Audreana Rossi’s experience in the Associate GIS Professional Program

Ever wonder what it’s like to start your GIS career at Esri Canada? Former associate GIS analyst Audreana Rossi shares why she pursued the Associate GIS Professional Program and how the experience shaped her career at Esri Canada.

What is Esri Canada's Associate GIS Professional Program?

The Associate GIS Professional Program (AGPP) is designed to help recent geographic information systems (GIS) program graduates transition from school into their careers through hands-on experience, mentorship and continuous learning. Associates begin in a full-time paid role and rotate through different departments across the company, allowing them to explore different career paths while building both technical and professional skills. 

Typically, associates begin their journey with Esri Canada’s Technical Support team, providing them with hands-on experience solving a wide range of problems for a wide range of customers. After the onboarding process and the rotation with Technical Support, associates explore different teams at Esri Canada through additional rotations. Associates have some input into where they would like to go based on their interests and career goals, although placements are not always guaranteed and depend on the opportunities and needs within Esri Canada. This flexibility allows each associate to gain experience in different areas of GIS and get a better sense of where they’d like to grow within the organization. 

What inspired you to apply for the Associate GIS Professional Program?

My road to GIS was anything but simple. I began my undergraduate degree at McMaster University in the middle of the pandemic as a Mathematics and Statistics major. I quickly realized after my first linear algebra course (and a few too many matrices) that, while I enjoyed math and problem-solving, I couldn't see myself pursuing a career focused solely on mathematics. After weighing my options and changing my major a couple of times, I eventually found my way to Environmental Science.

As part of the degree, I was required to take an introductory GIS course. Ironically, this was the course I was most nervous about. It had a reputation of being difficult, and I wasn’t quite sure what to expect going into it. However, during the very first lecture, I immediately fell in love with GIS and knew it was something I wanted to pursue. From that point on, I focused my studies on GIS and enrolled in courses that would further develop and support those skills.

I first heard about the AGPP during my studies at McMaster, and from that moment, it became a goal I hoped to pursue one day. After graduating, I knew I wanted to continue investing in my GIS education and working toward this goal, which led me to move to Nova Scotia to complete a Graduate Certificate in GIS at Nova Scotia Community College’s Centre of Geographic Sciences (COGS).

During my second semester at COGS, I eagerly awaited the posting for the AGPP. As soon as it was released, I applied immediately. What drew me to the program was that, while I knew GIS was my passion, I was still unsure of exactly how I wanted to apply it professionally. I had gained experience using GIS through various jobs during my undergraduate studies, but I had not yet discovered where within the field my interests truly lay. The program offered an opportunity to explore different applications of GIS while continuing to develop my skills and gain valuable industry experience.

What kind of experiences did you have throughout the AGPP?

I spent my first six months at the company on Esri Canada's Technical Support team. After a comprehensive month of onboarding, complete with mock support cases and troubleshooting challenges, I began taking my own support cases. These ranged from questions about product functionality to tackling error messages that prevented customers from completing their work.

Before starting with this team, I imagined technical support might be a somewhat solitary role. I quickly discovered that Esri Canada's Technical Support team is extremely collaborative and a tight-knit group. Often, cases were discussed and worked on as a team, giving me the opportunity to learn from colleagues with diverse experiences and areas of expertise. I was also assigned a coach who I met with one-on-one each week. Whether I needed guidance on a challenging case, advice on navigating a new workflow or simply someone to bounce ideas off of, my coach was always there to support me throughout the rotation.

Following my six months in Technical Support, I began my rotation with the Education & Research department, working primarily with the K-12 team. This team works to get Esri technology into the hands of educators and students across Canada through workshops, presentations, educational resources and ongoing support. The team also collaborates with a number of Esri Canada's education partners, including the Canadian Wildlife Federation, Earth Rangers, BC Parks Foundation, Maximum City and many other incredible organizations.

During my time in this rotation, the primary project I worked on was developing an ArcGIS Hub site for the Canadian Wildlife Federation's Canadian Centre for Nature-based Education. This project gave me the opportunity to work extensively with ArcGIS Hub, a product I had not previously used, and even allowed me to incorporate some HTML and web development skills along the way. Web development has always been something I enjoy, but before joining the AGPP, I wasn't sure if I would have many opportunities to use those skills in a GIS-focused role. Being able to combine GIS with HTML and website customization was an unexpected highlight of the rotation and showed me how diverse GIS careers can be.

I also had the opportunity to co-present workshops and presentations for a wide range of audiences. Presenting was a skill I was hoping to improve during the program, and I quickly learned that the best way to overcome a fear of presenting is to simply do it. By the end of the rotation, I felt significantly more confident speaking to groups and have since gone on to present at in-person conferences.

Here I am presenting a hands-on Survey123 workshop at the 2026 OAGEE Conference.

Beyond my formal rotations, one of the most valuable experiences throughout the AGPP was the opportunity to connect with people across the organization. Whether through project work, coffee chats or informal conversations, I was able to learn about different teams, career paths and areas of expertise. I quickly discovered that Esri Canada has a culture that encourages collaboration, curiosity and knowledge sharing.

What was the transition from the AGPP to your permanent role like?

Following my two rotations, I joined the Education & Research team as a K-12 education specialist. After six months with the team, I knew it was where I wanted to continue my career. The AGPP typically lasts between 12 and 24 months, with many associates staying in the program for more than 18 months. Because I was enjoying my rotation and had projects I was passionate about seeing through, I kept asking, "can I stay a little longer?" Thankfully, the answer was always “yes”. What was initially planned as a four-month rotation turned into six months with the team.

During what would have been the time to prepare for my next rotation, a full-time position became available on the team. Having already worked alongside the group, I had a strong understanding of the role and was able to discuss my interest with the AGPP manager. Extending my rotation allowed for a smoother transition while the hiring process unfolded. I eagerly awaited the posting, prepared my application in advance and applied as soon as the position opened.

Although I was already working with the team as an associate, I still completed the full application and interview process. While the interview felt less intimidating because I knew the team well, it was still important for me to clearly articulate why I was passionate about the role and how my skills and experiences had prepared me for it. I was fortunate to remain with the team throughout the hiring process, and a few weeks later I learned that I had been selected for the position.

This experience highlighted one of the greatest strengths of the AGPP: its flexibility. The ability to adapt my rotation timeline allowed me to pursue an opportunity that aligned closely with my goals, and I greatly appreciated the support I received from both the AGPP and the Education & Research team throughout that process.

The work itself has been incredibly rewarding, allowing me to combine my passion for education with my GIS knowledge and skills. Every day, I get to support educators and students across Canada and help them use GIS in meaningful ways. I feel that I am building on everything I learned during the program while continuing to grow professionally, whether through presenting to new audiences, developing educational resources, or taking on projects that challenge me in new ways.

Looking back, accepting this role felt like a natural next step, and having the opportunity to work with the team as an associate made the transition seamless. The AGPP provided me with the experiences, mentorship, and opportunities that helped shape my career path, and I am grateful for the journey that led me here. I truly cannot imagine doing anything else.

Part of the Education & Research team on Earth Day 2026.

How did the Program prepare you for your current role?

My time in Technical Support accelerated my GIS learning more than I ever thought possible. Working with a wide range of Esri products, workflows and customer questions exposed me to challenges that I would never have encountered in a classroom. It taught me how to troubleshoot effectively, think critically and communicate technical concepts in ways that made sense to different audiences. Managing multiple support cases at once also strengthened my time management, organization and prioritization skills.

When I moved to the Education & Research team, I was able to build on those technical skills while developing new ones. Unlike Technical Support, where I often saw only a small piece of a customer's project, I now had the opportunity to work on projects from beginning to end. This experience taught me how to plan projects, create educational resources, and adapt content for different audiences.

Most importantly, the program taught me how to learn quickly, adapt to new challenges and feel comfortable stepping outside my comfort zone. Those skills continue to benefit me every day in my current role.

Looking back, what is the biggest lesson you took away from the program?

Looking back on my twelve months in the AGPP, the biggest lesson I took away is the importance of pursuing the opportunities that genuinely excite you.

When I first learned about the different departments at Esri Canada, the Education & Research team immediately stood out to me. As I spent time working with the team, that interest only grew stronger. I loved combining my passion for GIS with opportunities to support educators and students, create resources and help others learn.

Pursuing a permanent position can be intimidating, especially when you're not sure where within the organization you will end up. However, the program taught me the value of putting yourself out there and taking chances on opportunities that align with your interests and goals. From this experience, I felt confident pursuing a role that combined the two things I genuinely care about: education and GIS.

This program showed me the importance of pursuing opportunities that genuinely excite you. The experiences that challenge you the most are often the ones that help you grow, and following your passions can lead to opportunities you never expected.

What are three things you would want future associates to know before starting the program?

The three things I would want future AGPP associates to know before applying to, or starting, the program are:

• It will keep you on your toes! 

• You’ll learn more than you could ever imagine.

• You get out what you put in. Don't be afraid to ask questions, put yourself out there and say yes to new opportunities. Some of my most valuable experiences came from stepping outside my comfort zone!

Want to discover more about Esri Canada’s Associate GIS Professional Program? Read an overview of the program, explore career paths or apply now.