GIS Career Pathways: Account Manager
To Navigate the Path Ahead...
"To navigate the path ahead, we’ve always relied on those who see things differently…They show us that the possible can be a matter of how you see it. Today, as change accelerates and complexity grows, now more than ever, we need those who can see what others can’t, to find our way forward. Over the years, many who see differently, have shared with us how they see the future, their vision continues to inspire us.”
- Jack Dangermond, Seeing the future Through GIS, 2019 Esri User Conference plenary (video).
You have the Power to Change the World
With passionate people, ambitious goals, and the most powerful tools; we can learn about our world, see unique patterns, and share useful information. We live in a closed system. Nations collaborate, towns and communities grow, businesses innovate, all possible because of people. People have the power…you have the power to make an impact.
Esri pioneers problem-solving using GIS, which connects everyone through a common visual language and helps them create the maps that run the world.
This blog post shares the story of how Esri and ArcGIS inspired my journey to becoming an account manager, the key skills needed for the role, and the importance of account management.
The Passion of Our People
“If you don’t wake up in the morning excited to pick up where you left your work yesterday, you haven’t found your calling yet”. - Mike Wallace
This quote teases out the importance of doing what you love. I believe that many people find Esri because they have a genuine desire to help people. Typical skills and interests across the company are: helping others, being part of a team, problem solving, exploring nature, and experimenting with new technology. I was drawn to Esri by these interests paired with a fascination of the concept of “Where?” (link to The Power of Where).
Where is your Where?
“For as long as we’ve come together, people everywhere have used maps…To share what they know…make sense of the world… and navigate the challenges ahead.”
- Mapping Common Ground, 2022, UC Plenary (video).
Navigation has been vital to human history. Originally used by people looking to the sky for answers. The word “Where” is defined as: “from what place or source”, “in what situation or position”, “at or in what place”. The interpretation can be seen as an origin with a direction. Consider the story of your “where” (past, present, and future). What led you to your role? How did you find this blog? How do you plan to navigate your future?
When exploring career paths, some early career professionals may feel that they are not qualified enough to even apply for a role. Did you know that Esri has roles specifically for early career professionals? Our junior-level Account Manager position requires only one year of experience. You bring your passion for applying GIS, love of collaboration and sharing ideas, a curiosity about how our customers do their work, and Esri has opportunities to grow your skills and make an impact at every level. Below I will outline my path to becoming an account manager, the skills that I found to be successful and provide advice for those considering a career with Esri.
My Journey to Esri
My journey began with an “a-ha” moment during my sophomore year in an introduction to GIS class. From that point on, I knew that ArcGIS would be part of my career. I included ArcGIS in my senior year independent study which focused on mapping the geology of cooled lava flows in southwest Iceland. It was an amazing experience to get hands-on with how GIS can be used in remote locations.
Upon graduation, I was hired by a geotechnical engineering firm. During this time, my experiences provided me with a broad perspective of the relationship between my undergraduate studies and the construction industry using ArcGIS as a tool to enhance business. At that time, there weren't any users of ArcGIS in the company. As I discovered new applied use cases for the industry, my enthusiasm for GIS grew. Now recognizing the need for a GIS team, I attended graduate school to deepen my technical knowledge of ArcGIS.
While in graduate school, we grew our team. AI and machine learning were emerging, so when it came time to author my final project, I focused on how to incorporate ArcGIS with these new trends. I discovered that Esri had already been incorporating GeoAI into ArcGIS. Using the Image Analyst Extension in ArcGIS Pro, I trained a deep learning model to perform supervised image classification of urban development areas over 30 years using Landsat data. More specifically, I focused on the development of areas near data centers as the construction of these building types has been increasing.
The Power of Collaboration
As a member of the Small/Medium Business team within Natural Resources, we work together to expand the adoption of ArcGIS through relationship development and effective communication. Working collaboratively requires each team member to interact with various internal groups at Esri. Our goal is to ensure customer success with our solutions. A successful implementation of ArcGIS improves business (video) efficiency, reduces time, saves money, and minimizes risk while building value.
As an Account Manager, your interactions are with the family of Esri. You are the provider of ArcGIS to organizations that are driving the future of our world.
Building Businesses to Grow Industries
Today, our small medium business team exists to expand the ArcGIS footprint in organizations. Our team has a vital role in influencing customer experiences and adopting new technologies.
ArcGIS is always advancing. Customers regularly provide us with feedback as to how our tools are helping them be successful. Account Managers give customers their first impression of Esri. It also provides us the opportunity to introduce new advancements with ArcGIS. This is a responsibility that we take very seriously.
Esri Events provide customers with a face-to-face opportunity to engage with their peers, and experience 
Esri recognizes the importance of a work/life balance and affords employees the opportunity to enjoy their hobbies.
A Place to Fulfill Your Life’s Work
In an interview with American journalist, James Fallows, when asked about what he wants viewers to know about Esri, Jack shared:
“I want Esri to be a framework or a place where they can work and do…and fulfill their life work. Simple statement, but I want them to be here because they really want to be here. Okay I know a lot of people just want a job, but in that job, finding their sense of purpose, like I did many years ago and also, being able to deliberately apply their skills and their understanding. Find a place that it really… [makes you say] Wow, this is what I really want to do. That’s what I want people to be here for.”
Esri is constantly searching for talented geographic pioneers. You have the power to change and unite our world (video). If you are interested in a career at Esri here are some resources:
We'd love to hear from you, comment below if you had an "a-ha" moment with GIS. What has your journey been with GIS?
Interested in reading more? I frequently post content on LinkedIn.
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