Inside the San Diego Convention Center, the Esri User Conference (Esri UC) hums with energy. Voices overlap in crowded halls as phones glow with QR codes ready for quick introductions. Attendees pause for the perfect LinkedIn photo in front of art‑lined wall displays, while others step aside to grab a snack before slipping back into the crowd for their next session.
For students and early‑career professionals, excitement mixes with nerves. At this scale, where do you start?
“That impostor syndrome is real,” says Raquel Perez, an Esri industry marketing manager and founder of the Esri Young Professionals Network (YPN). Having attended 16 Esri UCs, Perez says each year she enjoys watching first-time attendees arrive feeling unsure and leave with connections and a clearer sense of direction. “Those moments,” she says, “when someone realizes, ‘I belong here,’ are what make the Esri User Conference special.”
Her advice for making the most of the week is simple: Come as you are, curious and excited to engage. Here, Perez shares practical tips on preparing ahead of time and approaching the week with confidence.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
Q: Why should students and early‑career professionals go to the Esri UC? What are some affordable ways to attend?
A: For many students and early‑career professionals, the Esri UC is where GIS shifts from classroom experiences—which can vary widely—to something tangible they can imagine building a career around.
In one week, attendees hear directly from people doing the work, see how organizations across industries use GIS, and begin to understand what different roles and career paths actually look like. Those conversations often help connect coursework and skills to real jobs.
The Esri UC also gives students a chance to invest in their development. That can mean getting feedback on a résumé or portfolio at the Esri Careers booth, or spending time in Hands‑On Learning Labs to explore tools they may not have access to in school.
Esri encourages students and young professionals to attend the Esri UC. The conference is designed to bring people into the GIS community and meet them where they are in their careers. For students, that often starts with student‑only pricing or applying to Esri programs like student assistantships or summer internships. YPN offers early-career professionals additional ways to attend, including discounted registrations, one‑day or Expo‑only access, volunteering, and virtual presentations.
The key is to see the Esri UC not just as a conference but as an opportunity to invest in your future.
Q: What should students and early-career professionals do before the Esri UC to make the most of those opportunities?
A: You don’t have to have everything figured out before you arrive, but coming prepared to engage will help you get the most out of your experience. I always recommend keeping your LinkedIn profile up to date and using a QR code—such as LinkedIn’s built‑in code or a digital business card app—on your lock screen so it’s easy to connect with people on the spot. Having a résumé and a portfolio from school projects, internships, or your first role gives people context for what you’ve worked on and what you’re interested in.
It also helps to think ahead about what you want out of the week. Identify a few industries you’re curious about, a tool you want to explore, or skills you want to build.
Finally, prepare a simple conversation starter—something you’re comfortable saying. Try:
- “Hi, is this your first UC?”
- “What session have you enjoyed most so far?”
- “What do you do with GIS?”
Q: How should first‑time attendees prioritize UC experiences so the week feels manageable?
A: Think of the Esri UC schedule as a menu, not a checklist. You’re not meant to do everything. Choose a handful of experiences that matter to you and give yourself space to absorb what you’re learning. What helps is starting with a few anchors.
For many first‑time attendees, that begins with the Plenary Session, which offers a broader view of where GIS is headed. This takes place on the Monday of the Esri UC week. User presentations are another good place to spend time, especially sessions that align with your interests because they show how organizations apply GIS in their work. Esri YPN events can also be a useful entry point for networking and gaining career insight
Spending time in the Expo Hall matters, too. It’s one of the few spaces at the Esri UC where informal conversations can give you a clearer picture of how different roles and industries work.
A simple way to approach these talks is by asking practical questions. With Esri staff or partners, you can ask what roles exist on their teams and what skills those roles rely on. At industry booths, asking how GIS is used day-to-day can help early‑career professionals see where they might want to build skills or gain experience.
The Esri UC can feel like a lot to take in your first time, so scheduling breaks and leaving room for unplanned conversations really matters. Some of the most valuable interactions happen over lunch or when you’re not rushing to the next session.
Q: How does YPN help students and members navigate the Esri UC and get support?
For students and early‑career professionals attending the Esri UC for the first time, figuring out where to start can be the hardest part. That’s often where YPN helps. It gives people an approachable entry point and something familiar to come back to as they move through the week.
YPN sessions tend to be smaller and more conversational, which makes it easier to hear how others navigated early‑career decisions without feeling overwhelmed. Whether someone starts with a special focused session, a career clinic, or a shorter Lightning Talk or tech talk, the goal is to make it easier to ask questions and get oriented.
Spending time at the YPN booth is another important part of the experience. That’s where fireside chats happen and where board members and volunteers help people get oriented—whether that’s pointing someone to a session, walking them over to an Expo Hall booth, or making an introduction to someone working in an area they’re curious about.
And the YPN Social on Wednesday of Esri UC week is always a favorite. It’s relaxed, welcoming, and often a chance to meet Esri president Jack Dangermond, who has supported YPN and attended the social for more than a decade.
Q: When the Esri UC is over, what’s the best way for students and early‑career professionals to build on what they learned?
A: Once the Esri UC wraps up, it helps to follow up while everything is still fresh. That can be as simple as connecting with people you met on LinkedIn and sending them a short note to remind them where you met or what you discussed.
It’s also a good time to look back at what stood out. Maybe a session, a conversation, or an industry continues to come up for you. Focus on one or two things and think about how to apply them, rather than trying to act on everything at once.
Staying involved with YPN after the Esri UC can help, too. Some people attend future events, join a regional chapter, or apply to become a YPN Ambassador. All are practical ways to stay connected and keep learning as your career develops.
Explore the wide variety of resources Esri offers for students and early‑career professionals.
