Kristin Thue

In our 3 Questions To series we introduce women working in defence and security. This time it is our pleasure to introduce Kristin Thue, who is on the Leadership Team of WIIS UK. Originally from Norway, she has a background in gender equality advocacy and sexual violence prevention, and has participated extensively in public debates on these issues. Her engagement in the debate around the female foreign fighters of ISIS led her to pursue an MA at the War Studies Department at King’s College London, where she graduated in 2020. She now works as a researcher in the Defence and Security team at RAND Europe.

What are you currently working on?

I am a researcher in the Defence & Security team at RAND Europe. Working at RAND is synonymous with variation! I work on multiple projects for different clients at the same time. Currently it is a colourful mix of counter-radicalisation, defence & climate change, human rights, and the defence workforce. I also sneak in some communications work where I can, I have a background in advocacy from Norway and really enjoy external-facing engagements. Outside of work, being on the WIIS Leadership Team enables me to combine my interest in security with my passion for women’s rights.

What are the opportunities and challenges of working in your field?

Given the breadth of projects I work on, it can be challenging to stay updated on the relevant developments within the multiple different sub-topics of security and defence. This also comes on top of developing methodological and analytical skills as a researcher! I have to prioritise and draw the line somewhere. On the bright side, this field is ever evolving and there are always new opportunities that arise as policy priorities change. The more diverse skillsets and interests we can cultivate, the better.

As a relatively junior employee, I also really relate to the challenges of finding a first job in our field. I finished my MA in 2020 when the job market was basically non-existent, and being unemployed was just awful. I would encourage all students to put effort into finding internships, making connections (think of it as finding new friends), and getting some exposure while they are still in the protected university bubble. A lot of nailing that first position can come down to luck as well as skills, but that doesn’t mean you can’t be the lucky one!

What advice would you give your younger self?

You need to find ways of working that actually suit your personality type. For example, I find working from home quite challenging. I thrive off other people’s energy and ideas, and I need those impulses in my everyday life to perform at my best. My bedroom is hardly a dynamic and fast-paced working environment! Interesting work is great, but you need to create a lifestyle to match. Setting yourself up for success on your own terms is much more useful than lamenting that you don’t fit within a certain box.

In other words: follow your gut instincts and take the approach that work for you. It has taken me some time and experimenting to create a full life that makes me happy (hint: it deviates quite far from a lot of mainstream career and self-care advice). I am ambitious about my career, but also equally ambitious about my personal life. Ask yourself not only what you want to do, but who you want to be.