When Jorge Szabo, a Hult Master’s graduate from the MBA Class of 2018, embarked on his DBA at Hult, he knew he would get academic rigor and professional growth. What he didn’t expect was just how deeply it would reshape his thinking, career, and community. One year after graduation, he reflects on the impact.

A shift in perspective

“During the DBA I went through a profound shift in how I approach financial and regulatory issues. I moved from a purely technical and regulatory perspective to systematically integrating behavioral and strategic dimensions into decision-making. I learned to question assumptions, validate with empirical evidence, and place the human factor at the center of analysis.”

Life after graduation

“One year on, I feel my professional profile has broadened significantly. I not only lead regulatory and financial stability projects, but I also contribute actively to academic teaching and intellectual debate. I’ve started teaching in graduate programs and publishing more work. The DBA also opened doors to collaborations that felt distant before.”

Rethinking decision-making

“The DBA taught me how to think systematically. Today, when making regulatory or policy decisions, I combine theory with data-driven analysis. This allows me to create more realistic scenarios and design prudential responses with greater impact.”

Achieving more than before

“The DBA gave me the ability to produce applied research with both academic rigor and practical relevance. Before, I could analyze markets and design regulations; now I can also generate knowledge that connects academia, central banking, and the private sector. This helps me influence strategic discussions inside and outside my institution, while communicating ideas with greater legitimacy.”

A lasting community

“The biggest surprise has been the ongoing network of support and collaboration. Not only with my cohort peers, but also with professors and professionals who have become part of my close circle. I discovered that the DBA doesn’t end with graduation — it marks the beginning of a long-term academic and professional community.”

Research in action

“In a recent project, I was asked to evaluate the potential impact of new liquidity measures. Instead of simply gathering data or reviewing external studies, I applied a structured research approach I developed during the DBA: defining the problem with precise research questions, designing a methodology to test competing hypotheses, and triangulating evidence from quantitative data, case studies, and econometrical models.

The outcome was not just an internal report, but a piece of applied research that could stand academic scrutiny. What surprised my colleagues was how the process itself elevated the discussion: it turned a policy exercise into a rigorous knowledge-generation project, producing insights that went beyond immediate decisions and could inform future regulatory design.”

Jorge’s journey is part of our “One Year On” series as we count down to graduation, celebrating our DBA and Doctoral graduates from last year who are driving impact and shaping business, policy, and academia.