Can you believe VMworld 2019 US is right around the corner? And this year, we’re excited to take the event back to the City by the Bay: San Francisco! Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s start by saying that VMworld is a wonderful compilation of learning, innovation and networking. From must-see keynotes to Hands-on Labs, VMworld 2019 has everything you could ever want from a conference. But before you get onsite, here is my ‘know before you go’ guide to get you started.
Pack smart and stretch!
Before I get into VMworld, allow me to make one recommendation: please pack your best running shoes. San Francisco is hilly and with over 800 keynotes, Hands-on Labs and more, I can promise you’ll be running from place to place trying to cram everything in.
But of even greater importance than strong shoes is a thorough plan. With hundreds of learning opportunities available, pick priorities to make the most of your VMworld experience. And in my opinion, no session should be given a higher priority than this year’s Digital Workspace Keynote.
Digital Workspace Keynote: Becoming a Champion of Digital Employee Experience
When: Monday, Aug. 26, 3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
[button link=”https://my.vmworld.com/widget/vmware/vmworld19us/us19catalog?search=DW3459KU&search.digitalworkspace=15513138167780046gOm”] Register for the Digital Workspace Keynote HERE[/button]
In the Digital Workspace Keynote, Shankar Iyer, SVP and GM of VMware End User Computing, and I will explain the value of an excellent employee experience, breaking down what this means and how to get started. We’ll highlight a few key stats, like how organizations with excellent employee experiences see higher growth and are more competitive, before diving into the ways in which IT professionals can elevate their careers and become strategic business partners as champions of the employee experience. I’m always excited for our keynotes, but this year feels especially important given the growing role of IT at the decision-makers’ table. Need one more reason to register ASAP? A few lucky winners who attend the Digital Workspace Keynote will win big! We’re giving away:
• Two Galaxy Tab S5E – Android Tablets
• Two Surface Go Laptops
• Three VMworld 2020 Passes
If you only attend one VMworld 2019 session, I’d argue strongly that this should be it.
Top EUC Sessions VMworld 2019
I’d also argue, however, that going to just one VMworld 2019 session is a missed opportunity. It’s rare that you can learn from and ask questions of world-renowned experts in any field. At VMworld, this is our privilege. That said, there are so many options that picking the right ones can be hard for even the most dedicated VMworld fan. So, here are some top picks after you register for the Digital Workspace Keynote. Take a look at the must-see actionable Horizon sessions and top Workspace ONE sessions.
VMworld Networking Events
After the Digital Workspace Keynote, we’ll head to MaSO Restaurant & Bar at the Park Central for a Digital Workspace Customer Reception with Apple. From 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM, join your peers and representatives from VMware to share drinks, discuss sessions and enjoy a relaxing San Francisco evening. Make sure you register.
After quenching your thirst, I’d recommend the Design Thinking Lab for the Experience-Led Enterprise from 2 PM to 4 PM on Tuesday. We’ll explore IT interests around cost reduction, enterprise mobility management and unified endpoint management with the goal of improving employee productivity, engagement and retention. I’m particularly excited for this workshop because it’s so actionable—you can take what you learn directly into work right away.
Wednesday provides us with a few excellent but overlapping options. From 5 PM to 7 PM, join a community of women who are driving digital workspace transformation in the Women of Workspace panel and networking event. Panelists and attendees will discuss strategies to overcome workplace challenges and lift other women up in a male-dominated field. Also from 5 PM to 7 PM, Brian Madden is hosting a series of short, unfiltered, and community-led technical talks from EUC-industry thought leaders. We’ll provide snacks, beer and a stage, but you’ll provide the content. If you’ve got a presentation idea, we want to hear it, so don’t wait to register! That goes for the rest of the highlighted sessions as well—spots are filling up fast!
EUC Hands-On Experiences
If you’ve been to VMworld before, you also know there’s far more than just presentations and keynotes. The Hands-on Labs and workshops are some of the most engaging and can be taken either self-paced or expert-led.
EUC Industry Sessions
This year, we also have four industry-specific sessions, covering Healthcare, Retail, Government and Financial Services. Combined with deep-dive technical sessions and useful Horizon and Workspace ONE sessions, it’s clear finding something of an interest will never be a problem.
In fact, the opposite is far more likely. That’s why I encourage you to start planning today. See you at VMworld!
