Leading Under Pressure: Strengthening Team Mental Health
with Rob Ribar
Solving Complex Challenges Through Partnership and Technology
Clay Starr, Renee Opatz
August 05, 2026 01:00 PM EDT
August 05, 2026 01:00 PM EDT
Virtual
Some of the most exciting work in tech isn't just about the tools. It's about the relationships, the problem-solving, and the ability to translate complexity into real solutions for real people. Whether you work in sales, consulting, client services, solutions, or a hybrid role, the skills that make you successful are always evolving.
Join us for an honest, practical conversation with professionals who operate at the intersection of technology and human connection. Renee and Clay will share their own career journeys, including the paths, pivots, and experiences that brought them to Esri and shaped the work they do today. We'll explore what it takes to thrive in partnership-driven roles, how to sharpen the skills that matter most, and how teams at companies like Esri are using GIS technology to tackle some of today's most complex industry challenges.
You will gain:
- A practical framework for approaching complex client challenges with confidence and clarity
- Insight into the consulting and solutions skills that are most in demand and how to develop them
- Real-world examples of how technology and human partnership come together to drive lasting impact across industries
Meet The Speakers
Clay Starr
AEC Key Accounts Team Lead and Architecture, Urban Design & Planning Lead, Esri
As AEC Key Accounts Team Lead and Architecture, Urban Design & Planning Lead at Esri, Clay is entrusted with overseeing the success of Esri's global design customers while also playing a strategic role in helping designers realize the advantages of incorporating geospatial thinking into their workflows. His responsibilities encompass the integration of engineering and design technologies, such as GIS, BIM, analysis, data asset lifecycle management, and fostering global collaboration, with a keen focus on their transformative influence on architecture, urban planning, and design.
Renee Opatz
Advisor and Senior Consultant, Esri
Renee Opatz is an Advisor and Senior Consultant for state and local government customers at Esri. Renee has more than 18 years of experience implementing GIS technology in County and City agencies. Over her career, Renee has enabled her customers to make spatially based data driven decisions to support planning and data management efforts, including equitable service delivery. She is passionate about delivering geospatial strategies and local parks!
