In December 2025, when Dooshima Dabo’Adzuana completed her Master of Science in Cybersecurity, it was the natural next step in a career focused on governance and strategy. Today, she brings her strategic perspective to Microsoft as part of the Corporate, External and Legal Affairs, or CELA, group. Working alongside colleagues whose expertise spans national security, cybersecurity, government affairs and global institutions, the group focuses on technology’s ability to improve lives and advance solutions to complex global problems, shaping a more secure and inclusive digital future. Global roots and the path to cyber diplomacy Growing up in Uganda and Nigeria, Dabo’Adzuana established a global foundation early on, earning a bachelor’s degree in management from the University of London. Her interest in cybersecurity began while working at AXA, a French multinational insurance and financial services corporation, during a major data privacy regulation transformation. While her team navigated strict compliance timelines and high-consequence operational shifts, Dabo’Adzuana recognized a compelling discipline that required a blend of negotiation, systemic foresight and behavioral leadership. This interest led her to cyber diplomacy today. “Cyber diplomacy is an emerging field in international security that facilitates international cooperation frameworks, norms of behavior, information sharing and trust-building among industries and nations,” Dabo’Adzuana said. “At its core, it recognizes that new communication technologies offer unprecedented ways to interact with a wider public within an interdependent global network. Cyber diplomacy allows us to address digital opportunities and challenges head-on ensuring tech companies, governments and civil society can collaboratively safeguard digital assets.” She referenced this Georgetown University article for further explanation. Driven to deepen her understanding of the field, Dabo’Adzuana was selected for a prestigious cyber diplomacy fellowship for women hosted by the International Telecommunication Union, or ITU, focusing on technical and policy-focused training. Recognizing that long-term impact required a multidisciplinary academic background,