Alumni Interview: Paul Usieto’s Journey from BIS Abu Dhabi to Cybersecurity

Meet Paul Usieto, a member of the BIS Abu Dhabi Class of 2021. Now in his final year at CY Tech in France, Paul is specialising in Cybersecurity while gaining professional experience at Motherson. In this Q&A, he shares how his time at BIS Abu Dhabi and the IB helped shape his journey into engineering and cybersecurity.

What made BIS Abu Dhabi special for you?

The multi-cultural environment was truly unique. Being surrounded by students and staff from all over the world taught me adaptability and open-mindedness. It wasn't just about academics, it was about learning to collaborate with people from different backgrounds, a skill that is essential in my current engineering career.

Who was your favourite teacher, and why?

It is hard to choose just one, as every teacher played a key role in my development. However, I would like to highlight Ms. Butler (Maths) and Mr. Déposé (MFL). Mrs. Butler helped build the strong mathematical foundation that is now central to my engineering studies. Mr. Déposé fostered my appreciation for languages and communication, which has been incredibly useful in my international experiences and my ability to work in diverse teams.

Which school activity or trip inspired you the most?

The volunteering trip to Arusha, Tanzania, in December 2017 was a defining moment for me. We helped a local primary school improve their facilities and set up a permaculture system to help them become self-sufficient. It showed me how hands-on work and knowledge can have a tangible, positive impact on a community.

What is the most important lesson you learned at BIS Abu Dhabi?

Resilience and time management. Balancing the rigorous IB Diploma Programme workload with extracurriculars taught me how to stay organised and focused under pressure, skills I use daily in the tech industry

What ambitions did BIS Abu Dhabi inspire in you?

The school inspired me to use technology for general interest projects. The Maths, Physics and Computer Science IB options grounded my desire to become an engineer, specifically to solve complex problems that can help organisations and people be more secure and efficient.

Which university & degree did you choose, and why?

I chose to pursue a Master’s in Engineering (Diplôme d'Ingénieur) specialising in Computer Science at CY Tech in France. I wanted a programme that combined strong theoretical foundations in math and physics with practical IT skills. I recently completed a semester abroad at the University of Ljubljana to specialise further in Cryptography and Information System Security.

How did the IB help your experience at university?

The IB prepared me well for the intensity of the 'Classes Préparatoires' in France. The analytical skills gained in IB Maths and Physics, combined with the ability to work in English, gave me a significant advantage, especially when collaborating on international projects or reading technical documentation.

What has been your proudest moment since graduating?

Professionally, I am proud of my internship at Thales Middle East in Dubai, where I performed security audits and developed dashboards for vulnerability reporting. It was a full-circle moment to return to the UAE as a professional. More recently, leading a Data Battle team to build an AI chatbot for exam training was also a great technical achievement.

What are you doing now?

I am currently in my final year at CY Tech, specialising in Cybersecurity. I am completing this year as a work study student (en alternance) at Motherson, working as a System Administrator and Cybersecurity Specialist. In this role, I manage infrastructure and ensure the security of our information systems.