Doctor of Leadership

A Dual Degree Program Integrating Applied Leadership Practice and Research Excellence

The Doctor of Leadership (DOL) at Monarch Business School Switzerland is a premier applied doctoral program designed for accomplished professionals who wish to deepen their understanding of leadership as both a discipline and a lived practice. The program serves executives, consultants, coaches, and senior managers who recognize leadership as a moral, psychological, and strategic responsibility within organizations. Through its mentor-driven and research-based format, the DOL integrates scholarly inquiry with hands-on application, enabling candidates to generate practical insights while advancing leadership scholarship grounded in authenticity, ethics, and systemic awareness.

The curriculum bridges classical and contemporary theories of leadership with the realities of organizational transformation, equipping candidates to address complex, multi-stakeholder challenges. Participants are guided to critically examine their own leadership philosophy, engage with evidence-based research, and develop actionable frameworks capable of improving organizational effectiveness, culture, and decision-making. This emphasis on reflective professional practice ensures that each candidate’s research project contributes both to their personal evolution as a leader and to the collective body of management knowledge.

Within the DOL suite, Monarch also offers the Doctor of Applied Neuroscience in Leadership (DANL)—a specialized sub-program that explores the neurobiological and cognitive foundations of leadership, motivation, and behavior change. While grounded in neuroscience principles, the program remains firmly situated within management and leadership practice, emphasizing how an understanding of human behavior enhances organizational performance, coaching effectiveness, and executive decision-making. The DANL pathway appeals particularly to professionals in leadership development, coaching, and consulting, where understanding human behavior through an applied scientific lens provides an essential advantage. Together, the DOL and DANL embody Monarch’s commitment to producing leaders who combine intellectual depth, emotional intelligence, and evidence-based insight to foster positive transformation in people and organizations.

Graduates of the Doctor of Leadership program emerge as reflective scholar-practitioners—leaders capable of translating academic insight into meaningful organizational and societal impact. The program’s fusion of research, reflection, and application reflects Monarch’s vision of leadership as both an intellectual pursuit and a human endeavor. Whether through the DOL or its specialized DANL pathway, candidates join a global community dedicated to advancing responsible management and leading with wisdom, integrity, and transformative purpose.

Program Structure

The Doctor of Leadership (DOL) at Monarch Business School Switzerland follows a structured, milestone-based design that combines academic rigor with professional application. Each phase builds on the previous one, guiding the candidate from the foundations of leadership inquiry to the completion and defense of an applied doctoral manuscript. The sequence encourages both reflective scholarship and practical integration, ensuring that research outcomes hold direct value for organizations, teams, and leadership practitioners.

This progressive approach strengthens the candidate’s analytical, methodological, and self-reflective capabilities while reinforcing Monarch’s philosophy of leadership as a process of ethical action and human understanding. Throughout the program, faculty mentors and institutional review panels provide individualized guidance to help candidates integrate theory with practice and maintain the highest standards of applied doctoral scholarship.

The following phases outline the academic framework of the Doctor of Leadership, leading from initial preparation through to the culmination of the doctoral journey and demonstration of professional impact.

Preparatory Phase

Candidates begin with the Research Skills I and II modules, developing competencies in leadership inquiry, qualitative and mixed-methods research design, and reflective academic writing. The emphasis is on connecting lived leadership experience to conceptual and ethical frameworks that inform professional practice. Candidates identify an initial leadership challenge or question that will form the foundation of their applied research trajectory.

Proposal Phase

During this phase, candidates design and refine their doctoral research proposal, articulating a clear leadership question and methodological plan. The proposal must demonstrate conceptual depth, relevance to real-world leadership contexts, and the potential to generate meaningful managerial and developmental insight. Approval by the Academic Administration marks formal entry into the doctoral research stage.

Fieldwork Phase

Candidates conduct applied research within their organizational, consulting, or community contexts, frequently employing case-based, action research, phenomenological, or mini-ethnographic methodologies. The objective is to explore leadership behavior, cultural influence, and decision-making processes as they naturally occur within real environments. Through observation, dialogue, and reflection, candidates gather empirical data that illuminate the lived experience of leadership in action. The resulting insights provide the evidential foundation for theory development, leadership model refinement, and the advancement of ethical, context-sensitive leadership practice.

Manuscript Phase

Candidates synthesize their findings into an integrated doctoral manuscript that presents evidence-based leadership models, reflective frameworks, and applied recommendations. The manuscript must demonstrate how the candidate’s research contributes to leadership knowledge, professional effectiveness, and organizational improvement. It serves as a bridge between academic theory and leadership practice in real-world settings.

Presentation Stage

The program concludes with the formal presentation of the doctoral manuscript before the Review Committee. Candidates synthesize their research process, findings, and professional implications, demonstrating mastery of applied inquiry and leadership development. The presentation focuses on how the candidate’s work advances practical understanding, organizational effectiveness, and ethical leadership practice. This culminating stage affirms the candidate’s status as a reflective scholar-practitioner and recognizes the manuscript as a substantive contribution to applied leadership knowledge within the Monarch community and the broader professional domain.

The structured progression of the Doctor of Leadership ensures that candidates develop the full range of applied research, reflective, and interpersonal competencies expected of doctoral-level leaders. By the conclusion of the program, graduates demonstrate mastery in the design and execution of evidence-based leadership inquiry, the capacity to translate organizational and human challenges into actionable frameworks, and the ability to deliver practical outcomes that strengthen leadership culture and effectiveness. Each graduate embodies Monarch’s enduring commitment to ethical leadership, academic integrity, and transformative impact in management practice.

Key Program Features

•Applied doctoral pathway focused on leadership, culture, and change.
•Milestone-based structure enabling steady executive progress.
•Emphasis on ethical stewardship and stakeholder balance.
•Systems thinking and organizational sensemaking in practice.
•Qualitative and mixed-method designs oriented to impact.
•Designed for working leaders; asynchronous, professionally paced.
•Doctor of Applied Neuroscience in Leadership (DANL) — for qualified professionals integrating neuro-informed perspectives with leadership research.
•Mentorship by senior faculty; MRPS publication opportunities.

Program Features

The Doctor of Leadership (DOL) at Monarch Business School Switzerland is designed to meet the needs of experienced professionals who wish to engage in advanced applied research in leadership and organizational development while maintaining full professional commitments. The program integrates the intellectual depth of doctoral study with the practical focus required of executives, consultants, and leadership coaches seeking to elevate their impact through reflective, evidence-based practice.

Delivered through a flexible, milestone-based framework, the DOL enables candidates to integrate their research directly into their leadership, consulting, or organizational context. This approach ensures that scholarly inquiry remains grounded in lived experience and produces actionable outcomes of immediate value to both the candidate and their organization.

Milestone-Based Structure Candidates progress through structured research milestones rather than fixed semesters, allowing individual pacing within a guided and mentored framework.
Applied Leadership Inquiry Each doctoral manuscript addresses a real-world leadership or organizational challenge, generating frameworks, reflective models, and recommendations that can be implemented in practice.
Professional Relevance Designed for professionals in management, consulting, and leadership coaching, the DOL develops reflective scholar-practitioners capable of translating theory into meaningful action and organizational improvement.
Flexible Delivery Conducted in a fully online, asynchronous format with individualized faculty mentorship, enabling participation from anywhere in the world without disruption to professional obligations.
Ethical and Human-Centered Focus The program reflects Monarch’s commitment to responsible leadership, emphasizing self-awareness, empathy, and ethical judgment as integral to effective organizational decision-making.
Integrated Recognition Successful completion of the program also confers the Master-in-Passing (MA in Business Research), recognizing mastery of applied research design, reflective methodology, and leadership analysis achieved within the doctoral journey.

Together, these features reflect Monarch’s philosophy of professional doctoral education—one that unites reflective practice, ethical leadership, and scholarly rigor. The DOL prepares graduates not only to understand complex human and organizational dynamics but also to transform them through informed insight, compassion, and purposeful leadership.

Master-in-Passing

The Doctor of Leadership (DOL) at Monarch Business School Switzerland incorporates a flexible and academically rigorous framework that recognizes both professional progression and scholarly achievement through the Master of Arts (MA) in Business Research. The MA serves as an integral milestone within the doctoral journey, affirming Monarch’s commitment to accessibility, academic progression, and excellence in applied management and leadership research.

Master-in-Passing (Default Award)

Candidates who choose to conclude their studies prior to completing the DOL may qualify for the MA in Business Research as a terminal award by submitting a completed applied leadership manuscript. The MA in this form does not require an original theoretical contribution but rather demonstrates the candidate’s capacity to conduct applied research, interpret complex leadership challenges, and generate actionable recommendations of professional value.

Master-in-Exit (Terminal Award)

Candidates who choose to conclude their studies prior to completing the DOL may qualify for the MA in Business Research or, alternatively, the MA in Leadership as a terminal award.

  • The MA in Business Research recognizes scholarly proficiency in applied research methods, analytical reasoning, and evidence-based inquiry within a management context.

  • The MA in Leadership emphasizes the applied practice of leadership, reflective development, and ethical decision-making within organizational settings.

The choice of terminal award allows candidates to align the degree with their professional trajectory and prior academic background. The MA in this form does not require an original theoretical contribution but demonstrates the candidate’s capacity to conduct and synthesis applied research, interpret complex leadership challenges, and produce actionable outcomes of professional value.

Through both the Master-in-Passing and Master-in-Exit pathways, Monarch Business School Switzerland ensures that every candidate’s scholarly engagement results in a meaningful and recognized qualification. This flexible framework affirms Monarch’s commitment to applied and reflective doctoral education, enabling candidates to demonstrate mastery not only in research competence but also in the synthesis of theory, practice, and personal leadership insight. Whether awarded as the MA in Business Research or the MA in Leadership, the milestone reflects Monarch’s enduring philosophy—advancing evidence-based reflection, ethical leadership, and the responsible practice of management and organizational transformation.

Leadership Doctoral Philosophy

The Doctor of Leadership cultivates reflective scholar-practitioners who align purpose, ethics, and performance. Candidates examine how leaders shape meaning, mobilize culture, and navigate complexity across stakeholders and systems.

Inquiry is action-oriented and evidence-informed: designs are credible, interpretations responsible, and recommendations implementable. The goal is principled impact—leadership practice strengthened through disciplined research, clear synthesis, and executive communication.

Applied Neuroscience in Leadership (DANL)

The DANL pathway integrates contemporary neuroscience with leadership practice to improve decision-making, resilience, and ethical influence. Emphasis is placed on translational insight—linking peer-reviewed findings to usable leadership frameworks.

•Evidence-informed leadership models grounded in current neuroscience.
•Decision-making under uncertainty, cognitive bias, and ethical judgment.
•Stress, attention, and resilience: sustaining performance and well-being.
•Social neuroscience of trust, motivation, and culture change.
•Measurement literacy: interpreting biomarkers and limits of inference.

Guided by senior faculty, DANL candidates translate validated insights into practical interventions—coaching tools, culture levers, and change protocols—aligned with Monarch’s ethical, human-centered leadership ethos.

Admission & Entry Requirements

Admission to the Doctor of Leadership (DOL) at Monarch Business School Switzerland is based on demonstrated professional experience, leadership competence, and the potential to engage in reflective and applied research. The program is designed for executives, consultants, leadership coaches, and professionals who wish to extend their leadership capability and theoretical understanding through structured doctoral-level inquiry.

Applicants typically hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution. However, experienced managers or professionals with a bachelor’s degree and significant leadership experience may also be considered for admission. At the discretion of the Dean, candidates without a formal academic qualification may be admitted on the basis of substantial professional achievement and professional qualifications, recognized as equivalent academic capital.

Applications are reviewed by the Academic Board to ensure alignment between each candidate’s professional background, proposed area of leadership inquiry, and available supervisory expertise. Candidates are expected to demonstrate intellectual curiosity, self-awareness, and critical reflection, along with a clear motivation to apply doctoral learning to complex leadership and organizational challenges.

Tuition

All doctoral programs at Monarch Business School Switzerland follow a milestone-based structure designed to accommodate the research and writing demands of advanced professional and academic inquiry. Tuition is assessed on a quarterly basis for the duration of the candidate’s active registration in the program.

The quarterly tuition fee for the Doctor of Leadership (DOL) is €3,250, payable at the beginning of each academic quarter. Candidates may alternatively request a monthly payment schedule to support financial planning and ensure continuity of study. This approach provides ongoing access to supervisory mentorship, academic resources, and institutional services throughout all phases of the doctoral journey.

The standard duration of the DOL program is 24 months. Candidates who require additional time beyond this period may continue their registration on an annual extension basis at 50 % of the regular tuition rate. This continuation rate applies to all subsequent 12-month extensions, enabling candidates to complete their doctoral manuscript and presentation at their own pace while maintaining full academic standing.

Detailed information regarding tuition fees, administrative charges, and payment procedures is provided within the Application and Information Package, available upon request.

Who Should Apply

The Doctor of Leadership (DOL) and its applied neuroscience pathway (DANL) are designed for accomplished professionals who wish to examine leadership as a human, ethical, and transformational practice.
Candidates typically hold senior or advisory roles and seek to consolidate extensive experience through doctoral-level reflection and applied research.

• Executives and senior managers leading organizational transformation and cultural renewal.
• Leadership consultants, executive coaches, and OD specialists pursuing evidence-informed practice.
• Public-sector and NGO leaders integrating ethics, purpose, and stakeholder value in governance.
• Educators and applied researchers exploring leadership development, resilience, and behavioral insight.
• DANL pathway: suited to professionals versed in neuroscience, psychology, or related disciplines who wish to produce a doctoral thesis linking neuro-informed insight with leadership and ethical practice.
Monarch Business School Switzerland crest – PhD in Business Research program