Dr. Julia Wagemann: Changing the Map for Women in Geospatial

Julia Wagemann didn’t grow up with a clear path to follow. Raised in a small German village with just ten houses, she was the first in her family to attend university. Her early jobs as a diving instructor in Australia and a ski resort worker in France might not scream “tech founder,” but these experiences sparked a deep curiosity about how our planet works—and how people move and live across its landscapes.

“I had a real desire to understand more about our earth and the processes that shape it,” Julia shared. That desire led her to study geography, then geospatial technologies, and eventually to build a remarkable career that now bridges science, leadership, and community empowerment.

Today, Julia wears two hats. She’s the founder of ThriveGEO, a company helping organizations use Earth observation data effectively. And she’s the co-founder and director of Women+ in Geospatial, a global nonprofit community for women and non-binary people in the geospatial industry.

The idea for the community wasn’t long in the making.

“It was just a tweet,” she recalled. “I asked, who would be interested in forming a group for women in Earth observation and geospatial sciences? Within two days, we had over 300 signups.”

That one spark, born out of frustration and hope, has grown into a global movement with more than 5,500 members in 149 countries.

One of the community’s flagship programs is its mentorship initiative, now in its sixth year. It connects early-career professionals with mentors and peers across the globe. “It’s not just about technical advice,” Julia explained. “It’s also about having someone who says, ‘I’ve been there too.’ That kind of support changes how people approach their careers—and their confidence.”

Growth hasn’t come without growing pains. In 2021, Julia and her team made the bold decision to formalize the community into a nonprofit. It meant building structure, strategy, and governance from the ground up—on top of their day jobs.

“We’re still climbing the mountain,” she said with a smile. “But now we’re stronger. We made intentional decisions, focused on high-impact activities, and put the right people in place.”

Julia is quick to credit the people around her. “This isn’t just my work. It takes a village,” she said. That humility, combined with a fierce dedication to inclusivity, runs through everything the organization does—from thought leadership to LinkedIn inspiration to helping someone land a job they might never have seen otherwise.

So what does success look like to Julia?

“It’s not about changing the whole world,” she said. “But if I can say that, through our work, someone found a job, or felt seen, or dared to dream—then that’s the kind of small, positive impact that matters. And when we do that together, it becomes something much bigger.”