Introduction: An Unexpected Journey into Tech
Taisha Fabricius didn’t set out to build a career in technology. A decade ago, the Australian native was studying criminology when she realized the emotional toll of the field would be too much to bear. Flipping through her university handbook, she stumbled upon geomatic engineering – a field that combined her interests in science, mathematics, computers, and the outdoors.
Today, as Senior Product Manager for XR and Web 3D Technologies at Esri, the global leader in geographic information systems (GIS), Taisha has built an impressive career path that demonstrates how women can thrive in the tech industry. Her journey showcases how transferable skills, supportive leadership, and a company culture focused on growth can empower women to succeed in technology.
Building Technology That Matters
For nearly a decade, Taisha has found purpose at Esri, where she helps develop tools that enable data-driven decision-making across multiple industries. Esri’s GIS technology powers critical applications from urban planning to emergency response. One powerful example is California’s fire departments using Esri’s 3D maps to coordinate resources during wildfire crises.
“It’s giving people the tools to make data-driven decisions,” Taisha explains. “Not just gut feelings – you need concrete tools. That’s what we build at Esri.” This ability to create technology with purpose – tools that solve real problems and improve lives – has kept Taisha engaged and motivated throughout her career.
Creating Opportunities Within
What keeps a talented professional at the same company for almost ten years? For Taisha, continuous growth and opportunity have been key. Her career progression at Esri demonstrates the company’s commitment to internal development, starting in project management overseeing two development teams, then moving into a role as “3D Technology Evangelist” when her manager recognized her strengths in public speaking. She later transitioned to product management for the CityEngine product, and now leads extended reality (XR) and Web 3D capability development.
“Every time I’ve needed to change or grow, I’ve tried to make it happen within this company,” she explains. “And I’ve been given the opportunities to have that growth happen here.” This commitment to employee development was evident from her very first HR interview, where she was asked what would keep her at Esri for at least five years. Her answer then remains true today: “I just need a path for me to grow.”
Women in Leadership: Creating Pathways
As Taisha looks ahead, leadership is firmly in her sights. “I have ambition. I want to be in a leadership position,” she states plainly. “There’s not enough women in those positions, and that’s certainly something I want for myself.”
Taisha actively contributes to building pathways for other women through mentorship. “I actively mentor some other professionals, which has been really fun and also very fruitful for me as well,” she shares. “It’s not like you’re not learning as a mentor – you’re learning a lot as you go as well.”
This commitment to supporting women extends beyond Esri’s walls. For several years, Taisha helped lead the Swiss Girls in Tech chapter, organizing community events where women could learn, network, and explore careers in technology.
“We had many women asking, ‘I don’t have a tech background, but this is where I want to go. How do I upskill?'” Taisha recalls of her time organizing community events. “We created spaces where people could come to learn and network, and we had many successful events.”
The Power of Soft Skills in Tech
When asked about skills needed to succeed in technology, Taisha emphasizes something often overlooked: soft skills.
“Soft skills… I feel like those don’t get weighted enough in a lot of instances,” she reflects. “Being able to communicate with people on their level, being able to listen and not just talk, being able to see different perspectives – those sort of things add so much value in your job.”
This perspective challenges the stereotype that technical skills are all that matter in technology careers. “I’m definitely not the best coder or anything like that out there – that’s certainly not what I bring to the table,” Taisha acknowledges. “But what I do well is bringing the soft skills into it and bringing people together.”
For anyone considering tech careers, this insight is crucial: while technical expertise forms the foundation of success, communication, empathy, and collaboration are equally vital complementary skills. Strong technical skills remain essential in most tech roles, but the ability to work effectively with teams, understand user needs, and communicate complex ideas can truly differentiate a professional in the industry.
Product Management and Future Trends
As a product manager at Esri, Taisha bridges the gap between development teams and real-world user needs. She communicates with development teams to translate market needs into product features, leads strategic planning for emerging technologies like extended reality (XR), and represents Esri at conferences.
“On a high level, it’s a lot of communicating with the development teams,” she explains. “Bringing what I’m seeing out in the world back into the office and kind of being able to structure that information with them, help them to build something that’s actually going to be useful for our customers.”
Looking ahead, she sees technology like extended reality becoming increasingly mainstream. “In the next 5 to 10 years, XR will become more wearable, accessible, and integrated into daily life. While adoption depends on hardware and software advancements, its move into the mainstream is clear,” she predicts. At Esri’s R&D center in Zurich, her team develops 3D urban planning tools that enable city planners to visualize designs and run simulations before implementation.
The concept of digital twins – virtual replicas of cities used for simulation and planning – represents a significant advancement in how we use data for decision-making. “Being able to have that in a virtual space and plan for the future based on data from the past – that’s going to make a big difference,” she explains.
Breaking Into Tech: Advice for Women
For women looking to enter technology fields, Taisha emphasizes that tech encompasses far more than just coding and software development.
“Tech has so many different facets,” she explains. “You can work in tech without starting as a tech expert, you’ll learn as you go. Product management, for example, applies across industries, and those skills transfer easily into tech. There are many paths into the industry beyond the obvious technical ones.”
Her advice? “Apply, and kind of trust that your skill sets are transferable in a lot of cases.”
Taisha also addresses a common barrier for women in tech: imposter syndrome and the tendency to hold back unless they feel 100% qualified. “I think as women, we’re often just very hard on ourselves,” she notes. “If you’re applying for a job and you don’t tick every one of those boxes 100%, you’re just more likely going to be like, ‘Oh, I better not apply then.’ And in reality, no one’s going to tick those boxes 100%.”
Her message to women considering tech careers is straightforward: “Trust that you have value and that you should just go for it. Find mentors, find people that will back you, and create the opportunities yourself.”
Finding Balance and Recognition
Taisha draws inspiration from two primary sources: creative outlets like music that provide balance to her analytical work, and seeing the real-world impact of her contributions. “It fuels me when I’m being seen,” she admits. “When I feel like I’m doing a good job and it is being valued – like seeing the 3D map of the fires being used – that’s what fuels me.”
She acknowledges the double standard women sometimes face when showing ambition. “Often as women, if we show that side, it can be misunderstood,” she observes. “Really, it’s just drive and wanting to do better and be recognized for doing better.”
Conclusion: Creating Your Path Forward
Taisha’s journey at Esri demonstrates how anyone can build meaningful, growth-oriented careers in technology. Her experience shows that success in tech isn’t just about coding skills – it’s about bringing your whole self to the role, seeking growth opportunities, and finding ways to make an impact.
For women considering technology careers, her advice is straightforward: trust in your transferable skills, seek out supportive communities and mentors, and don’t let perfectionism hold you back. There are more pathways than ever for women to enter and succeed in technology careers.
The future of technology needs diverse perspectives and leadership, and as Taisha’s story shows, there’s room for women to forge their own paths and make meaningful contributions to how technology shapes our world.
