The Doctorate for Human-Centered Leaders
Drucker School of Management and EHL Hospitality Business School have joined forces to offer you the Doctor in Business Administration (DBA). We’ve designed the program for accomplished senior executives who seek to lead by example and with impact, and to create positive change in their organizations and their own lives. This program is an intellectual pursuit that empowers you to engage in meaningful discussions on global leadership, business, and societal challenges driven by cross-disciplinary thinking, original research, and strategic insights.
Prioritizing a human-centered philosophy, the program incorporates the timeless ideas from Peter Drucker, enriched with the customer and people centric principles of hospitality management from EHL as well as cutting-edge research in management. You will, therefore, explore the intersections between leadership, organizational behavior, humanities, and various business disciplines to navigate global challenges with a people-first mindset. The DBA is an exclusive forum where senior leaders come together with faculty experts around a shared purpose: to build thriving, functioning organizations and societies.
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Program Benefits
You will develop rigorous (yet relevant) research skills and master complex concepts, enabling you to engage in informed dialogue on topics of your choice. You’ll amplify your career (and this includes your career-transitions) by maximizing your impact within your current organization, while opening new doors in academia, consulting, and thought-leadership. You’ll also gain an exclusive international network of like-minded senior leaders to challenge and support you along the way.
Program Highlights
- Focus on Human-Centered Management: This program offers a unique approach to humanistic management, blending the time-honored insights from hospitality with leadership, organizational behavior, deep customer insight, humanities, social sciences for concrete business, non-for profit, and public sector applications.
- Practical Integration for Real-World Results: Courses and your own research agenda combine academic rigor with practical application, building on the experience you accumulated over the years to address management challenges and offering hands-on leadership training for real-world impact.
- Designed for Full-Time Executives: We are confident that you can fit this into your schedule thanks to a curriculum that’s primarily online, offering and a ‘doable’ blend of asynchronous and synchronous lecture material. You’ll also complete your Doctoral Research Project progressively throughout the 3-year program. The program’s curriculum is designed with a clear goal in mind: helping you finalize (and publish) your dissertation so that it can inspire the next generation of leaders.
- Global Network and Perspectives: The program includes three weeklong seminars in the Europe, USA, and Asia, offering international exposure and opportunities to connect with peers and faculty. We value human interaction and strive to maximize real-time and where possible, real-space, interaction.
- Accredited by AACSB and WASC: Almost needless to say – the program offers global recognition via the top accreditation bodies. Even more interestingly, as a graduate, you gain membership to both EHL and Drucker alumni networks.
Career Paths
The DBA enhances your expertise and leadership skills, allowing you to make a greater impact in your current career or explore new opportunities which may be adjacent to your existing career path or – indeed – be off the beaten track. You decide. We feel certain that our graduates will receive an extra-boost of confidence enabling you to take the next level as business leaders, shaping practices and driving innovation; university instructors, contributing to teaching and research; consultants, offering expert advice to organizations and policymakers; speakers, presenting original ideas at conferences; and board members, guiding organizational strategy and oversight. You may also wish to consider applying for faculty positions on the Professor of Practice level at Drucker or EHL upon successful completion of the program. Are you ready?
Ideal Candidates
Our DBA program is designed for:
- Senior executives with at least 10 years of professional experience, including significant leadership roles and responsibilities.
- Professionals from diverse industries, organizations, and disciplines. This diversity is intended to enrich the participants’ learning experience and network.
- Leaders who align with the program’s with human-centered purpose.
Learn more about our Business Administration (DBA) Cohort.
Program At-a-glance
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64 units
required units
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Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) (AACSB Accredited)
degree awarded
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Hybrid
modality
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Summer
program start
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3 years | part time
estimated completion time
Faculty
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Betrand Audrin
Assistant Professor
Research Interests
Digital transformation of organizations, human resource management, emotional intelligence in digital environments.
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Stefano Borzillo
Associate Professor
Research Interests
Organizational behavior, team dynamics, communities of practice.
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Matthias Fuchs
Assistant Professor
Research Interests
Digital consumer behavior, product and service configurators, customer feedback systems, and sustainable marketing.
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Michael Gibbert
Professor at Universita Della Svizzera Italiana, Adjunct Professor & Director of the Sustainability Lab at EHL
Research Interests
Innovation under resource constraints, sustainable marketing, branding, consumer behavior.
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Stephen Gilliland
University Professor
Research Interests
Organizational Justice, Employee Attitudes and Motivation, Leadership
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Joshua Goode
Professor of History and Cultural Studies
Chair, Cultural Studies DepartmentResearch Interests
Modern Spain, 19th- and 20th-century Europe, Genocide and racial thought, Museums and commemoration, Memory
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Stefan Güldenberg
Full Professor
Research Interests
Strategic management, sustainable leadership, knowledge management, and organizational learning.
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Bernie Jaworski
Peter F. Drucker Chair in Management and the Liberal Arts
Research Interests
Client Management, Leadership, Management, Marketing, Strategy
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David Pagel
Professor of Art Theory and History
Faculty Coordinator, Center for Business & Management of the Arts
Chair, Art DepartmentResearch Interests
Art, Art media, Painting, Contemporary Art, Art Criticism, Museums and Creativity
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Katharina Pick
Academic Director, MBA Programs
Clinical Full ProfessorResearch Interests
Organizational behavior, Teams, Organizational theory, Leadership, Corporate governance, Power and influence
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Steffen Raub
Full Professor
Research Interests
Organizational behavior, employee empowerment, organizational citizenship behavior, sustainability, and corporate social responsibility (CSR).
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David Sprott
Henry Y. Hwang Dean, Drucker School of Management
Professor of MarketingResearch Interests
Retailing, branding, influence strategies, marketing public policy
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Hideki Yamawaki
Ito Chair of International Business and Professor of Management
Research Interests
Design Thinking, Competitive Strategy, International Business, International Trade, and Foreign Direct Investment
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Laura Zizka
Associate Professor
Research Interests
Strategic and crisis communication, corporate social responsibility, corporate reputation, and higher education.
Affiliated Faculty
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Robert Klitgaard
University Professor
Research Interests
Public Policy, Economic Strategy, Institutional Reform, Corruption
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Itamar Shabtai
Clinical Full Professor
Research Interests
IT and Innovation, Healthcare Information Technology, Economics of Information systems, Cyber Security and Innovative Technologies in Higher Education
Curriculum
- Degree Requirements: Participants must successfully complete the DBA program in its entirety, a total of 64 units, to obtain the DBA degree.
- The core of the program is 48 units of coursework, including courses, intensive seminars, and the doctoral research project.
- The remaining 16 units needed to obtain the 64-unit DBA degree may either be transferred from prior graduate studies, or must otherwise be completed from a proposed list of courses offered by the two schools. This will be assessed on a case basis.
- Curriculum Overview: The core curriculum of the DBA program offers 48 units of coursework. Alongside the Doctoral Research Project, the curriculum entails a set of dedicated doctoral level courses delivered by EHL Hospitality Business School and the Drucker School of Management at Claremont Graduate University. The remaining 16 units needed to obtain the 64-unit DBA degree may either be transferred from prior graduate studies or taken from a proposed list of courses offered by the two schools.
- Coursework:
Coursework of the core DBA curriculum is grouped into four main streams: Methods and Theory, the Leadership Core, the Multi-disciplinary Core and the Doctoral Research Project. Methods and Theory (12 units). Leadership Core (8 units). Multidisciplinary Core (14 units). Doctoral Research Project (14 units). The DBA courses are delivered mostly online, with three week-long intensive seminars taking place in Switzerland (Lausanne), U.S. (Claremont), and Singapore. The intensive seminars combine experiential coursework and doctoral discussions at key moments throughout the program journey.The program includes a detailed assessment plan to ensure continuous improvement and alignment with AACSB accreditation standards. - Research Topic Options:
Consumer Behavior
Organizational Behavior
Leadership
Sustainability
Luxury
Finance
Strategy
Technology and AI
Real Estate - Capstone:
The program culminates with the completion of the 3-year Doctoral Research Project. The program’s guided research journey is structured as follows:
Year 1: Define your groundbreaking research topic and craft your research proposal.
Year 2: Conduct your empirical research.
Year 3: Develop your findings and discuss how they transform practice. The journey is designed to ensure success as outputs at each milestone build up to a complete thesis. - Competencies and Learning Outcomes:
Understanding and applying management practice concepts. Utilizing analytical and methodological tools. Formulating action plans for organizational impact. Communicating research results to stakeholders.
Application Guidelines
| University Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Application Fee | $80 (fee is non-refundable) |
| Official Transcripts | Undergraduate/graduate Applicants must submit a sealed, official transcript from every undergraduate and graduate institution that has granted the applicant a degree. Electronic transcripts sent to admissions@cgu.edu are also accepted. For undergraduate coursework, applicants are required to submit proof of a completed bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Unofficial copies of transcripts are accepted for review purposes, but official copies will be required upon admission. Applicants currently earning a degree that will be completed prior to attending CGU are required to submit a transcript showing work in progress for evaluation purposes. Once the degree has been granted, a final official transcript documenting the degree conferred must be submitted to CGU. International applicants are advised to review the International Transcript Guidelines for additional information on submitting international transcripts. |
| English Proficiency Exam | Required (international applicants only) In general, a valid score on one of the following examinations TOEFL (min. score 95), IELTS (min. 7.0 with no sub-score less than a 6.5), Pearson PTE (min. score 66), Duolingo English Test (min. score 125) is required of all non-native English-speaking applicants. However, English proficiency may also be assessed during the admissions interview. The examination is not required for the following applicants:
International applicants are encouraged to visit our International Applicants page for more information, including score requirements. |
| Resume | Applicants must submit an up-to-date copy of their resume. |
| Program Requirements | |
|---|---|
| Statement of Purpose | Please submit a 2-3 page statement of purpose that details your academic and/or professional achievements, your specific areas of research interest within your desired field of study, why you are a strong candidate for graduate studies at CGU, and your career goals. |
| Academic Prerequisites | A bachelors degree is required. A master’s degree is preferred. Candidates should have a minimum of ten years of full-time professional work experience in leadership. |
| References | Please provide three references that can attest to your work ethic, research experience, and/or readiness for graduate study. A letter of recommendation is not required from your references, but they may be contacted for additional information during the application review process. |
| Interview | Required Upon review of your application, you may be invited for an interview, which is required for admission. An admission decision will not be issued until the interview is complete. |
Key Dates & Deadlines
CGU operates on a priority deadline cycle. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit complete applications by the priority dates in order to assure maximum consideration for both admission and fellowships.
Once the priority deadlines have passed, the University will continue to review applications for qualified candidates on a competitive, space-available basis. The final deadlines listed are the last date the University can accept an application in order to allow sufficient time to complete the admissions, financial aid, and other enrollment processes.
Summer 2026
Priority Deadline (Domestic) – February 1, 2026
Final Deadline (International) – June 1, 2026
Final Deadline (Domestic) – June 1, 2026
Classes Begin June 2026
Lausanne, Switzerland Residential (Mandatory Program Start) – June 2026
Cost & Aid
Tuition is based only on the units you are required to take to achieve the DBA. Depending on whether you have a prior graduate degree, the units you are required to take to complete the program may range from a minimum of 48 units to a maximum of 64 units (see degree requirements or talk to a recruitment advisor).
- Tuition per unit: 2,500 CHF (120,000 CHF for 48 units of coursework or 160,000 CHF for 64 units of coursework).
- Program fees: 5,000 CHF for each of the 3 global intensive seminars (15,000 CHF total). These fees include accommodation and meals, but not airfare, airport connections, or other expenses related to traveling for the intensives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Designed for senior professionals, this FAQ addresses the most common questions about the DBA program delivered by The Drucker School of Management (CGU) in partnership with EHL Hospitality Business School
(EHL). From research structure to program logistics, this guide will help you understand what to expect so that you can focus on advancing your career and contributing original, applied research to your field.