Every student’s path to Harvard Kennedy School is unique. What our alumni go on to do after graduating is equally varied.

We asked several of our alumni to tell us about their experiences before, during, and after HKS and how their time at Harvard shaped their careers and lives.

Having always been interested in public policy, Sophie Faaborg-Andersen MPP 2023 applied to HKS after two years working for a non-profit dedicated to public sector research. Her HKS coursework and experiences with the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs propelled her to a career working on cyber policy within the Department of Defense. 

Here’s what she shared.

_

Sophie Faaborg-Andersen headshot
“HKS refined my communication skills, helping me craft clear, impactful briefs and reports—all key components of my work today in advising senior leadership and shaping cyber policy.”
Sophie Faaborg-Andersen MPP 2023
  • Sophie Faaborg-Andersen graduation picture


    In Sophie’s current role, she serves as an advisor to the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (DASD) for Cyber Policy. She drafts policy and advises on reforms to address the intelligence needs of the cyberspace operations community and explores alternatives for cyber force design and readiness policy. She prepares executive briefs, decision papers, and other materials on cyber policy matters for DoD senior leadership, Congress, and international stakeholders, and she represents the department at interagency engagements. 

  • “The opportunity to engage with the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs was a significant factor in my decision to attend HKS. Its mission to advance policy-relevant knowledge at the intersection of security and technology perfectly aligned with my experience as an analyst at MITRE, as well as my long-term aspiration to shape policy in the rapidly evolving field of emerging tech.”

    The Belfer Center was a pivotal part of Sophie’s experience at HKS. As a Belfer Young Leader Fellow, she authored policy reports on digital standards and engaged with congressional staffers to shape legislative amendments based on her research. She also co-created and produced the Belfer Center’s first podcast on cyber policy, which featured expert debates and interviews on pressing global cybersecurity issues, along with five classmates.

  • Sophie applied to HKS to transition from being a practitioner in emerging technology and cybersecurity to being a policymaker. She also wanted to bridge her expertise in systems engineering and analysis with a deeper understanding of cyber policy. Her goal was to expand her knowledge in the interconnected fields of cybersecurity, technology policy, and national security.

  • Immediately after graduation, Sophie began working at the MITRE Corporation, a not-for-profit organization that operates federally funded research and development centers to support public sector missions. In this role, she partnered with U.S. government agencies to provide technical expertise and applied research to address complex challenges in national security, defense, and cybersecurity.

  • Graduates from Georgetown University with a bachelor’s degree in foreign service
“The coursework in policy design, security, and quantitative methods sharpened my analytical skills, while my experience at the Belfer Center enhanced my ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and think critically about cyber policy.”
Sophie Faaborg-Anderson 2023
Read Next Post
View All Blog Posts