VMware vExpert 2025 – Year 6

VMware vExpert 2025

It is official; I have been awarded VMware vExpert 2025 for the 6th year.

My first application was in 2020, and I was accepted, so I continued to apply again in the following years. This time around, I used the VMUG Leader Path for 2025. As luck would have it, I was accepted for 2025, another year in a great program.

I just wanted to highlight what it takes to be a vExpert and the official benefits; however, the non-official benefits of resources and career growth are what I feel most benefitted me from the program. Nothing can beat the vCommunity out there, and networking with your peers on anything IT-related, not just VMware-specific, is another excellent benefit.

Qualifications for the vExpert Award

To qualify for the vExpert award, you must actively share your VMware expertise with the community. For the 2025H2 (2025 Second Half) award, judges will review your content from the previous year, 2024 and 2025 until the day of voting.

vExpert Program Benefits

• One-year complimentary VMUG Advantage subscription.
• 3-year VCF or VVF license for home lab use (Dependent on passing your VCP-VCF or VCP-VVF exam)
• 50% off exams.
• Network with over 1,300 vExperts from 77 countries.
• The opportunity to apply for the VMware Business Unit lead vExpert sub-program.
• Invite to our private vExpert communication channels.
• Permission to use the vExpert logo on cards, websites, etc., for one year.
• Private & technical deep-dive webinars with VMware and VMware partners.
• Access to private betas (subject to admission by beta teams).
• 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 Community Leadership Reception at VMware Explore U.S.

Which Path Should you Apply for?

Evangelist Path
The Evangelist Path includes book authors, bloggers, tool builders, public speakers, VMTN contributors, and other IT professionals who share their knowledge and passion with others by leveraging a personal public platform to reach many people. VMware employees can also apply via the Evangelist path. A VMware employee reference is recommended if your activities weren’t all public.

Customer Path
The Customer Path is for leaders who evangelize VMware. We are looking for passionate customers who do the work to evangelize within their organization or who have worked with VMware to build success stories, act as customer references, give public interviews, speak at conferences, or were VMUG leaders. The activities must not be related to your position within the company, i.e., you must not be paid for evangelizing VMware. A VMware employee reference is recommended if your activities weren’t all in public.

Partner Path
The VPN Path is for employees of our partner companies who lead with passion and by example, who are committed to continuous learning through accreditations and certifications, and who make their technical knowledge and expertise available to many. This can take the form of event participation, video, IP generation, or public speaking engagements.

VMUG & VCDX

If you are an active VMUG Leader or hold the title of VCDX, you will qualify for the vExpert award. VMUG leaders are verified through the VCDX directory. VMUG leader titles and activities are also verified, and you must be an active leader in your chapter. Inactive VMUG leaders will not qualify for the award. To apply via VMUG or VCDX, please use the evangelist path and state that you are a VCDX or VMUG leader and which chapter. All VCDX applicants will be verified via vcdx.vmware.com.

To apply, you need to enter vexpert.vmware.com in your browser. If it is for the first time, you need to create an account, and then you can apply. If you need any help with your application, you can always contact a vExpert PRO. They will assist you with using it and explain the best way to apply to the program.

There are some paths you can apply for the vExpert program that are auto-approval categories:

Auto-Approve Categories

Book Authors: Published book authors and co-authors from the previous year are auto-approved but must still apply.
VCDX Certification: VCDX certification holders are auto-approved but must still apply.
VMTN or Reddit Moderator: After verification, moderators are auto-approved but must still apply.
VMUG Leadership: Active VMUG leaders are auto-approved but must still apply.

Congratulations to all those awarded the vExpert 2025, and welcome to the newcomers.  Don’t be shy about reaching out and asking questions on the Discord channel.

If you did not apply when the applications were opened at the end of 2024, you can apply again in the vExpert 2025 second-half applications, which should be open around June/July.

My vExpert page: vExpert – Chris Childerhose

My VMware forum page: VMware Forums – Chris Childerhose

My VMware Blogs: VMware Blog Posts

VMware Advocacy Program: https://advocacy.vmware.com/