I work with teams to conduct risk and compliance gap assessments for designated Very Large Online Platforms (VLOPs) as required by the European Commission’s Digital Services Act (DSA), and for platforms in-scope of the UK Online Safety Act (OSA). We also conduct a wide variety of compliance-related projects and offer technical solutions to our clients, depending on need. 

The global regulatory environment is constantly evolving, characterized by enhanced scrutiny and enforcement concerning rules that govern data privacy, content governance, and platform integrity. This role consequently requires that our teams solve problems in the market that no one has seen before. 

The most interesting thing about this role is getting to work so closely with a growing body of law and policy that is intended to solve some of the largest issues that we face in the digital realm today. This space is also full of dedicated and passionate people who are a pleasure to work with. 

I personally work both with clients and internally—typical tasks include responding to RFP’s, pitching new compliance solutions, producing memos, conducting client projects end-to-end, reviewing new laws and regulations, and producing thought leadership, among other things. 

I was previously focused on trade, environment, and energy policy at the OECD, which I specialized in through the coursework offered at Sciences Po. While my former role helped introduce me to the formalities of working in a multi-stakeholder environment, my biggest takeaway is that everyone learns from doing. In this sense the PSIA-mandated internship was a very valuable part of my experience there. 

My advice to current students would be to consider the distinction between academia and professional policy work. I think making a choice between the internship and thesis opportunities at Sciences Po can be very decisive in terms of determining your next steps. The internship is a very valuable gateway into professions that do not typically hire people at the entry level, and through this you can gain very valuable experience that is applicable to a variety of roles. For those considering PhD’s and research-oriented roles, the thesis may be a better option, which you may also supplement with a gap year internship. Sciences Po offers a wide variety of interesting and pertinent coursework that can help you bridge the gap between prior academic experiences at the bachelor level and the working world, and my advice is to consolidate your interests and forge the path that feels right for you!