partner companies who lead with passion and by example, who are committed to continuous learning through accreditations and certifications and to making their technical knowledge and expertise available to many. This can take shape of event participation, video, IP generation, as well as public speaking engagements.
VMUG & VCDX
If you are an active VMUG Leader or hold the title of VCDX you will qualify for the vExpert award. VMUG leaders are verified through the VCDX directory. VMUG leader titles and activities are also verified and you must be an active leader in your chapter. Inactive VMUG leaders will not qualify for the award. To apply via VMUG or VCDX, please use the evangelist path and state you are a VCDX or VMUG leader and which chapter. All VCDX applicants will be verified via vcdx.vmware.com.
