By Janell Cloud, Jr. Development Associate

Thrown into the Deep End
When I first joined SolUnesco, I was brought on board to support the project development team in their site origination work. One of the responsibilities that intimidated me the most was working with geographical data. At that time, I was a recent marketing graduate with little technical experience, and I quickly realized that I was about to be thrown into the deep end.

The stakes were high—my work would be woven into real estate decisions tied to multimillion-dollar projects, leaving no room for error. With a small and fast-paced team, I was expected to pick up the nuances of the job quickly. In other words, I had two choices: sink or swim.

Learning on the Fly
What is now one of the most routine parts of my role felt completely overwhelming at first: the KMZ. With every layer toggled on and every folder expanded, I wasn’t quite sure what I was looking at, and the terminology was unfamiliar. Our internal training videos and YouTube tutorials became my unofficial classroom. I also relied on the built-in training resources within the GIS platforms. Between this and a healthy dose of Googling, I was able to build a foundational understanding.

However, the real learning came from hands-on experience. One of the challenges was understanding how GIS maps could have an immediate impact on real estate deals. A slight error in mapping or misinterpretation of geographical data could result in costly mistakes. With every KMZ I updated, constraint I layered, and exhibit I made, I had to figure out how to apply GIS concepts in ways I had never encountered. The pressure was on, but the more I worked, the more I realized how powerful and essential GIS was for the entire development process.

The Power of Accuracy
In the world of solar energy development, site selection is everything. Our work is instrumental in determining where and how projects can be developed on large plots of land. I have become intimately familiar with every geographical feature that could affect a project, from slope and elevation to wetlands and access roads.

As I’ve navigated different GIS tools and tested many functions, I’ve discovered new ways to optimize our process. Along the way, I’ve even introduced features that were unfamiliar to our senior developers, helping me grow more confident in my abilities.

What kept me grounded throughout was a deep sense of responsibility. Knowing that my work supports conversations with landowners, developers, engineers and more proved it wasn’t just another task, but an integral part of a larger vision.

Finding My Flow
As time went on, I became a vital part of the team, contributing in ways I never imagined. I not only became proficient in GIS tools and analysis, but it became my favorite part of the job. I’ve gained a broader understanding of the entire solar development process, and, while I continue to learn, I went from a GIS beginner to someone who confidently tackles complex geographic analysis.

Sometimes, the best way to learn is to dive right in, and trust that you’ll come out the other side better for it. So, to answer the question in your mind: I swam.