Who is Dr. Katrin Muff?

Dr. Muff’s professional career began during the ‘90’s at the Aluminium Company of America (ALCOA). Combining her career and studies for a Bachelor Degree and then an MBA from BSL, Dr. Katrin Muff worked for ALCOA in Russia as General Manager for Building Systems International, in the United States as an Industry Analyst for Global Mergers & Acquisitions and in Switzerland as a Business Analyst for Europe.
After a year’s creative writing sabbatical in 1998, Muff worked as Director of Strategic Planning for international pet food company, IAMS in the Netherlands. In 2000 Muff co-founded coaching consultancy Yupango Management, of which she was Managing Director until 2004.
The following years saw Muff consulting and lecturing at various educational institutions in Switzerland then embarking on her DBA studies in 2007, which culminated in the publication of her thesis, “Golf, a Valid Option to Improve Personal Effectiveness in Management.”
As Dean at BSL, Muff has established the World Business School Council of Sustainable Business (WBSCSB) which gives a voice to the business school community about the growing concerns regarding sustainable development and well-being on a global scale.
It was Muff’s dream to do a DBA; she had always aspired to the intellectual challenge of dedicating a specific period of time to this purpose. The opportunity materialized when she agreed to make the transition to the position of Dean at BSL. As Dean, Muff was obliged to gain a DBA title so it was the time to fulfil her dream.
Muff’s thesis topic emerged naturally as a result of her 3-year period as a golf coach and management consultant. She researched how golf coaching can be a valid option for executive training, how the mental approach used in the game of golf can help business executives and used the information that she had gathered from her pupils to measure the long-term impact on their personal effectiveness in business. “What was ironic was that Managers already had a bad reputation for spending too much time out of the office playing golf, and here I was encouraging them to do so!”

How do I choose a DBA topic?

Muff advises to select a topic that can be both quantifiable and specific enough that it can be condensed into a terminable thesis. “Topics materialize when you reflect on your life experiences and draw upon your passions,” she says, “it must also be meaningful, not only to capture the attention of potential readers but also to you, otherwise you will lose sight of the end product.”

How will I benefit from doing a DBA?

Muff describes doing the DBA as a satisfying process that gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment, “You produce a tangible product that becomes your legacy.”
A DBA can open many professional doors, giving you or your business credibility. For Muff, it enabled her to accept the position of Dean at BSL and gave her the confidence to approach peers whom she previously considered as above her station, to join her in the creation of the WBSCSB World Business School Council of Sustainable Business.
Muff heads BSL’s revised DBA program and during the restructuring process she drew from her personal experience of the often lonely research process. She addressed the program’s previous shortcomings and now the structure acts more of a “coach”, outlining short-term deadlines and generally helping the candidate to feel less overwhelmed by the whole process.

BSL hosts bi-annual research symposiums which bring together all candidates to share their research and learn new research methodologies.

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