Testimonials

Why did you choose to undertake the SDA Bocconi DBA?

A top school with superb pedigree, programme flexibility that recognizes and respects my parallel engagements, underlined by newness which brings with it the opportunity and openness to evolve.

How is this choice satisfying your needs?

A bit too early to say...

Would you recommend this program? If yes why?

As above...

Your program in 3 words:

Exceptional forum (of) minds

Why did you choose to undertake the SDA Bocconi DBA?  

I wanted to update my knowledge on business administration courses and to acquire research skills while also working. This program fulfills these needs, plus it holds a triple accreditation and the university is highly ranked. I consider the state of the art campuses an added value.

How is this choice satisfying your needs?

Although it is early to judge since we only have completed the 1st residential module, the program is modern and classic, theoretical and practical, well paced, demanding but manageable, customized to individual needs even from the application process. The Professors are enthusiastic and help us grasp challenging notions, beyond the text provided. Also, I continuously receive prompt and to the point support from my thesis Advisor, she guides me on how to structure my dissertation and which papers I should focus on.

Would you recommend this program? If yes why?

Certainly, it is a development opportunity offering breadth and depth of knowledge and skills, and networking. Milan contributes to a holistic educational experience as it offers rich cultural venues, it is clean and the citizens are polite.

Your program in 3 words:

Innovative, inquisitive, personalized.

Why did you choose to undertake the SDA Bocconi DBA?

I chose the SDA Bocconi DBA because of its motto "Thought Leadership", which is not only important in doing business, but also beneficial in achieving a certain level of happiness.

How is this choice satisfying your needs?

I am very satisfied by my selection, as I found valuable the learning experience in the courses Organization, Logic, and Innovation by the Profs Foss, Grandori, and Fosfuri, respectively.

Would you recommend this program? if yes why?

I could happily recommend this Doctoral program because of the aforementioned reasons, the great 2019 rankings of the BU/SDAB by the FT, and the magnificent new campus.

Your program in 3 words:

"Futuristic Thought Leadership"

Why did you choose to undertake the SDA Bocconi DBA?

have chosen the SDA Bocconi DBA program for two major reasons, the excellence the school and the format of the program.

Firstly, after my Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering at MIT in 1995, I have pursued my MBA degree at SDA Bocconi in 2000, when I was totally satisfied with the quality of the program and the faculty. Since then, I could follow in the news that the school preserved its quality of education and even increased its position in various rankings among the best business schools in Europe and the world.

Secondly, as I am traveling for my work with an average number of trips around 30 and total days of around 120 per year, respectively, it would be very difficult for me to pursue a full-time DBA or PhD program, especially to physically attend the courses in an uninterrupted way in the first two years. The part-time format of the SDA Bocconi DBA program would allow me to smoothly continue my business activities as well as to pursue my academic studies in parallel. It will be much easier for me to arrange my time schedule for four residential modules of each one week to be present in Milan combined with three virtual modules for the first two years of the DBA program, than to be present at another school to physically attend courses on designated days on every week for two years, even in my hometown Istanbul.

How is this choice satisfying your needs?

The program satisfies both of my needs very well, i.e. (i) the quality of professors and teaching methods as well as the match of my thesis topic with the research area of my advisor are excellent, (ii) the blended format of the program is designed to be flexible enough to be synchronized with my work schedule.

Would you recommend this program? if yes why?

I would certainly recommend the program especially to people who would like to, after completing the program, continue to work and also teach simultaneously on a part-time basis. In this way, they would be able not only to continue to advance their managerial capabilities through rigorous thinking and research, but also give a deeper input to the academic world.

Your program in 3 words:

Superior, diversified, flexible

Why did you choose to undertake the SDA Bocconi DBA?

I have been thinking about doctoral studies for several years but could not find a program that was in Europe and was offered by an FT top ranked school with a strong reputation both academically and within management practice. As someone who has advised students over a couple of decades about business education, I always tell them that the ideal program is one offered by the best brand of business school, with the best reputation, the best professors, and a program that you can afford. This is the advice I followed - Bocconi is the top school in Italy, highly ranked by the Financial Times, highly cited professors at the top of their subject areas and I was offered a scholarship!

How is this choice satisfying your needs?

I love being at Bocconi and interacting with the faculty and my classmates. The nature of a doctoral program which is part time, is that you are a bit of an island following your own route but I don’t feel isolated because there is regular communication with my supervisor, the Head of the Program, and with my classmates. It is a supportive and responsive environment where I know I can get the help I need. I’ve also found that Bocconi’s connections to global business leaders are incredible. As part of my research, I’ve been introduced to executives I would not otherwise meet. I know that, as a result, my research output will be relevant, backed up by academic theory and informed by real practice. As a student, being able to leverage such a powerful brand’s connections is a rare opportunity. I honestly don’t know what other business school I would have this.

Would you recommend this program? If yes why?

The building blocks of the DBA program are in place to offer anyone serious about studying at doctoral level while working (this is a challenge not to be underestimated) to pursue their dream of becoming a thought-leader with a rigorous and relevant body of research to support them. SDA Bocconi will help you on this journey, what you need to provide is an enquiring mind, discipline and great time-management!

I would particularly recommend the program to women, who are in the minority. As a mother of three young women, my maternal and financial responsibilities are significant but I also believe that it’s important to be a role model to our daughters that they too can balance all the various demands and responsibilities and pursue their own goals and dreams. Bocconi is certainly a champion of women’s education through its scholarship program. I would urge any woman considering achieving the highest levels of education to apply to Bocconi.

Your program in 3 words:

Living the dream.

Why would you recommend the SDA Bocconi DBA?
The DBA program at SDA Bocconi allows for experimentation and innovation in the field due to its flexible Three year structure, high calibre faculty mentors and a broad spectrum of interesting topics in research. The taught modules involved an exceptional integration of academic rigour and practice, which allowed me to develop a perceptive outlook, a keen sense of ethics and an orientation towards questioning the traditional aspects of my organisation’s life. On a personal level, I highly enjoyed the residential modules where classrooms had a very friendly vibe encouraging variety of discussions amongst students and faculty.

Describe your SDA Bocconi experience and the importance of taking an International DBA in Milano?
Almost one year throughout the DBA and my experience thus far has been nothing short of exciting. It is not only an educational journey but more of an exploratory venture. The international aspect of Bocconi challenges me to look at every business concept and every function through the eyes of a learner, a researcher, and a scholar seeking to find opportunities for improvement. We may, as professionals, lose this unique sense of curiosity that researchers enjoy, so it is definitely worth doing this leap not only to develop in my career but also on a personal level.

DBA is not only an educational journey but more of an exploratory venture. The international aspect of SDA Bocconi challenges me to look at every business concept and every function through the eyes of a learner, a researcher and a scholar seeking to find opportunities for improvement.

If you're doing a DBA, you want to be surrounded by experts in research, faculty who are well-published and globally recognized: so far, that's been the case. And then, who doesn't want to study in Milan? This is an amazing city, so I'm so delighted to be in Milan and at SDA Bocconi.

What impressed me most is the academic rigour of the professors, their passion for the area of expertise as well as their availability and willingness to support. And, thanks to DBA, I have made friends for life: the colleagues on the program!