A journey into finding my "Why Esri".
My name is Harit — it means green or nature in Sanskrit. And over time, that meaning has become more than just symbolic. It’s shaped who I am — someone who cares deeply about the planet, and someone who dreams of using technology to protect what we all share.
When I discovered Esri, it felt like everything aligned — the mission, the people, and the power of geography to create real-world impact. I knew right away:
This is where I want to be.
But dreams demand action.
I began by searching for people who work at Esri — passionate, brilliant individuals contributing to meaningful change. I studied their journeys, their backgrounds, their skills. And then I asked myself:
- What am I missing?
- What can I work on starting today?
So I made a list — not of titles or checkboxes — but of real, actionable goals:
Real-world GIS experience
A story-driven GIS portfolio
Public speaking and workshop facilitation
Self-taught GIS foundation
Mentorship and conversations with Esri professionals
A way to blend my Computer Science background with GIS purpose
Since that moment, I’ve been on a mission.
- I self-taught GIS during undergrad using Esri Academy, LinkedIn Learning, and UC Davis's Coursera courses.
- I became a Geospatial Research Assistant at the Institute for Social Research at CSUS.
- I landed a year-long internship as a GIS Developer at California Department of Transportation, building real-world application tools.
- I’ll be presenting my first GIS workshop this April at CALGIS Sonoma.
- And most importantly, I’ve connected with over 150 Esri professionals — not just to network, but to learn.
Every person I reached out to gave me something:
A perspective. A tip. A spark of motivation. A reason to keep going.
So to all of you — the Esri employees who took time to respond, meet, guide, and uplift — thank you. You’ve shaped my path in ways I’ll never forget.
This summer, I graduate with a Master’s in Computer Science, carrying with me not just new skills, but a deeper understanding of what it means to apply them in service of something greater.
I’m still applying to roles at Esri — but no matter what happens, I already feel proud of the journey I’ve walked. I keep trusting the process.
🌤️ It’s easy to feel hopeful on a bright sunny day, but you must remember to feel hopeful when you feel like things are not working out.
And lastly, a quiet truth I’ve come to believe deeply:
✨ None of this would have been possible without the power of networking.
Not just for opportunities — but for growth, perspective, and community.
Here’s what I’ve built so far:
📍 [StoryMap Portfolio]
:laptop_computer: [GIS + Coding Portfolio Website]
🔗 [LinkedIn]
:calendar: [CALGIS Sonoma – April 14–16 Workshop Info]
