Bringing Your Whole Self to Work (Without Burning Out)

What does it really look like to bring your whole self to work and still have energy left for the people and life you care about outside of it? In this conversation, Esri’s Jessi Echevarria and Diana Lavery share insights from their careers in GIS and technology about leading with authenticity while navigating the real demands of work and life as mothers and more. They’ll talk about what it means to be women leaders, how creating trust and psychological safety helps teams thrive, and why acknowledging the full lives people bring to work matters. They’ll also reflect on how leaders today can support and encourage the next generation of women entering STEM. Expect an honest, thoughtful discussion about building a career that’s meaningful, sustainable, and true to who you are.

Jessi Echevarria

Jessi is a Project Manager with Esri, Professional Services where she leads GIS implementation projects throughout numerous industries, governments, and organizations. Jessi has a degree in Biology with a focus on environment, ecosystems, and GIS. She started her career 15 years ago as a GIS and natural resources consultant and has grown through various technical and business consulting roles over the years. Jessi leads by centering trust, authenticity, and psychological safety in her teams. She believes that supporting the whole person—by recognizing that people bring their full lived experiences to work—creates more resilient teams and more meaningful results.

Diana Lavery

Diana loves working with data. She has over 15 years' experience as a practitioner of demography, sociology, economics, policy analysis, and GIS. Diana holds a BA in quantitative economics and an MA in applied demography. She is a senior GIS engineer on ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World's Policy Maps team. Diana enjoys strong coffee and clean datasets, usually simultaneously.

When it comes to job searching in modern times, it can feel like you’re doing everything “right” and still going nowhere. That kind of effort without results isn’t sustainable. And it’s certainly not getting you any closer to where you want to be. The facts are: the job market and hiring process are shifting directly beneath our feet, and it may feel like you’re being left behind.But here’s the good news: You’re not the problem. We’re here to show you how you can learn the new rules and master them! Once you understand how hiring actually works in 2026, you can stop guessing, stop spiraling, and start building a job search strategy that gets you results.Join Tauri from Skillcrush for a practical, compassionate session on navigating today’s job market with confidence. We’ll talk about what’s changed, what hasn’t, and how to let employers know that you are the employee they are looking for.In this webinar, you’ll learn how to: Find your “candidate market fit” by identifying roles that actually match your strengths, experience, and interests Showcase your unique story in a way that highlights your personality, values, and professional journey — beyond what AI can mimic Build a human-powered job search strategy, using community, networking, and peer support (even if networking gives you “the ick”) Leverage LinkedIn and your online presence so recruiters can find you based on the right keywords Network strategically and authentically, including what to say, how to follow up, and how to stay visible Stay competitive in the 2026 tech landscape, with insights into the newest hiring trends featuring AI based skills Keep your momentum up, avoid burnout, and create a job search rhythm that works with real life Navigate a tougher job market with confidence, balancing what you can control with what’s changing industry-wide

Tauri StClaire

Tauri’s “break into tech” story began at Skillcrush—and now she helps others write their own! After ten years as a Front Desk Admin, she made the leap into tech and now guides students through the Break Into Tech program with empathy, structure, and insight. A proud queer Latina, Tauri’s mission is to open doors for underrepresented communities in tech. When she’s off the clock, she’s cooking, hiking, or out on the dance floor.

Uncertainty can make us feel stuck and anxious, unable to take action on our most important goals. In this talk, I'll share ideas and tools that can help you harness uncertainty as a force to propel rather than paralyze you based on my new book, How to Fall in Love With Questions: A New Way to Thrive in Times of Uncertainty. You can expect to learn science-based strategies for navigating uncertainty, how to build a questions practice to guide you towards clarity, and why it's not necessary to "embrace uncertainty" in order to thrive in it.

Elizabeth Weingarten

Elizabeth Weingarten is a journalist and applied behavioral scientist who works at the intersection of science and storytelling. She has worked on the editorial staffs of The Atlantic, Slate, and Qatar Today, and was Managing Editor of Behavioral Scientist. Her writing has appeared in publications including The Atlantic, Slate, CNN, The Financial Times, Harvard Business Review, and Time. She has led research programs at the think tank New America, the consultancy ideas42, and at tech companies Torch and Udemy. She lives in Northern California with her husband and son.

What does it really take to build a career that aligns with your values and fuels your passion? Join us for a conversation with Natasha Ibrahim, founder of Girl Boss Abroad and The Alignment Lounge, as she shares actionable insights for creating a purpose-driven path on your own terms. From navigating career pivots to building a magnetic personal brand, Natasha will unpack the mindset and strategy behind attracting aligned opportunities—especially in a remote-first world. With a global lens and a people-first approach, she’s helped thousands of women break free from burnout and step into careers that offer fulfillment and flexibility. Whether you're just starting out or recalibrating your path, this session will inspire you to get clear on what matters and go after it with confidence. You’ll learn how to: Align your values, strengths, and passions into a career roadmap you actually want to follow Build a personal brand that naturally attracts aligned roles and opportunities Use social media intentionally to grow your network and share your purpose with the world

Natasha Ibrahim

Natasha Ibrahim is the founder of Girl Boss Abroad and The Alignment Lounge, platforms that empower women to build purpose-driven remote careers and live life on their own terms. A lifelong traveler and third-culture kid, Natasha combines her background in international relations and business with real-world experience working remotely for Fortune 500s, startups, and as an entrepreneur. She’s helped thousands of women break free from burnout, align with their strengths, and create careers that support freedom, flexibility, and fulfillment. Through her work, Natasha is redefining success for a new generation of remote-working women.

Building a business is challenging—building one that redefines healthcare is even more so. In this fireside chat, Dr. Varuna Srinivasan, founder of Fluid Health, shares her journey of entrepreneurship, innovation, and advocacy for gender-inclusive healthcare. From addressing the gaps in reproductive mental health to creating a platform that empowers individuals experiencing pelvic pain, Dr. Srinivasan will discuss the challenges and triumphs of building a mission-driven company. She’ll also dive into the intersection of healthcare, technology, and inclusivity, offering insights for entrepreneurs and changemakers looking to make an impact.

Dr. Varuna Srinivasan

Dr. Varuna Srinivasan is a healthcare innovator and the founder of Fluid Health, a gender-inclusive platform dedicated to connecting individuals experiencing pelvic pain with sex therapists and providing personalized reproductive mental health care. With a background in sexual health and a passion for public health, Dr. Srinivasan is committed to creating accessible, compassionate healthcare solutions for diverse communities. She strives to empower women and queer individuals to take control of their health while navigating the often fragmented healthcare system.