1
1
By Michelle Lopez
The FIU Business Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) program, which helps professionals step beyond the boardroom, has seen demand outpace available capacity, with enrollment tripling in just a few years.
"Demand is the reason the program intake has grown since 2018," said George Marakas, associate dean for research and doctoral studies at FIU Business. "We now have three annual intakes – two in the fall and one in the spring."
The program, designed for senior-level executives seeking to lead with research-based insight, has graduated 93 professionals to date. Its growing reputation among C-suite leaders across industries has made it one of the most competitive offerings at FIU Business.
The FIU DBA's structure is tailored to working professionals, many of whom hold top-level positions in fields such as finance, healthcare, technology and luxury retail. The program's practical, applied research focus continues to resonate with leaders looking to address real-world challenges with scholarly depth.
"In luxury retail, the pace is fast, and decisions often rely on intuition. The DBA has taught me how to pause, reflect and validate those instincts with research."
– Michele Viso
That's exactly what drew Michele Viso (DBA '24), regional senior client services manager for Cartier South America, to the program. Based in Miami, she oversees after-sales operations for the Americas, where quick decision-making is critical.
"In luxury retail, the pace is fast, and decisions often rely on intuition," Viso said. "The DBA has taught me how to pause, reflect and validate those instincts with research."
Viso's dissertation focused on sustainability in the luxury sector, exploring how shifting consumer attitudes are influencing brand behavior. "Being able to tailor my research to a subject I'm passionate about, and one that's highly relevant to my company, was a huge benefit," Viso said.
Graduates like Viso are using their research to create change inside their organizations and beyond. Some, including Viso, are also stepping into academic roles, bridging theory and practice in the classroom.
Many business schools offer doctoral programs, with 163 tracked globally by the Dubai Rankings, which rank academic research programs applied to business, and demand continues to rise globally.
According to a report on the future of the DBA market from the Executive DBA Council, 29% of survey respondents believe the DBA market will grow considerably, while 57% think it will grow somewhat in the coming years.
Now entering its seventh year, the FIU Business DBA program stands as a testament to the power of aligning scholarship with leadership — and the strong market appetite for exactly that.
