Alexia Collot d’Escury Ariza

Educated internationally, Alexia Collot d'Escury Ariza never doubted she would study law. What kept her up at night was where. The borders between legal systems posed an unshakeable problem, which IE University's Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) in Comparative Law solved — training her across Continental European Civil Law and Common Law, keeping her opportunities global. 

At IE, the approach went beyond traditional legal education. She competed in moot courts, hackathons, and challenges, earning distinctions all the way to Strasbourg. "IE University won't show you who to be," Alexia reflects, "but how to figure out who you are. When you graduate, you take away a toolbox of means and methods — but how full it is also depends on you."  

She graduated in July 2024 with a cumulative average of 9.77/10, the title of Outstanding Student, and a place on the NOVA 111 Student List as one of Spain's top ten law graduates. The path ahead appeared straightforward: take the bar exam and become a lawyer in Spain. 

Yet, her future changed forever when she was accepted to study the Master of European Law of Bruges. "I packed my bags, leaving the comfortable certainty of national law practice", she recalls, "and with my suitcase full of memories from Madrid, I gave a last hug to my friends". By the time she started her Master, a new certainty had settled in: she wouldn’t go back, for now. "That", Alexia says, "was the moment I became a law graduate who didn’t want to become a lawyer, because I had other questions on my mind."

Those questions had been building for years. Throughout her legal studies, she'd always been drawn to politics, geopolitics, international security, and relations. She followed extracurricular seminars, conferences, certifications, internships and published legal theses on cyber operations. It seems that public policy offered everything she had been unable to choose between. 

That is why, in September 2025, Alexia joined Amazon Web Services’ Public Policy department in Brussels. Working under the EMEA Competition Policy and Regulated Industries Director, she deals with cloud computing and artificial intelligence legislation, politics and affairs at European Union and Member State levels — spanning competition policy, healthcare, financial services, and other horizontal files. 

No day is ever like the previous. "Working in public policy requires the ability to adapt to known unknowns, unknown unknowns, and fast-paced environments," she explains. As an intrinsically human discipline, she regularly meets actors from the political and regulatory scene, the business world, and other interest representations. Alexia adds, "it is indispensable to feature a high degree of sociopolitical and cultural sensitivity, diplomatic skills, and situational awareness".   

Public Policy is a "never-ending degree", she describes, because information becomes as quickly outdated as the last minute’s news. You must therefore be creative and have "child-like curiosity". Most importantly, you must be ready "get out of your comfort zone", but Alexia reassures, "you will grow to love this aspect of the profession". 

For students considering this path, Alexia's advice is direct: find a mentor and be brave. Be bold enough to reach out to that person you admire, sign-up for that course you have been eyeing. "Break free from predefined plans and 'safe' routes."

She pauses. "I did not throw away a legal career — I made a very exciting one."  

A career that shapes law, global affairs, international politics and economics requires an education that aligns with your passions and gives you the insight to lead with purpose and impact. The Master in Public Policy, offered through IE School of Politics, Economics & Global Affairs, is built around this kind of thinking. Rigorous and internationally focused, it equips graduates with the tools they need to shape the future.