Championing smart solutions for global problems
On meeting Betty Moinet, one of the first things you’ll notice is that she’s brimming with energy and ideas. As Client Success Manager, Betty brings a unique perspective, big-picture thinking and an incredible ability to connect with anyone and everyone. At Esri Australia, Betty has also found a purpose she can truly get behind, and she’s more than willing to share why!
‘A map is a story we all understand: It models a future we can change’
Learning a new language
Before stepping into our Brisbane office in November 2021, Betty didn’t know her polygons from her proxy objects. She’d never worked in geographic information systems (GIS) before. So, it’s reasonable to ask: What attracted this talented former business owner and event director to Esri Australia?
“It was the essence of what Esri does and why they do what they do that really spoke to me,” Betty says. “I was attracted by the power of what people in this company are doing and how it can be better used. It’s about helping people make informed decisions through the power of mapping. So, I saw the Client Success Manager job description and I thought, ‘Oh. What an incredible ‘dot connector’ job this could be!"
Finding her feet at Esri Australia with limited GIS knowledge proved a little challenging at first.
“Initially, I had almost no idea what my colleagues were talking about!” Betty laughs. “Honestly, all those acronyms! But after a period of reflection, I started to have a precise idea of what I could offer.”
Betty describes her unique offering at Esri Australia as helping clients identify and comprehend how Esri’s products can add value to their operations. She deals largely with client executive teams and government departments and describes her role as travelling between the different worlds of clients and vendors. This involves constantly modifying her language and modes of explanation to ensure the information lands with the intended audience.
“It’s understanding what success looks like for each client to make sure we can align and drive real business value to them. Importantly, it’s also aligning our internal teams to act as one when interacting with the client. I often feel like I am a translator!”
Translating GIS information into everyday language is an impressive skill, and even more so when you discover that Betty’s first language is French. Now, Betty is fluent in GIS terminology and credits hard work, a drop of passion and the Esri Australia team for helping her along the way.
“It was a steep learning curve, but I was supported by everybody around me. The team really held my hand initially. They spent that time explaining terminology, giving me technical insights and really training me up. They also found it refreshing that I was comfortable just acknowledging when I didn’t understand what was going on in operational meetings!” Betty laughs.
A passion for Esri’s purpose
Betty knows that mapping can be an incredibly powerful tool to guide and inform decision-making, and her enthusiasm for the value of mapping has only grown since joining us.
“A map is a story we all understand: It shows our problems and it also shows our solutions. Maps now pull data from every imaginable source and make data easily understandable at the executive and public levels. They model a future we can all change.”
Betty notes the global problems we face require smarter solutions, especially as we contend with the impacts of climate change. After all, we all live on the same planet, she adds.
“Esri’s work on a global scale is becoming more and more important. The fact is with climate change, there is no pattern to the weather anymore. Extreme weather events are becoming more frequent and more severe. When you see the impact that has, you can plan and prepare to deliver better on many fronts. So, Esri’s impact in this area can be immediate.”
Betty finds the global implications of Esri’s work inspiring but she’s passionate about the local aspects, too. With her home city of Brisbane set to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2032, Betty is excited about the role Esri Australia can play. She joined the Infrastructure Association of Queensland 2032 Taskforce in 2024 to ensure she is well-placed to provide any assistance.
“When I learnt Brisbane would host the Games, I went, ‘Oh la la, I want to be involved in this!’” Betty says. “Mapping should be the backbone of the biggest event on the planet. I’m excited to see Esri Australia working with Brisbane City Council and the State Government to facilitate planning and preparation for our transport and infrastructure clients. Being involved in this event is truly inspiring and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
An inspiring culture
At Esri Australia, we’re all about innovating for a smarter, more sustainable future. And that’s meant Betty has found a culture where her big-picture brain can truly flourish.
“If you come up with ideas here, senior management will listen to you and let you try it out. So, I feel like I’m supported in my initiatives by higher management. And it’s easy to think outside the box, too, because when we talk to clients, there’s always a case study from Esri somewhere in the world that's made an impact.”
Betty says this access to information on cutting-edge projects is one aspect she values about working for a global company like Esri.
“We can say to clients, ‘OK, let’s look at what we did with this industry in Paris or Singapore,’ for instance. I’ve been to Singapore myself to meet with some of our major clients and it is really inspiring. For me, learning about best-practice Esri projects from other countries is an incredible source of inspiration. We literally have experts all over the world we can draw upon. It’s amazing to work for a company like this.”
Betty’s advice to anyone looking to join Esri Australia?
“Working at Esri Australia has really opened my professional spectrum and given me a new level of confidence. So, if you want to change things, if you want to see the impact of what you do every day and if you want to be creative in your thinking, this is a good place to blossom.”
Are you ready to make big ideas happen?
Explore a career with Esri Australia today