Attending VMware explore 2025 Las Vegas

My First Time in the USA: VMware Explore 2025 in Las Vegas

Arriving in Las Vegas for VMware Explore 2025 was nothing short of incredible. It was my first time visiting the USA, and stepping off the plane into the neon glow of the city felt surreal. The iconic Strip, with its giant hotels, bright lights, and of course the mesmerizing Sphere, made a jaw-dropping first impression.

Monday, August 25 – Kicking Off the Experience

The conference kicked off with incredible energy. Monday was packed with engaging sessions, hands-on learning, and plenty of time to explore the conference center.

The first day of a conference always brings a special buzz seeing what Broadcom VMware had prepared did not disappoint. Beyond the usual sessions, there were countless activities to enjoy: fun event games with great prizes, classic arcade games, and even a puppy park where attendees could relax and cuddle with adorable dogs.

I attended several sessions, and one standout was “Adopt VMware vSAN the Right Way” with Pete Koehler and John Nicholson. It was an excellent technical deep dive, and the presenters’ dynamic made it both informative and fun to follow. I especially enjoyed their explanation of system bottlenecks how high throughput in one area doesn’t matter if the next stage can’t handle the load. The analogy was clear and practical, making the concept easy to grasp.

Another highlight was the “Modern-Day Explorer Showcase: Exploring Unknown Territories—From Space to Sentience.” While not directly VMware-related, it featured three fascinating speakers from different fields: Mike Massimino (the astronaut), Hod Lipson (AI researcher), and Kate Darling (MIT expert in robot ethics).

Mike shared his journey to becoming an astronaut and gave us a glimpse into life in space.
Hod walked us through the evolution of AI—how far it has come and where it’s headed.
Kate explored the ethics of robotics, presenting thought-provoking experiments in a lighthearted way.

Even though the session wasn’t focused on VMware, it encouraged us to reflect on the future of technology and its broader impact.

We wrapped up the day at the welcome reception in the hub, a great chance to connect with partners, enjoy good food, and share drinks.

Overall, it was a fantastic first day, and I’m excited for what the rest of the week will bring.

Tuesday, August 26 – key note, connections, and big moments

Tuesday kicked off with something we had all been waiting for—the keynote. I won’t go into detail here since I’ve already written a full post about it (link to post here), but I can say this much: it was the perfect way to start the day.

After the keynote, we headed over to the hub to try out the Odyssey competition. I’m not very familiar with VCF 9, so my qualification round didn’t go all that well, but my colleague Erik did an excellent job! The finals are happening on Wednesday, with the top eight qualifiers competing. It was such a great initiative, and it definitely motivated me to do more hands-on labs before the next VMware Explore so I can perform better in Odyssey next time.

Following Odyssey, we had two sessions lined up: “Ask Us Anything – Community Legends” and “Ask Me Anything – Education & Certification.” Both were very interactive, sitting in a circle, asking questions, having open discussions, and getting insightful answers. It was also a real highlight to meet some VMware legends in person: Duncan Epping, William Lam, and Tim Burkard (aka Gandalf).

Another personal highlight was meeting Corey Romero, the lead for vExperts. Since this is my first year as a vExpert attending VMware Explore, it was special to meet him in person.

We wrapped up the day at the VMUG reception, which was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the broader VMware community. I met new friends, strengthened existing connections, and really felt the sense of belonging in the community. To top it all off, Hoctan even showed up in person, and we got the chance to say hello.

Wednesday, August 27 – Finals, Celebrations, and Growth

By Wednesday, the energy was still going strong. I kicked off the day by trying one of the new VCF certifications. A fun bonus was that VMware handed out exclusive sneakers to those who passed. I’ve included a picture below showing off the shoes.

After the certification, I joined the Odyssey finals, cheering on Erik and the other participants. It was inspiring to watch a group of experts competing in a VMware lab, solving brand-new challenges on the spot. Their skills and quick thinking were truly motivating.

Later in the day, we attended several sessions. One of my favorites was “Level Up and Get Certified! Customer VCP Experiences” with Maarten Van Driessen, Matt Heldstab, and Dave Simpson. The session brought a fun, fresh perspective on certifications and practical tips for preparing. Since certifications play such a big role in consulting, it was great to hear updates on the latest tracks and effective study approaches. Below is a list of the new certifications:

VCP – VMware vSphere Foundation Support (2V0-18.25)
VCP – VMware Cloud Foundation Architect (2V0-13.25)
VCP – VMware vSphere Foundation Administrator (2V0-16.25)
VCP – VMware Cloud Foundation Administrator (2V0-17.25)
VCP – VMware Cloud Foundation Support (2V0-15.25)

The day wrapped up with the VMware Explore Party. Held on the pool deck at The Palazzo, the evening was filled with music, lights, food, and drinks. At one point, synchronized swimmers surprised us with a performance, a truly unique touch. It was the perfect way to end an incredible week.

More Than Just a Conference

Looking back, VMware Explore was so much more than sessions, keynotes, and technology. It was an incredible team building journey. Traveling, learning, and celebrating together strengthened the connection with my colleagues, while also deepening my connection to the VMware community. Truly an unforgettable experience.