Program Introduction

The VMware vExpert program is VMware’s global evangelism and advocacy program initiative that awards individuals who have made significant community contributions to the VMware ecosystem. The program is designed to put VMware's marketing resources towards vExpert advocacy efforts. This recognition award is not a technical certification, it's awarded based on your community contributions. vExpert awards are for individuals, not companies, and last for one program year (Feb to Jan). Employees of both customers and partners can receive the awards. During the application process, we evaluate a range of community contributions from the previous year to determine award recipients.

How and When Apply for vExpert

You can update/edit your application year-round, except during the voting period. When we announce the vExpert Application Submission Period is open, this means there is a window of time to finalize your application. The submission period end date is the day we lock applications start voting. vExpert PROs assist applicants in preparing their vExpert applications for approval. You can find and work with a vExpert PRO in your area by visiting the vExpert PRO directory. We also reccomend that you review the vExpert Best Practice Guide. The guide covers what you should include and keep out of your application and appeal.

What are Community Contributions?

Community contributions refer to activities that extend beyond your work or job role and are significant and relevant to VMware. These contributions go above and beyond your regular work responsibilities. Examples of community contributions include Blogging, Hosting or Co-Hosting Podcasts, Session Speaking, Webinars, Authoring, Co-Authoring Books or Publications, Sharing Scripts, Video Publishing, VMTN or other Community Forum Participation (answering questions), VMTN Moderator, VCDX, Active VMUG Leadership, Active VMUG Steering Committee Contributions and more. We have some vExperts who contribute on a single platform or participate in various platforms and or activities.

Application Submission Periods

Applications are open year-round, we only review them twice per year. Before we review applications, we open the application submission period. This period, which is usually 30 days is when it's time to go in and finalize your application. Make sure all of the details are there and pretend we don't know you or what you do so outline everything you can that's community related.

We offer two submission periods: The second submission period provides an opportunity for those who missed the initial application or did not receive the award during the first submission period. The second gives those who didn't make it a chance to enhance their community activities and reapply, rather than waiting for a year.

In December we have a submission period that ends in mid-January, during this period you have time to finalize your application before the submission end date. At the end of the submission period, we lock applications and the start voting on you previous year contributions. Voting last for a few weeks until we announce the winners of the vExpert award. All applicants are sent a decision by email, and we allow for application appeals for 2 weeks after the program is announced.

vExpert Program Benefits

• Network with over 1,500 vExperts from 77 countries.
• Opportunity to apply for 9 Official VMware Business Unit lead vExpert sub programs.
• Invite to our private vExpert #Slack channels.
• vExpert certificate signed by our VMware CEO.
• Permission to use the vExpert logo on cards, website, etc. for one year.
• Exclusive gifts from various VMware and VMware partners.
• Private & technical deep dive webinars with VMware and VMware partners.
• Access to private betas (subject to admission by beta teams).
• 400-day eval licenses for most products for home lab.
• Private pre-launch briefings via our bloggers briefing pre-VMware Explore (subject to admission by product teams).
• Featured in a public vExpert online directory/
• Access to vetted VMware & Virtualization content for your social channels through VMware Advocacy.
• Yearly vExpert parties at both VMware Explore U.S. Europe events or Gifts for vExperts attending VMware Explore.

Apply for the vExpert 2024 Award

The vExpert Program ("Program") is a marketing program designed by VMware to reward community members for evangelizing VMware's products and services. The program has grown to nearly 1,300 recipients, and VMware wishes to be clear that it may and will exercise its discretion with respect to which individuals may participate in the Program. Our goal is to promote actions consistent with the Program’s mission. Accordingly, we will assess whether an individual may participate in the program based not only on their own activity in evangelizing VMware products and services, but also on the activities of the company (or division within the company) that employs the individual.