Doctor of Leadership
A Dual Degree Program Integrating Applied Leadership Practice and Research Excellence
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The Doctor of Leadership (DOL) at Monarch Business School Switzerland is an advanced applied-doctoral program designed for experienced professionals who seek to deepen their understanding of leadership as both an academic discipline and a lived professional practice. Serving executives, consultants, coaches, and senior managers, the program positions leadership as a moral, psychological, and strategic responsibility, integrating scholarly inquiry with practical application. Within Monarch’s mentor-driven model, candidates engage in research that strengthens authenticity, ethical awareness, emotional intelligence, and systemic thinking—competencies essential for today’s complex organizational environments.
Grounded in both classical and contemporary theories, the curriculum equips candidates to address multi-stakeholder challenges and organizational transformation with clarity and evidence-based insight. Participants critically examine their own leadership philosophy, evaluate research-informed frameworks, and design actionable interventions capable of enhancing organizational effectiveness, culture, decision-making, and change management processes. This orientation resonates with globally recognized expectations for ethical leadership, including the United Nations Principles of Responsible Management and the OECD Guidelines for Responsible Business Conduct, both of which emphasize transparency, accountability, and socially responsible organizational behavior.
Throughout the doctoral journey, candidates develop the capacity to interpret organizational systems, navigate ambiguity, engage diverse perspectives, and lead with reflective judgment. Emphasis is placed on integrating lived experience with scholarly insight, enabling leaders to design practical interventions that align purpose, people, and performance. The program cultivates a mature, evidence-informed leadership approach grounded in critical inquiry, field-based reflection, and principled decision-making.
Graduates of the Doctor of Leadership program emerge as reflective scholar-practitioners capable of transforming academic knowledge into meaningful organizational and societal impact. Through the fusion of research, practice, and self-development, candidates join an international community dedicated to responsible management, ethical leadership, and transformative professional purpose.
What You Will Achieve
The Doctor of Leadership is designed to cultivate the reflective capability, analytical depth, and applied research proficiency required of senior leaders, organisational stewards, and practitioner-scholars. Candidates develop an integrated portfolio of scholarly, interpretive, and practice-oriented competencies that strengthen their ability to lead, influence, and transform within complex organisational and societal contexts. The outcomes below represent the core developmental achievements typically gained through the program’s structured and mentor-supported progression.
| Advanced Leadership Inquiry | Develop the capacity to examine leadership as a lived, relational, and meaning-making phenomenon through qualitative, interpretive, and practice-based research approaches. |
| Reflective & Ethical Decision-Making | Strengthen your ability to engage in reflective, ethically grounded decision-making by integrating personal values, organisational realities, and the broader social consequences of leadership action. |
| Applied Organisational Analysis | Learn to interpret organisational behaviour, culture, and dynamics using multiple theoretical lenses, enhancing your ability to diagnose challenges and design meaningful leadership interventions. |
| Integration of Practice & Scholarship | Acquire the skills to synthesise lived leadership experience with scholarly insight, enabling the development of research-informed solutions applicable to real organisational contexts. |
| Advanced Academic & Professional Writing | Build the writing discipline required to produce coherent, analytically rigorous, and practice-relevant scholarly work suitable for professional dissemination and academic publication. |
| Leadership Contribution & Impact | Generate an applied contribution that advances contemporary understanding of leadership practice, organisational development, or professional identity formation within your chosen domain. |
| Practitioner-Scholar Identity | Strengthen your leadership and scholarly identity through engagement with Monarch’s international research community and opportunities for participation in the Monarch Research Paper Series (MRPS), reinforcing your long-term capacity for reflective and responsible leadership. |
Together, these developmental achievements provide the intellectual, reflective, and practice-integrated foundation required to complete the doctoral manuscript and contribute meaningfully to contemporary leadership research and applied organisational practice.
Program Structure
The Doctor of Leadership (DOL) at Monarch Business School Switzerland follows a structured, milestone-based progression designed to integrate academic rigor with professional relevance. Each phase builds upon the last, guiding candidates from foundational inquiry to the development, completion, and formal defence of an applied doctoral manuscript. This progression emphasizes reflective scholarship, ethical leadership practice, and the generation of research outcomes that hold direct value for organizational and societal contexts.
The DOL follows a structured progression consistent with European qualification standards, and aligns with the learning outcome expectations described within the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). The structure reflects Monarch’s philosophy of leadership as a process of ethical action, meaning-making, and systemic understanding. Throughout each stage, candidates receive individualized guidance from faculty mentors and institutional review panels who support the integration of theory with lived practice.
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.
Progression to a Dual Doctoral Degree Pathway
For candidates whose academic and professional ambitions extend beyond the completion of a single applied doctoral manuscript, Monarch offers the option to pursue a Dual Doctoral Degree Pathway. This pathway is structured as a PhD-first progression, followed by an applied doctoral award.
In this model, candidates begin with the PhD, where the primary objective is the development of original theoretical knowledge and scholarly contribution. Only after successful completion of the PhD research phase may candidates progress to an applied doctorate (DBA, Doctor of Leadership, or Doctor of Applied Neuroscience in Management), where the PhD’s theoretical outcomes are translated into applied models, frameworks, and professional recommendations.
This sequencing is intentional. The PhD establishes the conceptual and theoretical foundation upon which applied doctoral work can meaningfully build. Candidates do not attempt to satisfy two doctoral standards simultaneously, nor does applied doctoral work precede PhD-level theory development.
Entry into the dual doctoral pathway is subject to academic review and is recommended only for candidates with strong research readiness and the capacity for sustained doctoral-level inquiry.
Learn more about the Dual Doctoral Degree Pathway → (link)
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Program Delivery & Admissions
- Delivery Mode: Online / Hybrid
- Format: Flexible / Asynchronous
- Admissions: Rolling Admissions
- Start Date: 1st of Each Month
- Pace: Standard & Extended Paths
- On-Site Workshops: Optional
- Location: Switzerland
Key Program Features
| • | Applied doctoral pathway examining leadership as a moral, psychological, and organisational practice. |
| • | Milestone-based research structure enabling steady, individually paced progress. |
| • | Emphasis on ethical leadership, stewardship, and responsibility across stakeholder groups. |
| • | Integration of systems thinking, organisational sensemaking, and reflective practice. |
| • | Qualitative and practice-based research designs aligned with leadership inquiry. |
| • | Structured for working professionals; fully online, asynchronous, and globally accessible. |
| • | Individualised faculty mentorship with opportunities for publication through the Monarch Research Paper Series (MRPS). |
Study Mode For Working Professionals
| • | Designed specifically for working professionals balancing full-time responsibilities. |
| • | Primary modality: fully remote study from your home country with no mandatory residency. |
| • | Asynchronous learning structure allowing you to study on your schedule. |
| • | Periodic on-campus doctoral workshops offered in Switzerland for research support and community engagement. |
| • | No requirement to relocate or take leave from professional duties. |
| • | Ideal for executives, senior managers, consultants, and practitioners pursuing doctoral-level scholarship. |
Program Features
The Doctor of Leadership (DOL) at Monarch Business School Switzerland is an applied doctoral program designed for experienced professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of leadership as a human, ethical, and organisational practice. The program blends academic rigor with lived experience, enabling candidates to examine leadership as a relational, meaning-making, and morally grounded activity. Through mentor-guided inquiry, candidates explore how leaders influence culture, mobilize people, navigate complexity, and shape responsible organisational futures.
Delivered through a flexible, milestone-based progression, the DOL allows candidates to integrate doctoral learning directly into their professional context. Research remains grounded in real-world situations, ensuring that scholarly engagement produces actionable insight and practical benefit for organisations and communities. Reflective practice, ethical reasoning, and systems thinking sit at the core of the curriculum, positioning the DOL as a distinctive pathway for leaders committed to integrity, purpose, and evidence-informed action.
| Milestone-Based Structure | Candidates progress through structured research stages rather than fixed semesters, enabling individual pacing within a guided and mentored doctoral framework. |
| Applied Leadership Inquiry | Each doctoral manuscript investigates a real leadership or organisational challenge, generating interpretive frameworks, reflective models, and applied recommendations that inform professional practice. |
| Professional Relevance | Designed for executives, consultants, public-sector leaders, and organisational coaches, the DOL strengthens the capacity to translate leadership theory into meaningful action and organisational improvement. |
| Reflective and Ethical Focus | The program emphasizes self-awareness, ethical judgment, and responsible decision-making—core competencies for leadership grounded in integrity and stakeholder accountability. |
| Systems and Organisational Perspective | Candidates learn to interpret cultural, relational, and systemic organisational dynamics, enhancing their ability to design interventions that support transformation, well-being, and sustainable performance. |
| Flexible Delivery | Delivered fully online and asynchronously, the program provides individualized mentorship while enabling leaders worldwide to continue full professional engagement without disruption. |
Together, these features express Monarch’s philosophy of professional doctoral education, one that integrates reflective practice, ethical judgment, and academically rigorous inquiry. The Doctor of Leadership develops scholar-practitioners capable of interpreting complex human and organisational dynamics with depth and precision, and of transforming them through responsible action, compassionate engagement, and purposeful leadership. Graduates emerge equipped to lead with integrity, contribute meaningfully to their professional communities, and advance contemporary understanding of leadership as a relational, moral, and systemic practice.
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 successfully complete all doctoral requirements are automatically granted the MA in Business Research in passing upon conferral of the DOL. This recognizes mastery of applied research design, analytical synthesis, and managerial interpretation achieved throughout the doctoral program, and underscores the integrated nature of Monarch’s dual-degree structure.
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 emphasizes leadership as a reflective, ethical, and meaning-making practice grounded in human relationships and organisational purpose. Candidates explore how leaders interpret complexity, foster culture, and influence systems in ways that align values with responsible action.
Inquiry is practice-driven and evidence-informed, requiring designs that are credible, interpretations that are balanced, and recommendations that are implementable. The program seeks principled impact: leadership strengthened through disciplined reflection, rigorous scholarship, and clear, purposeful communication.
Admission & Entry Requirements
Admission to the Doctor of Leadership (DOL) at Monarch Business School Switzerland is grounded in demonstrated professional experience, leadership capability, and the capacity to engage in reflective, practice-oriented doctoral research. The program is intended for executives, senior managers, consultants, leadership coaches, and other professionals who wish to deepen their understanding of leadership as both an academic discipline and a lived organisational practice.
Applicants normally hold a master’s degree from an accredited institution. However, experienced professionals with a bachelor’s degree and substantial leadership responsibility may also be considered for admission. In exceptional circumstances, candidates who do not possess formal academic qualifications may be admitted at the discretion of the Dean when they can demonstrate significant professional achievement, specialised expertise, or recognised professional certifications that constitute equivalent academic capital.
All applications are reviewed by the Academic Board to ensure coherence between the candidate’s professional background, intended area of inquiry, and available supervisory expertise. Successful applicants are those who can demonstrate intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, reflective awareness, and a clear motivation to apply doctoral learning to complex leadership and organisational challenges. The admissions process is designed to confirm that each candidate enters the program with the readiness, professional grounding, and scholarly potential required to succeed within Monarch’s mentor-driven doctoral environment.
Tuition
All applied doctoral programs at Monarch Switzerland follow a milestone-based structure designed to support the practitioner-focused research, applied analysis, and organizational inquiry central to advanced professional studies. Tuition is assessed on a quarterly basis for the duration of the candidate’s active registration in the program, ensuring uninterrupted access to supervisory guidance, academic resources, and institutional support throughout the research process.
Dual Pathway Structure
The DOL may be pursued through either the Standard Duration Pathway or the Extended Duration Pathway, both of which carry the same total tuition. This dual-pathway model enables candidates to select the pacing that best aligns with their professional responsibilities while maintaining full academic standing.
Under the Standard Duration Pathway (24 months), tuition is payable at €3,250 per quarter, with an optional monthly payment arrangement of €1,083 to support financial planning and continuity of study. Candidates who prefer a more gradual progression may elect the Extended Duration Pathway (48 months), which carries a proportionally lower quarterly fee of €1,625 or a monthly equivalent of €542, while preserving full access to supervisory and institutional services.
Candidates who require additional time beyond the 24-month Standard Duration Pathway or the 48-month Extended Duration Pathway may continue their registration under Monarch’s continuation policy, which is assessed on an annual basis at 50% of the regular tuition rate. This continuation framework maintains academic standing and ensures uninterrupted access to supervisors, research platforms, and administrative services while allowing candidates the necessary time to complete their applied research manuscript at a responsible and achievable pace.
Detailed information regarding billing cycles, payment procedures, and administrative policies is provided in the official Application and Information Package, available upon request. The global tuition table for all programs may be viewed here.
Who Should Apply
The Doctor of Leadership (DOL) is designed for accomplished professionals who wish to examine leadership as a human, ethical, and organisational practice. Candidates typically occupy senior, advisory, or influence-driven roles and seek to deepen their impact through reflective inquiry and applied doctoral research.
| • | Executives and senior managers leading organisational transformation, culture renewal, or strategic change. |
| • | Leadership consultants, executive coaches, and organisational development specialists seeking to ground their practice in rigorous research. |
| • | Public-sector, NGO, and community leaders working at the intersection of ethics, governance, and societal impact. |
| • | Educators, trainers, and applied researchers exploring leadership development, resilience, and behavioural insight. |
| • | Purpose-driven professionals committed to strengthening their reflective capacity, ethical awareness, and organisational influence through doctoral-level scholarship. |
Doctoral Graduate Profiles
Dr. Kerstin Jatho (South Africa)
PhD in Business Research / Doctor of Leadership
Dr. Jatho entered the PhD in Business Research program seeking to deepen her understanding of the intersection between positive psychology, leadership behaviour, and organizational well-being. Drawing on her professional background in executive coaching and team development, she pursued a qualitative inquiry grounded in the lived experience of leaders working within high-pressure environments. Her dissertation, “A Qualitative Exploration of Positive Leadership Practices in South African Organizational Contexts,” employed a phenomenological design consistent with Monarch’s emphasis on meaning derived from practice.
Today, Dr. Jatho serves as founder and director of 4Seeds Consulting, where she integrates insights from her doctoral research into leadership development initiatives across the region. Her trajectory reflects the program’s orientation toward rigorous, practice-relevant scholarship that advances both individual leadership capacity and organizational well-being.
