Juliette GUILBAUD, Class of 2021

>Can you tell us about your academic background?

After obtaining the literary baccalaureate, I did a bachelor's degree in political science at Sciences Po Le Havre, which ended with an exchange year at Sofia University in Tokyo. I became acquainted with the major concepts of political theory and explored international relations in East Asia in particular. As I was planning to continue my studies with a research thesis and I wanted to learn methods that would allow me to independently explore the subjects of my choice, I then joined the master's degree in International Relations offered by the School of Research. The two years of study were rich in encounters and I produced a dissertation focusing on the dissemination of standards for the protection of personal data online in the European Union and Japan, under the supervision of Delphine Allès.

What did your years of study at the Sciences Po School of Research (formerly the Doctoral School) bring you?

The two years of study were very intense and allowed me to acquire a more complete vision of the discipline of international relations while developing research skills.
The curriculum encourages us to read a lot and the teachers gave us a lot of freedom in the choice of subjects, which allowed me to explore themes that particularly resonated with me such as the way in which standards are disseminated, and the influence of emotions on actors’ behaviours.
The work of writing the dissertation allowed me to acquire a scientific approach, to demonstrate critical thinking, and to be autonomous, all the while benefiting from my supervisor’s welcome guidance. It was also a moment that pushed me to question my career orientation and the sectors that might interest me at the end of my studies.

Which teacher or teaching has had the greatest impact on you?

There are several teachers who have had a particular impact on me throughout my studies. As far as my years at the Undergraduate College are concerned, I will particularly remember the history courses taught by Meha Priyadarshini. She encouraged us to explore history by examining specific focal points of the periods studied, an approach that proved to be exciting and rich in discoveries and which also relied heavily on observation and independent research. I particularly remember a lecture on Zheng He's expeditions and the diplomatic practices employed during these voyages.
It would be harder to choose a specific master's teacher because the courses were often very complementary and very well structured; the quality of the courses was consistent and everything was relevant.

What memories do you have of your school, your class, your teachers?

Although part of the master's programme was taught remotely, I benefited from a small class size which allowed me to meet inspiring people with a wide range of interests and aspirations. This is definitely one of the strengths of this master's degree: I have excellent memories of the debates in class, whether on zoom or over a drink with the other students, all of whom were kind, open to discussion and passionate about their subject. I learned a lot from them and this social aspect of the master's programme, which the teachers encouraged, was very fulfilling.
The teaching staff were also very present and constantly pushed us to question ourselves, to explore international relations further, and to demonstrate critical thinking. Above all, it's a master's degree where you read a lot and spend time talking about what you've read, a habit that remains after you graduate.

What is your current role?

I currently operate cybersecurity consulting missions for a digital transformation consulting firm. It’s a challenging job, for which you need a strong sense of engagement, and it also requires regular monitoring of current and future issues and challenges. I have become familiar with the more technical aspects of securing an information system, something that is not necessarily possible with a political training alone. I have, for example, written safety guidelines and policies for a health care organisation, worked on a compliance programme for a European directive, and I’m currently carrying out an assignment for a humanitarian organization.

What were the main stages in the construction of your career plans?

First of all, I began asking questions about the cybersecurity issues raised by the increasing digitisation of our lives as result of my personal readings and due to current events such as the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the “sunburst” attack. This led me to focus on these issues as the subject of my master's thesis, with a particular focus on the protection of personal data online.
A research internship in energy geopolitics, one of the aspects of which was related to the security of supply and therefore partly to cybersecurity issues, further strengthened my interest in this path.
Most importantly, as I was completing my master's thesis, I noticed that it had been particularly difficult for me to study how actors take ownership of the standards relating to the protection of personal data online. I studied the emergence of the standards, and their dissemination, but ultimately, I was able to study very little of how they are taken on board by the actors at the operational level. This made me want to explore this aspect on my own, and consulting quickly became the best way to do so. This desire was coupled with the desire to develop a better technical knowledge of cybersecurity issues, in order to develop a more complete vision of the challenges facing our societies.  

What have been the contributions of your studies to the position you hold today? 

My master's thesis allowed me to acquire solid knowledge of the main issues relating to cybersecurity. It also reinforced my belief that working to protect users is essential as our societies become more and more digitised.
I think that my employer was sensitive to my personal motivations and today I am working, for example, to facilitate compliance with a European standard, an assignment that echoes my research work for my master's degree.
In addition, a number of qualities cultivated within the School of Research are particularly useful in the consulting profession, such as the ability to find information efficiently and to process a large amount of data, and having a good knowledge of international organisations.

Would you have any advice to give to a student who wants to go into the field in which you work today?

First of all, I think it's worth remembering that students trained in research are valued in consulting, and this is even more true in cybersecurity where autonomy is valued. The master's thesis can be made conspicuous to recruiters and is a gateway for students who may not have an engineering background or may not have followed specific courses in cybersecurity.
Another thing to keep in mind is that the cybersecurity industry is changing and constantly evolving. It is essential to keep abreast of the major trends and future challenges that will arise in order to better understand them and respond appropriately. I think that to flourish in this field and find your place in it, you have to cultivate an everyday sense of curiosity, seek to learn about innovations and don't hesitate to go and ask questions of people involved in the cybersecurity business so that they can tell you about their experiences.

Learn more

• About Master’s in Political Science, Programme in International Relations

=> See all the Graduates' Portraits

[ March 2022 ]