Helping Students Bridge the Gap from Student to GIS Professional: How Esri YPN Supports Educators
By Rosemary Boone, Senior Industry Marketing Manager – Education, Esri
Graduating from a higher education program is an exciting milestone, but it can also feel overwhelming. Students often ask, “What comes next?”
Esri Young Professionals Network (YPN) helps answer that question by bridging the critical gap between being a student and becoming a working GIS professional. The network also plays a vital role in supporting educators, who are deeply invested in their students’ success, both academically and professionally.
What is Esri YPN?
The Esri Young Professionals Network (YPN) is a global community and network of over 20,000 members worldwide that anyone can join at no cost. Esri YPN is designed to support its members to thrive at any stage of their GIS journey. Members consist of college students, recent graduates, emerging and seasoned GIS professionals, truly making it “a network for all” no matter your age or experience.
Built on three core pillars: Learn, Connect, and Lead, our mission is to provide members of Esri YPN with opportunities and resources to strengthen their skills, expand their networks, and step confidently into leadership roles within the geospatial industry.
Through networking events, professional development opportunities, and its Ambassador Program, Esri YPN empowers students to grow beyond the classroom and begin building the foundation of their careers while still in school.
Why It Matters to Students
By joining YPN, students gain:
- A support system beyond graduation – Access to peers and mentors through the YPN Chapters, conference activities, LinkedIn group, and YPN Networking Space.
- A platform to build their professional brand – Opportunities to showcase their work, present ideas, and raise their visibility through the YPN Ambassador Program.
- Professional development resources – Engage in professional development through attending our webinars, conference sessions, chapter meetups; and by subscribing to the YPN blog on Esri Community.
For students, Esri YPN is more than a network, it’s a launchpad for their future in GIS.
Why Educators Should Take an Interest
By getting students involved in Esri YPN, educators can:
- Strengthen their program’s value by demonstrating clear pathways to professional growth.
- Help students gain confidence in their ability to enter a competitive job market.
- Ensure graduates remain connected to a community that will continue supporting their careers long after they leave campus.
While curriculum and experiential learning opportunities build technical knowledge, students also need guidance on how to bridge the gap from student to professional. By encouraging participation, educators can equip their students with tools and connections that extend well beyond the classroom.
How to Get Started and Involved
Getting students connected with Esri YPN is simple—and the benefits begin immediately.
- Encourage students to join online – Direct them to esri.com/ypn, where they can join at no cost and gain instant access to resources, events, and community spaces.
- Reinforce their ability to participate tand network. Upon joining, members receive a confirmation email linking to their member badge and digital swag they can share with their networks.
- Suggest they join a local YPN chapter. Esri YPN has ten chapters across the United States each hosting local in-person networking meetups. Join a local chapter and search for upcoming chapter events.
- Encourage them to become a YPN Ambassador. Students can take steps to become a YPN Ambassador to make them stand out to their peers and recruiters. Upon completion, YPN Ambassadors receive a badge and certificate.
- Remind them to browse and subscribe to the YPN blog. The YPN Blog on Esri Community is rich in GIS career content brushing on topics like building a GIS portfolio, overcoming imposter syndrome, and GIS career pathway highlights.
- Keep encouraging them to start networking online. Join the YPN LinkedIn group and YPN Networking space on Esri Community to begin meeting peers and mentors in the geospatial field from across the globe.
Students who start engaging with YPN early will be equipped with a better sense of a professional identity, supportive network, and the confidence to step boldly into the next stage of their GIS journey.
Rosemary Boone is a Senior Industry Marketing Manager for Esri, concentrating on executing marketing strategies for K-12 schools and higher education institutions. She holds a master’s degree in education technology with an emphasis on multimedia. Prior to her career in marketing, she taught elementary school and taught overseas. In her free time, she likes to listen to music, exercise, and spend time with her two Dachshunds.
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