Photo by Andreas Kind on Unsplash

Last year I had the honor to attend and present at VMware Explore. It was my first time presenting in such a large conference, and I didn’t go with just one session. I delivered five sessions in a span of three days.

In this blog post, I will go through why I chose to go to VMware Explore, how I managed to deliver five sessions, and what my overall experience was like.

Starting with the WHY

VMware Explore is one of the premier events in the tech industry, particularly for those of us who are deeply involved in virtualization and cloud infrastructure. The conference attracts a diverse audience of industry experts, practitioners, and decision-makers from around the world. I saw this as a unique opportunity to share my insights, learn from others, and engage with a community that is passionate about pushing the boundaries of technology.

One of the main reasons I chose VMware Explore was the depth of the topics covered. The technical expertise of the participants and the speakers alike. 2023 was my second time attending , and I already feel the belongingness.

Delivering the Sessions

Honestly, delivering five sessions in the span of three days was not a walk in the park. However the real challenge lies with the preparation especially as a first timer to the show. Anxiety kicks in and imposter syndrome may give you a visit. What proved to help me greatly, was to lean on my fellow VMware vExpert and ask them to go through the content I prepared to make sure that my story was coherent and if they had advice.

Here’s the list of the five sessions I presented at 2023 VMware vExpert Barcelona:

Session#1:

Session Type: VMTN Community Session Title: Automating Storage Lifecycle Management for Azure VMware Solution

Session#2:

Session Type: VMTN Community Session Title: Continuous Data Replication (CDR) to Azure VMware Solution With Pure Storage ActiveDR

Session#3:

Session Type: Breakout Session Title: Eliminate Storage Imbalance in VMware Cloud with Pure Cloud Block Store Link to recording

Session#4:

Session Type: VMTN Community Session Title: PowerShell Modules for Backup/Restore vVols Based Windows VMs

Session#5:

Session Type: Theater Session Title: Protecting VMware Infrastructure Anywhere with Azure VMware Solution and Pure Storage

Sadly theater sessions do not get recorded. However, a picture is my best proof that I was there ;)

Would I do it again?

Presenting at VMware Explore was an exhilarating and rewarding experience. The level of engagement and enthusiasm from the attendees was phenomenal. It was inspiring to see so many professionals eager to learn and share their knowledge.

One of the highlights of the event were the networking opportunities. I had the chance to connect with industry leaders, fellow presenters, and attendees from various backgrounds. These interactions opened up new avenues for collaboration and sparked several ideas for future projects.

Additionally, attending other sessions and exploring the exhibition floor allowed me to gain new perspectives on emerging technologies and trends. It was a reminder of how rapidly our field is evolving and the importance of staying informed and adaptable.

Thank you for reading about my journey. If you have any questions or want to share your own experiences, feel free to leave a comment below or message on LinkedIn!

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