Coming to GIS Managers Summit – Social Impact, Spatial Literacy and Leadership
We're counting down to the GIS Managers Summit, with previews of the content your peers will be sharing...
Social Impact, Spatial Literacy and Leadership – three advanced topics from three thought leaders
@DenaCross and Raynah Kamau-Logan from Esri will be teaming up with Véronique Couttee-Jenkins of Geospatial Equity Tech and AfriTech Fellowship, to talk about their experiences working on social impact in a business organization.
What to expect:
The group will talk about how social impact fits in to today's approach to business, and the importance of measuring it.
Véronique will share about her work measuring social ROI, and some of the tools she uses.
Then, the group will discuss a bit about what their most important lessons and takeaways have been in their work.
This will truly be a unique and powerful discussion!
Véronique Couttee-Jenkins is a renowned GIS and equity specialist with over a decade of experience leveraging geospatial technology for global conservation and equity-focused projects. She holds a Master’s in Biodiversity, Conservation, and Policy from the University at Albany, where she was a Fulbright scholar. As the founder of Geospatial Equity Tech (GET), Véronique integrates Geospatial Technology, Science, and Storytelling with a deep commitment to Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDI-B). Her work, including mentoring emerging leaders through the AfriTech Fellowship, has earned her the prestigious 2023 Women in Tech Africa Advocate Award. Her extensive fieldwork in conservation, particularly in the Indian Ocean, and her leadership in creating datadriven solutions for marginalized communities, highlight her transformative impact on both environmental and social justice. Through interactive maps and training programs, Véronique is paving the way for inclusive digital transformation in STEAM fields.
Dena Cross is a Principal Consultant at Esri, specializing in executive-level engagements and leadership consulting. Since joining Esri in 2019, she has leveraged her extensive experience in technology, operations and strategic planning to advise customers across various industries, including AECs, Utilities, Government, Energy, in addition to the Private sector. With a background at major corporations like IBM and General Electric, and experience leading local government GIS initiatives, she has successfully managed projects such as data analytics and has coordinated geospatial programs for events like Super Bowl. She holds a Bachelor of Engineering from Vanderbilt University and an MBA from the University of Georgia, and she frequently speaks on topics related to technology and GIS careers.
Raynah Kamau is a Kenyan native and Senior Technical Consultant at Esri, where she serves as the GeoEquity Lead, guiding government, nonprofit, and commercial partners in building equity-centered GIS strategies. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Geomatic Engineering and GIS and a Master’s in Geographic Information Systems, and is currently pursuing a PhD focused on ethical AI and spatial bias. With over a decade of experience, Raynah applies geospatial technology to advance racial equity, environmental justice, and community resilience. She is a recipient of the 2021 American Association of Geographers (AAG) Diversity & Inclusion Award and was named a Top 40 Under 40 honoree in 2017. Her work is grounded in a commitment to justice, transparency, and inclusion in data-driven decision-making.
