Inside the DBA: Live Student–Supervisor Panel

The relationship between a DBA student and their supervisor is at the heart of the doctoral journey — but what does that actually look like in practice?

Join us for a live panel featuring two student–supervisor pairs in conversation about their experience of the Hult DBA. You'll hear how research ideas are shaped and refined, what effective supervision looks like, how students balance doctoral work with demanding careers, and what the highs and lows of the journey really feel like.

This is a rare chance to hear both sides of the relationship — student and supervisor — share their perspectives openly. Whether you're still exploring or ready to apply, you'll leave with a clearer picture of what the DBA demands and delivers.

What we'll cover:

• How the student–supervisor relationship works in practice
• How research topics evolve from initial idea to focused inquiry
• The realities of balancing doctoral study with a senior career
• What makes for a successful DBA journey — and what to expect along the way

Steven Major — DBA Student Steven is a seasoned finance professional and current DBA candidate at Hult, bringing deep expertise at the intersection of global markets, macro-economics, and digital finance. Based in Dubai, he serves as Global Macro Advisor at Tradition, drawing on four decades of financial markets experience — including extensive leadership in fixed income research and strategic insight generation. His career spans senior roles at global institutions including HSBC Global Research, where he was recognized for his analytical leadership in fixed income and macro strategy.

Stephen Rosenbaum is a Professor of Global Economics at Hult International Business School. He has 18 years of work experience in the private sector, primarily in the fields of consultancy and Private Banking. He has worked on numerous assignments throughout the world including South-, Central- and North America, Western Europe, and the former Soviet Union.

Stephen also has many years of teaching experience with MSc., MBA, and EMBA students throughout Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. He teaches primarily within the fields of international business and global economics.

As Associate Professor at the University of Southern Denmark, Dr Rosenbaum won the annual teaching prize at the Faculty of Business and Social Sciences in 2012. To date, his research projects have been set in the Western Balkans, Central Asia, and West Africa.

Qualifications include: PhD Business Economics, University of Southern Denmark; MSc. Economics, University of Southern Denmark.

Owen brings 30 years of executive-level experience in industry, including senior director roles at Shell Chemicals UK, where he led business development into low carbon, renewable, and circular technologies. In 2020, he founded his own consultancy and now serves as Business Development Director to Kolmar AG, a Swiss multinational commodity trading firm. A philosophy graduate and MBA holder from Ashridge Business School, Owen is focusing his DBA research on the circular economy — specifically chemical recycling.

Rob is a Professor of Ethics and Corporate Responsibility at Hult International Business School, where he teaches business ethics, design thinking, and social sciences across undergraduate and postgraduate programs. He holds a PhD in Political Science from Stanford University, an MA from the University of Toronto, and a BA from Simon Fraser University, where he was valedictorian.

His research focuses on business ethics, including the use of machine-learning algorithms to assess shareholder engagement, consumer perceptions of neuro-marketing, and the effectiveness of international multi-stakeholder initiatives. He brings a rigorous, interdisciplinary approach to exploring how ethical decision-making shapes business practice.