The Communities Lounge is the main place for the VMware community to meet and reconnect at Explore, right at the center of the event.
I like to think of it as one of the great train stations of old cities. It carries a timeless feeling: the place where journeys cross, where you meet faces you’ve missed for years, and where new encounters begin.
Beyond a stop on your Explore journey, this station is alive with energy. Time doesn’t run too fast here because every conversation, every reconnection, every new friendship makes you want to stay as long as you can. For three days only, the main hearts and minds of the VMware community gather in one place, sharing ideas, stories, and the kind of moments that don’t happen anywhere else. And for all those reasons, it’s the place you’ll remember most when you look back.
What Awaits You in the Communities Lounge:
· Blogger Tables: Pull up a chair, meet the voices you read online, and join unfiltered conversations that rarely happen on a stage.
Even while bloggers are around, the Lounge stays open. Drop in whenever it works for you.
· Meetups and Informal AMAs: from vExperts to first-timers, spontaneous and scheduled gatherings happen all week long.
Monday, August 25:
- vExperts Gathering
Mon, Aug 25 • 1:00–2:30 PM PDT • Community Lounge
Swap stories, ask questions, and reconnect. (Confirmed vExperts on the list can pick up swag.) - Ask Us Anything — VMTN Moderators (Edward Haletky & Pawel Piotrowski)
Mon, Aug 25 • 2:00–3:00 PM PDT • Community Lounge
Two decades of perspective on how VMware’s community has grown and adapted.
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- Pre-Hackathon Meetup
Mon, Aug 25 • 6:00–7:00 PM PDT • Communities Lounge, The Hub, Hall B/C
Kick off Hackathon week with our Pre-Hackathon Community Meetup! Join moderators, contributors, and Hackathon participants for an hour of networking, introductions, and warm-up conversations.
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Tuesday, August 26:
- Ask Us Anything: VMware Community Legends (Duncan Epping & William Lam)
Tue, Aug 26 • 11:00 AM–12:00 PM PDT • Community Lounge
Open Q&A on VCF 9, careers, and the community.
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- AMA — Tim Burkard (“vGandalf”): Certifications, Education & Careers
Tue, Aug 26 • 2:00–3:00 PM PDT • Community Lounge
Practical tips you won’t find on a slide deck.
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Wednesday, August 27:
- vGandalf Returns — Certifications, Careers, What’s Next in Education
Wed, Aug 27 • 2:00–3:00 PM PDT • Community Lounge
Another chance to dive deep into certifications and career paths.
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- AMA — Tuan Nguyen: VCF 9.0 Security Essentials
Wed, Aug 27 • 3:00–4:00 PM PDT • Community Lounge
Security essentials for VCF 9.0.
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(Some invite-only sessions also take place on Wednesday, but the Lounge stays open for everyone.)
Your Station, Your Story
Like a station that never closes, the Communities Lounge is always open for you. Comfortable seats, charging stations, and open tables make it easy to settle in, but it’s the people who make you want to stay.
This is where conversations stretch longer than you planned, where old friends feel close again, and where new voices remind you that the journey is far from over. Are you going to miss the train?
The community is waiting for you. This is your last chance to secure your pass — register now and join us at VMware Explore in Las Vegas: Link
