What's your job about?
Eagle Technology is a computer technology company based in New Zealand that distributes Esri products and provides services. They specialise in GIS software that allows people to visualise and use their data with a spatial component. Adding layers for further context, performing analysis, managing data, and encouraging engagement and collaboration are a few of the things that Esri products and software allow users to do.
My job is to learn about the newest technology, learn to use the different products, and support my peers whether that means helping polish a part of their deliverables or tagging along and getting directly involved with clients to showcase a specific piece of software with them.
It also involves creating demonstrations that showcase the potential of the software while catering to clients’ areas of interest (E.g., central government, forestry and agriculture, transportation, resource management, etc.) This may include presenting to the client directly or at a conference.
On a normal (slow) day I may be watching videos or reading blogs to expand my knowledge around a product and testing my skills by doing tutorials. That is until someone from my team asks for assistance then I get to test my skills with a real-life example, or if I get assigned an opportunity where I get to work with a client and present a solution to them using our products, in that case, I would work on putting together a demonstration.
What's your background?
I grew up in Curacavi, Chile. A rural town just 30 minutes outside the capital, Santiago. I attended a very small school with about 10 people in my year. In my second to last year of school, I was forced by my mother to do the exchange programme which involved coming to New Zealand and attending a high school in either Orewa, Rotorua, or Nelson. I ended up in Rotorua and it was some of the best times of my life.
In those short three months, I fell in love with the people, the lifestyle, the country and its beauty. I made lifelong friendships which I maintain to this day and after the exchange was done, I knew I wanted to come back.
Fast forward to my second year of university in Chile, I could not shake off my desire to come back so I applied to the University of Auckland and got accepted with a scholarship.
Moving to New Zealand by myself and facing various challenges while working towards getting a degree and adjusting to a different culture (with COVID) was not easy, but extremely rewarding. In my last year of University, I found myself with no plan and no idea of what I wanted to do or where I wanted to do it. I applied to the grad programme at Eagle Technology because I was familiar with the software having used it at university and I was very lucky to get the job. Now it’s been over 6 months and I’m enjoying it a lot!
Could someone with a different background do your job?
Yes. Through the grad programme, you get exposure to a bunch of different products and get the chance to work on a project with a mentor, so before having “real” responsibilities, you go through six weeks of learning and applying skills. I thought I didn’t have the best base knowledge when I started but like with anything you learn the more you do it. Which comes with time and experience.
What's the coolest thing about your job?
The coolest thing about my job is being able to find things that align with my interests and exploit them. For example, I’ve always been artistically inclined, so being able to explore that side with cartography while still doing my job is amazing. In my opinion having so many different products and lenses to focus on (agriculture, transportation, imagery, drones, etc.) really allows you to find that middle ground between work and personal interests.
What are the limitations of your job?
Work may require you to work on a weekend prior to the big yearly conference which involves travel as well. These events (national and regional conferences) involve travel and in some cases overnight stays.
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