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5 Lessons from 5 Years of DBA Mentoring: Dr. Iva Buljuba拧i膰

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Blog > 5 Lessons from 5 Years of DBA Mentoring: Dr. Iva Buljuba拧i膰

Written by Dr. Iva Buljuba拧i膰, DBA Mentor at SM调教社区 Geneva, and Dr. Mia Simcox, SM调教社区 Geneva Dean.

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As a DBA Mentor at the Swiss School of Business and Management, I have the privilege of mentoring DBA candidates alongside my colleague, the Dean, Dr. Mia Simcox.

Working with experienced professionals who bring real business challenges into academic research has taught us five important lessons:

  1. Business experience is the starting point – not the final answer.
    Practical expertise becomes more powerful when it is examined critically, supported by evidence, and connected to established theory.
  2. 听The best DBA research begins with a real organisational problem.
    Research creates the greatest value when it addresses an issue that matters to decision-makers, employees, customers, or society – not only to academic readers.

  3. Academic rigour and business relevance are not opposites.
    A strong DBA project combines robust methodology with findings that leaders can understand,听apply, and translate into action.

  4. Mentoring is a partnership, not simply supervision.
    Our role is to challenge assumptions, ask difficult questions, provide structure, and help
    candidates    听develop their own scholarly and professional voice.

  5. The DBA journey transforms the researcher as much as the organisation.
    Candidates do not simply produce a dissertation. They become more reflective leaders, more
    disciplined    听decision-makers, and more confident contributors to professional knowledge.

5 Lessons from 5 Years of DBA Mentorship Dr. Iva Buljuba拧i膰
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