Alum’s journey from Boise State to global tech governance at Microsoft

Dooshima Dabo'Adzuana, a 2025 Boise State Master of Science in Cybersecurity graduate, now works in cyber diplomacy at Microsoft.

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, she chose Boise State's Master of Science in Cybersecurity, selecting the management track within the College of Business and Economics.

"When I first explored Boise State, the ethos of 'Blue Turf Thinking' resonated immediately," she said. "The program's multidisciplinary design blending management, core computer science and data analytics creates a remarkably rich environment. Cybersecurity is fundamentally about harmonizing people, process and technology. It can never remain in a technical silo; it requires translating complex realities into clear, actionable governance."

Leveraging research and mentorship for industry reach

Dabo'Adzuana interviews Amy Flesicher, dean of the College of Engineering, for her podcast.

Dabo'Adzuana's time at Boise State quickly extended beyond the classroom, nurtured by a campus community where she found faculty and leadership to be supportive of student vision. Alongside her academic work, she stepped into student governance as Senator for the Graduate College to advocate for her peers. She also launched a podcast from Albertsons Library, where she hosted insightful conversations, including an interview with Amy Fleischer, dean of the College of Engineering.

Mentored by Information Technology Management faculty members Doug Twitchell and Mahesh Boodraj, Dabo'Adzuana was selected to present her research at the RSA Conference in San Francisco, the world's largest cybersecurity event by combined attendance and enterprise vendor presence, regularly drawing over 40,000 professionals. This platform connected her with leaders across the industry, expanding her network and opening the door to her role at Microsoft.

Dabo'Adzuana graduated in 2025 with a Master of Science in Cybersecurity

For Dabo'Adzuana, working within technology governance has personal full-circle resonance. She remembers growing up as a teenager in Nigeria in the early 2000s when the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo, implemented a new policy that brought the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) telecommunications revolution to the country. Her father purchased mobile phones for the entire family, and holding that Nokia 3310 marked her first experience with how technology could transform a nation's possibilities.

Today, her work at Microsoft on international standards and governance to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more, feels deeply meaningful.

"Boise State provided the environment where my best could emerge out of the blue," she reflects. "From experiencing the power of connectivity as a young girl in Nigeria to helping shape global technology standards today, it is a reminder that when you pair a supportive environment and rigorous preparation with clarity of purpose, the right opportunities naturally align."

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