Babson’s New DBA Program Draws Impressive Interest
The demand for entrepreneurial leadership skills and Babson’s world-renowned entrepreneurial expertise has never been greater.
Starting this fall, the inaugural cohort of Babson’s new Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program will begin taking their skills to the next level. In the program, the experienced DBA students will learn to apply rigorous research to complex business challenges to create and amplify long-term impact in their industry and beyond.
The DBA program, launched last December, has exceeded its initial goal with 19 students (as of July) committed to starting with the first cohort of accomplished executives and leaders this September.
“We are very encouraged to see such a strong demand for our program. It confirms that we are well positioned in this growing market.”
Sebastian Fixson, faculty director of Babson’s DBA program
Initial enthusiasm for the DBA program was high with more than 700 people expressing interest, and more than 80 applying to the program. With the strong demand, Babson already is receiving inquiries for the second cohort to begin in fall 2026.
“We are very encouraged to see such a strong demand for our program,” said Sebastian Fixson, a professor of innovation and design and the faculty director of the DBA program. “It confirms that we are well positioned in this growing market, and the faculty are very excited to start working with these excellent doctoral students.
“All students in our first cohort exhibit a strong intellectual curiosity, and a deep conviction to use it to develop research insights to improve their organizations, their industries, and the world.”
The Babson Brand
The tremendous response to the College’s first terminal-degree program speaks to both the demand for entrepreneurial leadership development and to the power of Babson’s brand and well-earned reputation as the top school for entrepreneurship.
In the past year, The Wall Street Journal ranked Babson the No. 2 Best College in the United States, and U.S. News & World Report named Babson the No. 1 undergraduate school for entrepreneurship for the 28th consecutive time and the No. 1 MBA in entrepreneurship for the 32nd consecutive year. This week, LinkedIn ranked Babson as the No. 7 best college in the United States.
BABSON MAGAZINE: Read more about Sebastian Fixson and the DBA program
“Since opening our doors, Babson has been a global leader in entrepreneurship education, inspiring learners across a broad spectrum of business and professional experiences,” said Babson President Stephen Spinelli Jr. MBA’92, PhD. “The DBA program underscores our commitment to advancing entrepreneurship education across all levels of professional experience and will provide senior industry experts and visionary thought leaders with access to our proven Entrepreneurial Thought & Action® (ET&A™) framework.”
The DBA has been approved by the state of Massachusetts and fully accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business.
Advanced Skills
The first cohort of the DBA programs brings a wealth and diversity of professional experiences to the Babson campus.
The incoming doctoral students average 27 years of work experience and come to Babson from across the United States, including Arizona, California, Minnesota, Montana, North Carolina, Texas, and Utah, as well as New England.
The seasoned leaders will begin the 33-month program with an opportunity to take their careers to the next level through increasing their evidence-based impact. The DBA students will be able to identify pertinent business challenges, design and execute practical research solutions, and effectively communicate those solutions to others.
Babson’s DBA, of course, also will feature the College’s acclaimed entrepreneurial leadership skills as well as teaching excellence.
“Going through a doctoral program creates an identity shift. We are looking forward to helping experienced practitioners expand their identities into practitioner-scholars,” said Fixson, also the Marla M. Capozzi MBA’96 Term Chair in Design Thinking, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship. “Fusing together the tremendous industry experience of the doctoral students with the academic research method skills of our faculty represents a true opportunity for Babson to increase its thought leadership.”
LEARN MORE: Request information about Babson’s Doctor of Business Administration program
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