EMC World 2016 – First timer!

I was fortunate enough to attend this year’s EMC World 2016 event in Las Vegas. It was my first time. I have attended other technology conferences but this one stands out more than the others. Big news, big presentations, vLabs, great Solutions Expo and entertainment.

Of course, the first general session had to address the DELL/EMC merger. It was very interesting and informative. As someone who uses a variety of EMC products, my hope, as with many of you, is that the level of support and product lines stays true to its origins. As I walked the expo floor and visited with other EMC staff, you could tell they are concerned, too. I stopped at one location where I answered the EMC survey on how you feel about the merger. As I selected my answer the EMC staff person witnessed my response that I do have concerns. He then asked me about them. My big concern is that with this size of a merger, services are typically combined at some point. I have a good working relationship with our EMC folks and would hate to see this change abruptly. I am sure it will change, but I hope it is a long and gradual process.

I thoroughly enjoyed attending several of the technology sessions. The presenters had a very good grasp of the knowledge that they shared. They were also very approachable. The question and answer part of the sessions was great. The dialogue between the person asking the questions and the presenter was just as much a learning experience as the material that was covered. I only attended one roundtable session and wish I would have attended more.

Let me tell you about my vLab experience: it was AWESOME! I chose labs that had features or products I was not familiar with. The instructions were pretty good. I was able to complete each lab in the time allotted. The most impressive piece is that the labs ran smoothly. One of the best virtual lab experiences I have ever had, thanks Shawn Curby and Chris Hendrick from EMC.

The Solutions Expo had many different areas that piqued my interest. Some of the presentations here were just as good as the general sessions. There were lots of fun people to visit and share your experiences with. Of course there was some fun and games, along with great food. And what a great concert on the last night featuring Fitz and the Tantrums followed by Duran Duran. This was lots of fun.

While attending and participating at EMC World, I kept thinking to myself, “There are some really smart people here.” The wide variety of topics and the knowledge sharing can really inspire a person. It has been a little over ten days and I am still thinking of what lessons I have learned. It was a great experience and I hope I get to attend another one in the future.