DBA or PhD for Working Women: How to Earn a Doctorate Without Pausing Your Career

You can earn a doctorate without pausing your career, and an online DBA is the most practical way to do it. I know because I did it. I completed my DBA at Golden Gate University while working full-time and looking after my home and my kids. Today I teach at the same university. If you are a working woman comparing a DBA or a PhD, or wishing to get a doctorate, this blog covers the duration, mentorship, admission process and future scope of an Online DBA degree.

DBA or PhD: Which is better for a working woman?

For working women, a DBA is the better choice. It takes 2.5-3 years to complete the degree and is built around business problems. A PhD can take 5-8 years of full-time learning and is focused on academia and theory.

A PhD is an academic degree. You review the existing work and build theory. In a DBA, you bring a problem from your workplace, find a solution and back it up with evidence. Both degrees give you the “Dr.” title, but one is academic and the other is business-driven.

Moreover, a DBA is not a lighter version of a PhD. It is a different degree for a different goal. If you want to grow from a manager into a CXO-level leader and stay in industry, choose the DBA. If you want a full-time research career, choose a PhD.

Can You Do a DBA With a Full-Time Job?

Yes. I looked after my home, my kids, my family and a full-time job while doing the DBA. The weekly time is manageable. You can just learn between 2-5 hours a week, depending on your topic and how in-depth you want to study.

The classes are fully online and come in 3 formats. Some are recorded lectures that you watch when you have time. Some are live discussions with your class and teacher on what you learned from last classes or recordings. Whereas some are the 1-on-1 sessions conducted by the mentors.

Do You Have to Pause Your Career to Earn a Doctorate?

No. Today, you can do both, learning while earning. That is my advice to any woman who has paused her career or is thinking about it.

I waited a long time to start my DBA because back then no platform told me that an online degree was possible. Today you do not have to wait as long as I did. Moreover, in terms of family opinion, when I shared with them that I wanted to study online, they hesitated, but once I shared what it looks like and how it is considered equal to a regular degree, they became my biggest cheerleaders.

What is the duration of a DBA?

An Online DBA takes about 2.5-3 years, depending on the university you choose. I chose Golden Gate University, where it is a 27-month program. The first year teaches you how to write a thesis, what goes into it, and why you are doing the DBA. In the second year, you follow those steps on a topic of your choice.

Your mentor joins when you begin your thesis research, which is in the second year. The mentors bring academic rigor and industry knowledge, so they know how to guide you. You never work alone in your research.

Quick Tip: Many people think a DBA is very hard, but it is mostly writing chapters, step-by-step, with a mentor beside you.

Your topic should solve a real business challenge, not just theory. You can present your work as a thesis, a book, or a patent. I went for a copyright on my thesis.

Do You Need an MBA or Work Experience for a DBA?

No, you do not need an MBA to start a DBA. You need a problem you want to solve. I came from retail into my DBA, and I believe people from any field can apply. Yes, work experience is beneficial. But, in my view, years of research experience or a fixed amount of work experience are not the point. What matters is that you want to create solutions.

Each university sets its own eligibility criteria, so confirm the current requirements for your program before you apply. A CollegeSathi counsellor can help you with this.

Who Should Pursue a DBA?

A DBA is for anyone who wants to grow into leadership. This includes managers looking for career growth, founders, entrepreneurs, CXOs, and government employees. There is no ideal age. If you are passionate about a cause, you can begin.

It also opens the door to teaching. Universities want to know how industry works, so they welcome DBA graduates who bring that experience into the classroom. I now teach at Golden Gate University, where I was once a student.

A DBA adds global exposure too. You learn to publish, present papers with confidence and build a network of friends, mentors, and teachers around the world. You can access that network while sitting in India. If you want to work outside India, a DBA makes your profile more credible, though it is one part of a bigger picture.

Is an International Online DBA Degree Accepted in India?

Yes, as long as the degree is accredited in the country where you want to work, the online DBA is completely valid. The Golden Gate University Online DBA is well-recognized in India and you can study from any Indian city. Before you enroll anywhere, check these 4 things:

• Look at the university’s rankings.
• How long the university has run the program
• Whether it is accredited in the country you want to work in
• What network and mentors you will get.

I chose the Golden Gate University for these reasons. The university has run its DBA for over 50 years, so it knows how to teach people who are working and studying together. The program also offers an immersion, where you meet your batch, students from other countries, and your professors, and visit companies like LinkedIn, Microsoft, and Google in Silicon Valley.

What Changes After You Earn a DBA?

Your opportunities change more than your title. Nothing happens overnight, but doors so open.

I became a professor and continued my work at Datamatics. I was invited by the United Nations and spoke at the UNESCO headquarters. I presented my thesis at an IIM, the same place I once dreamed of studying at. I also won 3 awards. The first was a copyright from the Government of India for my thesis. The second came when my 100 UG students completed a UNESCO certification together. The third was an operational excellence award from Datamatics.

At work, people listen differently. Earlier, I had instinct. Now I have instinct and evidence, so my decisions carry more weight in a boardroom. A DBA does not guarantee a promotion, because nothing guarantees anything. But it gives you the authority to work towards one.

After a DBA, you can become an author, consultant, startup co-founder, CXO, director, or professor.

Should You Start an Online DBA Now?

Yes, if you have a problem you want to solve and you do not want to pause your career. Golden Gate University trusted me as a student, and now it trusts me with its students. If it is possible for me, it is possible for anyone.

If you are a working woman, looking at DBA vs PhD, check the duration, mentor support and accreditation first. Then connect with a CollegeSathi expert for free career counselling and get guidance on the Golden Gate University Online DBA that fits your goals.