When I stepped into my role as an Inside Sales Representative at Esri, I felt a wave of excitement. As someone who studied GIS and is passionate about it, I've always understood the real power behind it - how it helps solve problems, support communities, and bring a new focus lens to some of the world's biggest challenges. Getting the chance to help others access that same power felt like the first stepping stone!
From day one, onboarding has been a great experience. I've been learning nonstop, but what surprised me was how quickly there was an opportunity to teach others, too. I think once you can teach something, you truly understand it! The balance of learning and contributing so early on has made this first month engaging, energizing, and fulfilling!
One of the best parts of the role so far has been connecting with customers, talking about their use cases or project ideas. Every conversation opens a door to a different world, from wildlife management, energy conservation, oyster farming, the list goes on and on! Seeing the customer's excitement when they realize that ArcGIS can solve so many of their problems and set them up for continued success is so rewarding. I've been focusing especially on the natural resources sector, which has been a perfect fit because I'm deeply passionate about the environment and studied sustainable business.
It has been a fun challenge learning how to talk to people about GIS who might not have a good understanding of what it is at all. Some customers are experts, some know a bit, and some are brand new! Being able to meet people and see where they are with GIS, and explain it in a way that truly clicks for them, is a great feeling. Seeing that "aha" moment for some new customers is amazing and rewarding!
What makes this such an amazing environment is our team. We truly are a "team of teams", supportive, connected, and always ready to help each other succeed. Whether answering a quick question or jumping into problem-solving, everyone is willing to lend a hand. We don't just support customers, we support each other!
As I reflect on my first month, I hope that sharing my expertise may inspire someone else, maybe to explore a new career, someone curious about Esri to take a closer look, or whatever it may be. This has already been such an amazing journey, I'm genuinely excited for the time ahead!
Just wanted to share my 1-month journey with the YPN! If you ever want to connect, ask questions, or chat about GIS, I'm always happy to talk!
Here's to month one - and to everything still to come!
