I wish I could recognize everyone that supports and participates in our VCDX events, mentoring, workshops, and everything else. For this post, I’ll just highlight our VMworld events.
Once again, the VCDX had a strong presence. We delivered VCDX Workshops, a Town Hall, and participated in the vExpert party. And I got a chance to meet many of the VCDXs, as well as those preparing, at the San Francisco venue.
Workshop
At each Workshop, held prior to the event, we had up to 75 registered. We encountered a unique problem at the San Francisco event, when a tractor trailer crash brought down power lines across the freeways that led to our venue. Many got stuck in the traffic, or sat for hours waiting for it to clear up. So the numbers were fewer, but those who attended learned from Nate Raper (in the US) and Aidan Dalgleish and Joe Silvagi (in Barcelona), as they delivered a very informative and fun session. Several current VCDXs were in attendance at both venues and shared their experience and wisdom to those pursuing the certification.
Breakout Session
At each event, we also held a panel session during the conference. Aidan led a panel of VCDXs, including Matt Vandenbeld, Jason Nash, Simon Long, and Duncan Epping, who answered questions lobbied at them from both Aidan and attendees. The questions came fast and long enough, that we weren’t able to get to all of them. In the US, we had to be literally kicked out of the room so the next session could start!
Town Hall
The Town Hall, held at the US event, also provided some great opportunities for the VCDXs to network, learn, and offer advice to VMware leaders. We were privileged to once again have Pat Gelsinger speak to us. And he wore his VCDX shirt! Pat shared roadmap information and inspired us with the direction VMware was heading in, as well as answered questions from the attendees. It was a great segue to the next panel, with VMware’s key CTOs and leaders, Ray O’Farrell, Chris Wolf, Paul Strong and Guido Appenzeller. And not to be outdone, we got the chance to host an Education Leadership panel, with our VP of Education and PSO, Sundar Nagarathnam, as well as Nidhish Mittal, Paul Sorensen, and myself. Each panel provided a chance to hear about directions we’re going in (look for the upcoming new policy page on vcdx.vmware.com), as well as an opportunity to ask questions of key players in our company.
vExpert Gathering
And then we got to relax. With our latest connection with vExperts, where every VCDX is awarded the vExpert status, we all got to join the vExpert party and eat, network with each other, and just relax a bit. It was at this party where the new VMware Learning Zone benefit was announced, where every VCDX is receiving the premium subscription to our video learning library. If you’re a VCDX, and haven’t received your invite, let us know!
Overall, there were several opportunities for the VCDX program, to not only network with each other and learn, but also to create a better, stronger presence to those in attendance. We had over 120 attend the certification presentation in our booths, where they heard and learned about VCDX.
Thanks to everyone who participated, supported, or attended these events. Looking forward to next year!
