Cyril Estier
Name: Cyril Estier
Programme: MPA Data Science for Public Policy, Class of 2026
Nationality: Swiss-British
The programme is especially well suited to people who want to pursue technical roles in governments, international organisations or other public institutions. This is where the combination of policy knowledge and data science can be particularly valuable. It is also where students can benefit most from the experience of their classmates, the programme’s institutional connections and the wider range of events at LSE.
Can you tell us about your background and why you chose to study the MPA DSPP programme at SPP?
I completed a dual bachelor’s degree at Sciences Po Paris and UC Berkeley, with a focus on political economy.
At Sciences Po, I became interested in public policy and collective action problems. Studying at Berkeley, in the heart of Silicon Valley, then showed me how data science could be used to understand these problems with precise and rigorous frameworks. I don’t like to guess, and data science offered a way to limit it!
The MPA DSPP at LSE School of Public Policy brought those two interests in one. It offered the combination of public policy and technical training that I was looking for.
We hear you have cofounded a company called Arti. Can you explain a bit more about the work and how it links with your studies?
While studying at LSE, I applied to the LSE Generate Accelerator, a programme which is dedicated to the most promising early‑stage startups co‑founded by LSE alumni, students, and staff. My application with my company, Arti, was selected as part of the programme.
Arti provides scalable sexual harassment prevention training for university students. We wanted to build something that students could really engage with and learn from to replace the usual quick click through tick-box exercises.
My studies helped me understand the problem more rigorously. For example, poorly designed training has potential to create resistance rather than change behaviour. Data science gave me the tools to identify and analyse those problems. Entrepreneurship gave me a way to start building something that might solve them.
I continue to use many of the analytical and technical tools from the programme in Arti’s development.
What have been some of your takeaways from your studies? How are you hoping to apply these to your next steps?
One of my main takeaways has been learning how to answer questions rigorously rather than jumping too quickly to convenient conclusions. I still bring that healthy degree of scepticism to every decision we make at Arti.
Professor Casey Kearney’s teaching had a particularly strong influence on me. He is one of the best teachers I have had, and his approach gave me a practical analytical toolbox that I still use when improving Arti’s core product and evaluating whether it is actually working.
What are your hopes or plans for your future after graduation?
My main goal is to take Arti into its next stage and expand its impact from universities into workplaces.
I want to continue working on harassment prevention, particularly on how organisations can move beyond policy documents and build systems that influence behaviour. I expect entrepreneurship to remain a major part of my future.
Who would you recommend the programme to?
Although I personally moved towards entrepreneurship, I think the MPA DSPP is especially well suited to people who want to pursue technical roles in governments, international organisations or other public institutions.
This is where the combination of policy knowledge and data science can be particularly valuable. It is also where students can benefit most from the experience of their classmates, the programme’s institutional connections and the wider range of events at LSE.
What advice would you give to anyone who is considering studying the MPA DSPP? Any practical tips for those preparing to join the MPA-DSPP from overseas?
Come with a reasonably clear idea of the field or problem you want to work on.
You do not need to have your entire career planned, but having a practical area of interest makes a significant difference. It gives the technical material a purpose and helps you understand why you are learning it. You also get much more from the programme when you can immediately connect new methods to a problem you care about.
What is your favourite thing about living and studying in London?
No question here: the parks and the dogs.
Where is your favourite spot on campus?
LSE GenDen, the university’s entrepreneurship hub and incubator, which is located in the centre of campus.
Can you describe your SPP experience so far in 3 words?
Foundational. Intriguing. Resourceful.
Cyril is happy to connect via LinkedIn, and you can follow more on Arti here.