Not many policy students have made their professional debut against Bayern Munich. Nik White has, and that was just the beginning of a path that led him to the Ford Dorsey Master’s in International Policy (MIP) at Stanford University. The Port Moody native specialized in Cyber Policy and Security and is graduating this spring with plans for a career in public service, a direction that crystallized during his two years on campus.

Nik’s story starts on the soccer field. After captaining the Vancouver Whitecaps, representing Croatia, and spending eighteen months with Bundesliga side FC Nuremberg, he faced a defining decision. “Despite how well soccer was going, education had always been important to me, so I decided to start reaching out to college coaches.” He landed at Harvard, where he earned a degree in psychology, captained the soccer team for two years, and received the John P. Reardon ‘60 Men’s Award, given to the university’s top graduating scholar-athlete.

Because Covid canceled his first year of college competition, Nik had an extra year of NCAA eligibility. He entered the transfer portal and eventually received a call from Stanford. “It was a dream come true,” he says. After being offered a spot on the soccer team, he took a hard look at what the university had to offer academically. “I went through all of the graduate programs and MIP became a clear first choice. Between the small cohort, renowned faculty, the Vienna exchange program, the capstone, and alumni outcomes: it was a no-brainer.” He applied in December and was admitted in March. “A day I’ll never forget.”

He arrived expecting to specialize in Governance and Development. Halfway through his first year, that changed. “Semiconductors, AI,… the technologies that define power: I wanted to explore pressing topics I didn’t know much about.” A directed reading with Hoover Institution’s Herbert Lin bridged his undergraduate background in psychology with the dynamics of cyberattacks. Courses with faculty such as Andrew Grotto, Bradley Boyd, and Nand Mulchandani, including Economic Statecraft and AI, Autonomy, and the Future of Warfare, gave him the depth he was looking for.

One of the program’s highlights came during the fall of his second year, when Nik participated in an exchange at the Vienna School of International Studies (DA) with classmate Sophia Yushchenko. He spent ten weeks immersing himself in courses spanning international security, law, and diplomacy, as well as traveling to seven countries on various weekends. The rhythm was a departure from what he was used to. “At Stanford, the norm is weekly assignments,” he explains. “At the DA, it’s primarily readings throughout the quarter and then a sprint at the end. Over the final month, I submitted 70 pages of material and had two final exams. It was intense, but in a good way. I learned a lot and made several friends I’m still in touch with today.”

Back on campus, the MIP capstone pulled everything together. Nik’s team partnered with the cities of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and Armavir, Armenia—both grappling with histories of corruption—to build public trust. During the winter quarter, the team conducted virtual interviews before traveling to both cities over spring break. “It was an incredible experience. We got to meet everyone in both city halls, and they were all really supportive and receptive to our ideas. Beyond that, it was great to spend time with Tennyson [Teece] and Elena [Kim], two amazing people.” Our team’s recommendations centered on unscripted, two-way dialogue between officials and residents, as well as citizens’ assemblies that foster collective agency in decision-making. “Lots of meetings later, and with the support of Professors [Francis] Fukuyama and [Erik] Jensen, we presented two recommendations we believe are actionable and will have a real impact.”

Asked what he would tell someone considering graduate studies in international affairs, his answer is immediate: “Do it, and do it here. MIP is fine-tuned to give you new perspectives and push you toward what you’re passionate about. And you have the opportunity to branch out across campus to the business school, law school, and beyond.” He continues with advice to incoming students: “Spend as much time as possible with the people in the program. It’s a special group. Beyond that, immerse yourself in the Stanford community and have fun! It goes by fast. I can’t believe it’s already been two years.”

What will Nik carry with him? “Many good memories and people who will be a part of my life forever. As we all go our separate ways, I’m grateful to say that I’ll be able to reach out to someone in every corner of the world.”

Asked to sum it all up in one word, he doesn’t hesitate: “Transformational.”