Esri Young Professionals Network Blog

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!

As we celebrate Women's Herstory Month, we reflect on the pioneering work of Louise Jefferson, a visionary cartographer whose artistic precision and geographic storytelling helped shape how we visualize space and history. Her contributions continue to inspire modern GIS professionals, reinforcing the power of mapping as a tool for representation and change.

As a Student Assistant at the Esri Federal GIS Conference 2025, I had the incredible opportunity to network with industry leaders, dive into advanced technical sessions, and gain firsthand experience in event operations.

From learning new spatial analysis techniques to connecting with professionals in Homeland Security, Crime Analysis, and Geospatial Intelligence, this experience was truly unforgettable.

Join me as I reflect on the lessons, connections, and inspiration I gained at FedGIS 2025!

In the world of work, fostering a strong relationship with your manager is key to personal growth and career success.

Let's explore the art of 'managing up:' discover practical strategies to align with your manager's goals, enhance communication, and drive mutual success. Learn how taking initiative and offering solutions can set you apart as a valuable team member.

Elevate your professional relationships and career growth by mastering the art of managing up!

As a young professional or student, it is important to find ways to maintain and advance your ArcGIS and GIS knowledge and skills. Esri Academy is an amazing resource with thousands of trainings for ArcGIS and GIS, but what does that entail?

As you look through the course catalog, you will see a variety of trainings and courses covering everything and anything GIS and ArcGIS.  Whether you want to take a course with an instructor or sneak in a seminar during lunch, Esri Academy has it!  The different formats can help you learn in the way that is best for you and your busy schedule. Let’s dive-in to the different training formats.

Starting a new GIS department at an existing company is unpredictable. Use these clues to set realistic expectations for yourself and your company. 

There are 2 “who’s” to consider when you are discovering what your GIS department will become.

1. Who will support you
2. Who will be using your systems

My name is Olivia Koch, I’m an undergraduate student at the University of Rhode Island studying Environmental Science and Management, and in this blog post I will be talking about my experience working with GIS for facility operations in higher education and how it broadened my perspective on the uses of GIS.

Did you know that 2025 marks the 10th anniversary of Esri YPN? In 2015, YPN started as a grass roots effort and was the first employee resource group ERGs to become official. Since then, YPN has grown to almost 20,000 members world-wide, 10 regional US chapters, an ambassador program with over 165 champions who spread the word on the benefits and resources available throught this community. 

Imagine harnessing the power of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to transform GIS from static maps into predictive, real-time decision-making tools. Whether it’s monitoring deforestation, predicting natural disasters like wildfires, or optimizing urban planning, this revolutionary integration is reshaping industries.

For students and young professionals, mastering these skills isn’t just an advantage—it’s essential for thriving in a rapidly evolving geospatial landscape.

This article explores groundbreaking insights dropped during the Esri UC Conference, real-world applications, and actionable steps to future-proof your GIS career. 

My name is Karla Nunez, Ph.D. Candidate at the University of Maryland, and in this blog post I share how I became a planetary scientist through taking an internship where I used GIS in geology.

My interest in becoming a planetary scientist began in my second year at Middlebury College. During that time, my academic advisor mentioned applying to research internships. Knowing how competitive these programs were, I applied to anything that remotely mentioned space and hoped for the best.