When Brenda Emerson talks about technology, it’s rarely in the abstract. Whether it’s cloud strategy, digital channels, or the VMware User Group that she leads, she always comes back to people: how they connect, how they solve problems together, and how they move each other forward.
Her people-first mindset isn’t surprising. Emerson is the chief information officer at Carrollton Bank, a community bank in the midwestern United States. She’s also president of the VMware User Group (VMUG) Board of Directors, the first woman to hold that title. Her leadership style reflects her deep understanding of what it means to serve her customers, colleagues and community.
“Community is really important,” Emerson said during an interview at this year’s VMUG UserCon event in the Netherlands. “That connectedness. As I was watching this event, you could see that people still want to show up in person and have conversations and network.”
That emphasis on showing up is something Emerson lives out daily, whether she’s working out of her bank’s office in St. Louis, commuting from her home in Columbia, Mo., or flying halfway around the world to attend a VMUG event in Europe. It’s about connection.
From the Bank Floor to the VMUG Stage
Carrollton Bank is a fifth-generation, family-owned bank headquartered in Carrollton, Ill., with most of its operations in metro St. Louis. With $3.5 billion in assets, the bank serves small and midsize businesses, everything from tech startups to manufacturing shops and farms.
As CIO, Emerson leads Carrollton’s technology strategy. That includes managing hybrid cloud infrastructure, securing mobile banking platforms, and overseeing compliance with strict financial regulations.
“Running IT on-premises is great, but it can be very difficult,” Emerson said. “You have to have the right people, and security is important, especially when you’re talking about private customer information and money.”
Carrollton relies heavily on private cloud services to navigate those challenges, often working with partners who are also VMware customers. “The public cloud can be a challenge for the examiners, due to its many complexities,” Emerson explained. “So, more of us are using private cloud services with our banking partners, and many of them also use VMware solutions.”
Leading Through Change
That focus on innovation and reliability is also something she brings to her role as VMUG president.
Emerson joined the VMUG Board in 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic, a particularly challenging time to take on a leadership role in an organization built upon in-person engagement. But she embraced it.
Now in her second year as president, she’s continuing to help VMUG members navigate a new era following Broadcom’s acquisition of VMware in 2023. As users adapt to a new private cloud platform like VMware Cloud Foundation, VMUG’s role has become more important than ever.
One of the key advantages VMUG offers its members is real-world, peer-driven problem-solving.
“I love these events because I’m finding out how people are solving problems in industries that are not mine,” she said. “I’ve been doing banking for a long time, but I love to go and listen to how a university’s solving a problem. Or how healthcare is solving a problem. Interestingly enough, in technology, we all have similar problems.”
Secret Sauce: Community and Clout
With more than 150,000 members worldwide across 230 local communities, VMUG is one of the largest independent tech user groups on the planet. Emerson said the people and the networking are its “secret sauce.” VMUG is where VMware enthusiasts become VMware advocates.
“We care about VMware technology, we’re passionate about it, and we help tell that story to our organizations and our peers,” she said.
That advocacy has gotten a boost over the past 18 months from Broadcom President and CEO Hock Tan, who has made appearances at several VMUG events, including the recent regional VMUG Connect event in St. Louis.
“When people hear directly from Hock, it gives them credibility,” she said. “They go back to their organizations with more knowledge and more clout. That’s a big deal.”
Learning Across Borders
In March, Emerson flew to the Netherlands for the biggest VMUG event globally.
“I love this event,” she said as she sat in the central hall where dozens of VMUG members were socializing and comparing notes. “Love the fact that there’s lots of space for networking, but also access to the vendors. When Brad asked if I wanted to go, I’m like, ‘Yeah! I want to see the most successful UserCon!”
That’s Brad Tompkins, executive director of VMUG and a fan of Brenda Emerson.
"As we all navigate the constant shifts in the IT industry, Brenda’s willingness to challenge the status quo is welcome and needed,” Tompkins said. “She keeps members top of mind, not only in what they are asking from VMUG but what they need from VMUG to be successful."
The global nature of VMUG has always been one of its strengths. Even as Emerson brings her knowledge of the American banking and tech scene, she’s quick to point out the value of learning from others in the community.
“It’s important to get out of our own space and listen to other people in other industries,” she said. “It challenges us in the best way. We’re all better when we work collectively together.”
A Bright Future
Looking ahead, Emerson is optimistic.
“I’m really excited about 2025 because I feel like there’s a go-forward vision for Broadcom, a go-forward vision for VMUG,” she said. “The partnership is very strong. We’re seeing it within the business units, we’re seeing that with Hock. I think that’s really positive. The future’s bright.”
And while some analysts and pundits predicted customer defections after the Broadcom acquisition, many customers have embraced Broadcom’s focus on innovation . Emerson sees that as a testament to the value VMware solutions continue to deliver, and the role VMUG plays in helping customers understand it.
As Emerson helps write VMUG’s next chapter, her vision for the organization is one of inclusivity, innovation, and shared success. Indeed, VMUG is clearly more than just a user group: It’s a community of practitioners, knowledge seekers, and advocates working to shape the future of cloud technology.
Interested in connecting with the VMUG community or attending an upcoming event? Visit www.vmug.com to learn more.