4 min read

You don’t need to be born into tech to belong here. Marta de Zavala wasn’t. She studied business in Madrid, built her own company in Dubai, and now leads cybersecurity for IE School of Science & Technology. Every step came from one decision: to move forward even when it didn’t feel certain.

Today, Marta teaches professionals how to navigate the digital frontier. And while she makes it sound simple, there’s been a robust method to her success.

Let’s find out more from the next generation of women in STEM.

What happens when you step outside your comfort zone?

Marta’s story starts like many others—with a business degree and a sense that something was missing. “I wanted to have an international profile,” says Marta. “I went to Amman with the European Commission… to a refugee camp. And that was the turning point.”

That experience sparked the idea of writing a final undergraduate dissertation on microfinance and blockchain for the inclusion of refugees in the Middle East. “That research changed everything,” says Marta. “It opened my eyes to how technology can solve real human problems.” Soon after, Marta joined Dell Technologies to work in tech sales. “That’s where I really entered the STEM world,” says Marta. “I came from business, but I realized I wanted to stay in technology.”

Before long, Marta decided a master’s would be necessary to keep progressing in the field.

“It was tough financially—I don’t come from wealth. I wondered, do I buy a house or study a master’s? It was my life savings from working in sales,” says Marta. Fortunately, IE School of Science & Technology scouted Marta at an open day and offered her a grant. “That really moved the needle for me.”

Why does cybersecurity need women?

Having cut her teeth as a tech consultant at EY and Alvarez & Marsal, Marta used her connections working with major financial institutions and government clients across Spain and Saudi Arabia to launch her own cybersecurity venture in Dubai. “I noticed a need in the market for cybersecurity firms that could adapt to mid-size entities, not just the big players,” says Marta. “So I started Cysuite Group. We now have clients in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Europe, Portugal, the UK, and partnerships in South America.”

That sense of readiness defines how she works. “We don’t only look at systems and networks,” she says. “We look for what’s available online, breaches of confidentiality, oversharing… and we align cybersecurity with company strategy so it doesn’t become a roadblock.” But she’s quick to point out that technology isn’t the only vulnerability. “More than 80% of successful cyberattacks come from the human factor,” she says.

“People aren’t trained to identify threats. The same way your manners get formed at home, cybersecurity awareness should come from home.”

“CEOs are starting to understand the importance of cybersecurity,” says Marta. “They need translators who can connect the technical and business worlds. It’s not just for coders. Graduates [with knowledge in cybersecurity] might go into compliance, anti-money laundering, counter-terrorism, communications, or crisis management. There’s a lot of opportunity.”

What does it take to build your own path?

“There are stereotypes,” says Marta. “I’m not going to say there’s nothing to worry about as a woman… especially in a sector like Cybersecurity.” But Marta shrugs it off. “I was lucky. I worked with clients in the GCC that were visionary and innovative and didn’t consider the fact I was a woman when deciding to give me a chance or believe in my talent.” 

Marta’s rules for success are practical. “One is financial planning—it allowed me to make decisions out of willingness, not need. The second is networking. You need to go out and find your own luck. This position in IE, launching my firm, selling—that’s been networking.” 

And now, looking back, Marta understands how much education has shaped her vision.

“I have so much to give back to IE,” says Marta. “I’m here today as a business owner thanks to that decision of not buying a house. To study a master’s instead. Life is a mix of decisions. When you look back, you connect the dots.” 

Why study at IE School of Science & Technology?

You don’t have to come from tech to build a future in it. What matters is curiosity—and the courage to act on it. At IE School of Science & Technology, the Master in Computer Science & Business Technology gives you both. Through our new cybersecurity specialization, you’ll learn to think like a strategist and build like a technologist, understanding how digital protection shapes every business decision.

Led by IE alum and Cysuite Group founder Marta, the course turns real-world cases into hands-on learning. You’ll see how global companies anticipate threats, manage crises, and design systems that keep people—and data—safe. Whether you come from business, design, or communications, this is where your background becomes your edge.

If you’ve ever wondered whether STEM has space for you, this is your signal that it does. The skills you build here don’t just open doors—they make you the person who creates them. Step into the cybersecurity specialization and start shaping the systems the world will rely on next.