Balancing a demanding leadership role, personal commitments, and doctoral research takes discipline, perseverance, and a clear sense of purpose. For Dr Sanchari Sinha, completing her Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at SP Jain Global in 2025 was a journey of learning, growth, and putting research into practice.

In this blog, she reflects on how the DBA shaped her strategic thinking and leadership approach, the challenges she navigated along the way, and the lessons she gained from the experience. She also shares practical advice for professionals considering a DBA and offers insights into making the most of this rewarding journey.

1. Why was a DBA the right choice for your career?

DBA provided me with an opportunity to think deeply about a particular business topic, conduct more rigorous research, and develop authority that can be applied in the real world. DBA is a rigorous program that equipped me with strategies to tailor my leadership style and work effectively through challenges with agility, nuance, ethics, and confidence. With a deep focus on business analytics and applied research, the DBA prepared me to navigate complex industry trends and excel in my career.

2. How did your research improve your strategic decision-making?

My research helped to develop a dual perspective. As a leader, it provided me with a strategic vision to think long-term while staying grounded in real-world constraints. I gained exposure to connect disciplines like finance, operations, marketing, and leadership into one cohesive strategy. This integrated thinking helped me make strategic decisions that impacted my role and responsibilities.

3. How can research help organisations build better leadership talent?

DBA research can examine the factors that influence successful organisational change. Researchers can investigate employee attitudes, leadership communication, organisational culture, training requirements, and other factors that affect transformation initiatives. Research findings can be used to create strategies that make organisational change more effective.

4. What was the biggest challenge you overcame during your DBA?

The biggest challenge during my DBA was balancing full-time work, i.e. a leadership role, a new demanding job, along with personal commitments.

5. How did you balance work, research and personal commitments?

Time management, following a planned schedule and being focused helped me achieve my goal. Every day, I would visualise the ‘Dr’ title before my name, which inspired me to keep working hard. Also, being disciplined, prioritising health and well-being, and, more importantly, a checklist approach helped me balance work, DBA, and personal commitments.

One must be organised, set manageable goals, take care of oneself, and make the most of technology. It is all about making steady progress, marking milestones, and adjusting plans as needed to achieve the final outcome.

6. What advice would you give professionals planning to pursue a DBA?

When planning to pursue a DBA, it is essential to consider the future and how the degree can benefit you in the long run. It is essential to consider how it can enhance your career and open up new opportunities. Additionally, it is essential to be aware of the expectations for completing the degree, such as course deadlines, exams, and assignments.

It is a big commitment, and it is important to ensure you are fully committed before making any decision. This includes having a clear understanding of the time and effort that will be required to complete the degree.

Once you have assessed all the factors involved in pursuing a DBA, my advice is to practice self-discipline, stay focused, and remain calm in the face of unexpected challenges, whether at work or at home. This is not an easy process, but the outcome is enriching.

Learn to define clear boundaries, work on building research skills and be patient, persuasive and persistent, i.e. follow the ‘3P’ Model.

About the author

Dr Sanchari Sinha is currently the Associate Manager for Talent Strategy, Consulting & Acquisition at Accenture Services Pvt Ltd and has recently completed the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) at SP Jain Global in 2025.

Recommended reads:

Maritime operations to business transformation: Dr Bireshwar Kumar’s DBA journey

How I earned my DBA while balancing work and life

A transformative journey: My DBA experience at SP Jain School of Global Management, Sydney