Can you tell us a bit about yourself, your career background, and any previous qualifications? 

I am a certified management consultant with 20+ years of experience. During my career, I have worked for top companies and helped organisations in many different fields, including Fortune 500 companies. My first degree was in computer science, which gave me analytical and systematic way of thinking. My second degree is an MBA with a concentration in talent management. 

On top of that, I have a few certifications to support my career, such as SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SCP), Global Professional in Human Resources from HRCI, and Certified Coach by the International Coaching Federation (ICF).

Along the way, I have also attended a few professional development courses at top universities such as Harvard, Virginia Darden School of Business, London Business School, and others.

What first attracted you to Warwick Business School and the DBA?

A doctorate requires a four-year time and financial commitment. As a result, I spent considerable time shortlisting prestigious universities with a track record of contributing to the global body of knowledge. Warwick Business School (WBS) was indeed at the top of that list. 

WBS is highly ranked globally and has a tradition of providing quality research opportunities for students.

The main reasons that made me think about pursuing a DBA at WBS are as follows: 

• Firstly, I was attracted by the excellent faculty, including Professors of Practice, who are industry experts, as well as the supervisors and researchers who contribute to the current body of knowledge and HR practices
• Secondly is the “Academic Rigor”; WBS students learn from top-class faculty, and more importantly, they learn from the high-profile colleagues and students in the class. WBS has diverse cohorts from several parts of the world from various industries. All this feeds into introducing the learner to various perspectives
• Thirdly, I liked the structure of the DBA programme, where students invest the first two years learning about the research best practices and narrowing down their topic, while the last two years are dedicated more towards the literature review research methods and analysis. Throughout the learning journey, you also get to participate in the annual DBA conference, where students from various cohorts and different topics meet to learn from each other and share learning takeaways.
• Finally, career opportunities. After completing the DBA, students leave with an in-depth knowledge of business and a breadth of transferable skills that are high values in the workplace; this allows WBS graduates to stand out from the crowd.

Can you tell us a bit about your chosen DBA project and why you chose this?

Originally, I wanted to explore the impact of emerging technologies from the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) on Human Resources (HR). By the second year, I narrowed down my research to study the relationship between characteristics that affect the “willingness of recruiters” to adopt Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their function. The three main areas I look at are Technology, Human and Job-Role characteristics. The theory is based on the Technology Readiness and Acceptance Model (TRAM).

How important has the interaction with your supervisor and/or WBS academics been during your DBA?

As a DBA student, you will be assigned supervisor(s) who are top contributors in the field of research, that you meet with once every two months. The aims of these meetings are to discuss progress, bounce ideas, reflect on the journey, and ensure that you are on track toward the end goal within the agreed timeline. 

Another great asset for the students is that halfway through, you have to present your progress to a panel of academic experts within their field. The panel's goal is to ensure that you are on the right path and, more importantly, prepare you for the tough viva questions towards the end of your DBA journey. 

Overall, the quality of education on the WBS DBA is outstanding. This DBA has allowed me to utilise the key takeaways from my years of experience with many top global firms. With the guidance of my supervisor, I have identified practical gaps, and the DBA is allowing me to address an intervention that will help bridge the gap through academic and quantitative primary research.

Find out more about the DBA programme here.