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ESGCI, Paris · Doctorate · Leadership & AI Strategy

Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA)

Shaping strategic leadership in an AI-driven world. Built for senior leaders, with a specialisation in Leadership & AI Strategy — completed in 24 months, internationally aligned and professionally timed.

Duration

24 Months

Programme Fee

INR 7,15,000 (without immersion) · INR 9,00,000 (with immersion)

Reserve Seat

INR 35,000

Admission Deadline

31 Jul 2026

Credential

Your Dual-Institute Certificate

Same doctorate as on-campus, without needing to relocate. RNCP-accredited (levels 6 and 7, recognised by the French State), QUALIOPI-certified, plus an optional PwC Board Advisory Certification on completion.

Certificate of Completion

Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA)

ESGCI, Paris

Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) certificate

Global recognition

Accreditation & Global Recognition

Independently recognised by leading accreditation bodies worldwide.

French Ministry of Higher Education

French Ministry of Higher Education

The French Ministry of Higher Education has assessed and recognised ESGCI for imparting high-quality business education.

QUALIOPI

QUALIOPI

Qualiopi certification is a quality mark for training organisations registered with the Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) in France.

ACBSP

ACBSP

ACBSP is America's premier accreditation body for business schools and programs worldwide.

IACBE

IACBE

IACBE is an international accreditation body recognising excellence in business education programmes.

Why this programme

Key Highlights

What sets this dual-school executive programme apart.

Pitch your ideas to real VCs with chequebooks

Release your Doctoral dissertation as a book

Teach in UGC-recognised colleges in your free time

Prototype and pilot your ideas with no-code platforms

Protect your ideas with solid IPs in 155 countries

Optional PwC Board Advisory Certification and NSDC-recognised certification

RNCP-accredited, QUALIOPI-certified French doctorate with ACBSP recognition

Who is this for

Designed For Rising & Established Leaders

Strategic, AI-ready, board-facing capabilities to accelerate enterprise impact.

Unstoppable Leaders

Unstoppable Leaders

Those who go deeper to climb higher, and never stop creating business impact. A doctorate signals deep domain expertise and elevates leadership stature.

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What you will learn

Programme Curriculum

Master the intersection of technology, AI, and business strategy.

  • Foundational concepts in academic research
  • The nature and types of academic research
  • Key terminologies in doctoral research
  • Features of business and management research
  • Steps in the doctoral research process

Instructors

Meet Your Thesis Guides

Your DBA instructors.

Dr. Josse Roussel

Dr. Josse Roussel

Director — DBA, ESGCI

ESGCI, Paris

Full Professor at Paris School of Business and Head of the DBA programme. Holds a Ph.D. in Finance and Management and guides candidates through every stage of doctoral research.

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Leadership Experts

Meet Your Thesis Guides

Leadership experts shaping the programme.

Dr. Nitin Manoharan

Dr. Nitin Manoharan

Executive Director, Strategy&

Strategy&

Executive Director and Advisor at Strategy&, specialising in business strategy, technology, and innovation.

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Thesis Supervisors

Meet Your Thesis Guides

Guiding your doctoral research.

Dr. Finn Majlergaard

Dr. Finn Majlergaard

Founder and CEO, Gugin

Gugin

Founder and CEO of Gugin, a global consulting firm specialising in cross-cultural leadership and organisational development.

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Learner Profiles

Join the A-List of the C-Suite

Real leaders, real impact.

Sumeet Bhat

Sumeet Bhat

Director of Engineering, Whirlpool

Former President, Scientific Affairs - Trivitron | Former Director - Philips | Certified Six Sigma Black Belt

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Ready to take the next step?

Download the full brochure or apply to reserve your seat.

Getting started

How to Apply

Master's Degree (or equivalent), or Bachelor's Degree with 3+ years of work experience. Diploma holders considered case-by-case with a minimum of 8 years of work experience.

1

Submit Application

Submit your application to meet the eligibility criteria for the DBA from ESGCI, Paris.

2

Receive Offer Letter

Upon submitting the application, you will receive an offer letter if you are shortlisted.

3

Reserve Your Seat

Reserve your programme spot by paying the block amount of INR 35,000 and start your course.

Deep dive

Why a Doctorate of Business Administration Programme Matters in 2026

Rising demand for research-driven leaders

As organisations embed AI into strategy, operations and governance, senior leaders are expected to think more rigorously, move faster and make decisions that hold up to scrutiny. The ESGCI DBA is built for this moment.

Who should pursue this programme

C-suite and senior executives (CEO, COO, CFO, VP, Director) seeking a globally recognised doctorate; seasoned professionals with 10+ years in business, consulting, finance, technology, marketing or operations; strategists, consultants, entrepreneurs and aspiring academics building research-backed authority.

What sets this programme apart

24 months — structured for completion, not just enrolment, with Year 1 assignments feeding directly into thesis selection. A built-in Leadership & AI Strategy specialisation applies AI to strategic foresight, decision-making and executive communication, no technical complexity required.

Career impact

Graduates move into roles such as Strategy Director, VP, COO and senior consultant, with greater visibility, influence and board-level authority — backed by RNCP accreditation, QUALIOPI certification and an optional PwC Board Advisory Certification.

Common questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before applying.

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