Esri Young Professionals Network Blog

Are you a student or an emerging GIS professional looking to make a real-world impact? Want to dive into a field brimming with opportunities and contribute to a more sustainable future?

Then buckle up, because the intersection of GIS (Geographic Information System) and Agriculture is where the action is! Forget abstract concepts – we're diving deep into the practical workflows and applications that are revolutionizing how we grow our food

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What starts as a high school elective sometimes turns into a lifelong passion. For Becky Schneider, one early introduction to GIS sparked an unexpected journey into the world of lidar, remote sensing, and federal geospatial programs. Now leading federal aerial initiatives, Becky reflects on how a love for geography - and a few bold career moves - led to meaningful work at the intersection of data, technology, and people.

Curious about where a career in geospatial science can take you? Whether you're just starting out, exploring lidar and photogrammetry, or considering a leap into the public or private sector, Becky's story offers inspiration, insight, and advice for finding your place in this fast-evolving field.

Ever wonder what kinds of community events Geospatial Scientists want to see? Well, look no further than your imagination! Events are key components in networking and a break in a busy day. Here is how I, a graduate student, fostering community with my University and the greater GIS Community.

Sarah Zimmer shares her journey as a GIS professional, specifically as a Solution Engineer at Esri, focusing on the AEC industry. She discusses her passion for environmental science, education, internships, and the skills necessary for success in the field. 

Your first GIS job isn’t what school prepared you for. It’s where you learn how to work with broken data, undocumented workflows, and real deadlines. Here’s what I wish I knew before stepping into the field.

From community college to coding and GIS, this is my story of resilience, growth, and how the 2025 FedGIS Conference helped me connect the dots between computer science and meaningful real-world impact.

GIS conference attendance has been a profoundly transformative part of my career. Each instance has provided learning and networking opportunities and has also been a catalyst for professional development.

From the GIS-Pro Conference to the Esri User Conference or local meetups, these events have the power to inspire and motivate you and to guide your career in directions you might never have considered.

Are you looking to enhance your GIS skills and make a significant impact early on in your career? Join Esri's no-cost Make an Impact with Modern Geo Apps course and learn how to build modern geo apps without writing a single line of code—a truly impressive and valuable skill to learn!

Young professionals will benefit from the course's flexible, interactive learning environment. Each week will focus on a different modern geo app: ArcGIS Instant Apps, ArcGIS StoryMaps, ArcGIS Dashboards, and ArcGIS Experience Builder. 

My name is Olivia Koch, I’m an upcoming undergraduate at the University of Rhode Island majoring in Environmental Science and Management, and I want to share why I think it is fundamental to attend one of Esri’s GIS conferences as an aspiring GIS professional. 

This is my experience volunteering at the 2025 Federal GIS Conference representing Esri as a Student Assistant, my major takeaways, the best advice I learned, and steps you can take after reading this blog to become more involved in the GIS community! 

My GIS journey began with a light table in a geology undergraduate remote sensing course.

In remote sensing, I learned that different bands of satellite imagery—each capturing a distinct part of the electromagnetic spectrum, from visible light to infrared—could reveal details that traditional fieldwork couldn’t, like vegetation health or water content.

Here is my pathway to remote sensing and GIS and I hope this encourages you to chase your dreams!