A few days ago I got the email that I’d been named a VMware vExpert for 2026.
First year.
I won’t pretend I played it cool. I was genuinely excited.
If you know me, you also know I’m not big on self-promotion. I’m not wired to chase badges or stack logos in a bio. So writing a post about an award feels a little uncomfortable.
But this one means something.
Why It Matters (To Me)
The vExpert program isn’t about passing an exam or holding a title. It’s about contributing to the VMware community — sharing what you’re learning, helping others understand changes, and being active in the ecosystem.
That part feels natural.
Most of my day is spent deep in VMware platforms — vSphere, VCF, vSAN, APIs, authentication shifts, snapshot behavior, lifecycle changes — and more importantly, how those things affect real environments. I work closely with engineering and partner teams, but I also spend a lot of time in my own labs breaking things on purpose.
I’ve always believed this:
Documentation tells you what should happen.
Labs tell you what actually happens.
When something changes in VMware, I want to understand:
- Does this impact real-world operations?
- Does it break assumptions customers rely on?
- What are we not talking about yet?
That’s the stuff I enjoy writing about. Not marketing summaries — but practical, technical clarity.
This Ecosystem Is Changing Fast
Let’s be honest — the VMware world isn’t static right now.
VCF is becoming central. Authentication models are evolving. APIs are shifting. Some legacy behaviors are being deprecated. There’s a lot of architectural movement happening under the surface.
That creates opportunity.
It also creates confusion.
If I can use this platform to help simplify what’s actually changing — and why it matters — then I’m doing what I should be doing.
Gratitude
I’m grateful to the engineers, PMs, architects, and practitioners I interact with daily. A lot of the conversations I have behind the scenes are what shape what I share publicly.
And congratulations to everyone else in the 2026 vExpert class. It’s a strong community, and I’m proud to be part of it.
Now… back to the lab.