Resilience, Research, and Real Life: Reflections on My DBA at Strathclyde

The DBA is a research degree designed to develop business professionals skilled in solving business problems. Here, Sumaiya Al Nabhani explains why doing the DBA was such a transformative experience for her and shares her advice for those considering following in her path.

I’m Sumaiya, a mother of four and a senior manager working in the aviation sector in Oman. Balancing a full-time job, family responsibilities, and doctoral research was never going to be easy. When I decided to pursue a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) at Strathclyde, I knew I was taking on a challenge that would demand resilience, discipline, and support from those around me. What I didn’t fully realise then was just how transformative the experience would be, both personally and professionally.

Overall Experience

The DBA is not simply a research degree. It is a journey that bridges academic rigour with professional relevance. From the start, I was challenged to move beyond looking at problems through a purely managerial lens and to reframe them within theoretical and methodological frameworks. This required a new way of thinking, structured, evidence-based, and often humbling.

The programme built my confidence step by step. Early modules introduced key theories and research methods, while workshops and cohort discussions created a collaborative environment where we learned as much from each other as from the materials. Over time, I grew more comfortable positioning my work in academic debates while also keeping its practical implications front and centre.

One of the greatest strengths of the Strathclyde DBA is the quality of support. My supervisors, Professor Jill MacBryde and Dr Aylin Ates, provided invaluable guidance. Their feedback was candid but constructive, encouraging me to refine my arguments and push my analysis further.

The wider DBA community was equally important. Informal discussions and peer feedback sessions became spaces where we encouraged one another through both breakthroughs and setbacks.

Opportunities Along the Way

The DBA also opened doors far beyond the thesis. Presenting at conferences gave me exposure to international scholars and their work. Within my professional role, I was able to translate insights from the research into policy recommendations, creating a stronger bridge between academia and practice.

Equally, the credibility of being a doctoral researcher allowed me to build new collaborations, both nationally and internationally, in aviation and logistics. The DBA became more than a personal achievement; it was a platform to contribute to my sector in new ways.

How Long It Took

The programme was a multi-year commitment. From the first taught modules to the final viva, the process took me just under five years. Balancing research with a demanding professional role and family life was challenging, but the flexible structure of the DBA made it possible. It’s not a quick path, but it is a deeply rewarding one.

My Research Focus

My thesis explored strategies for revitalising the air cargo sector in Oman, with a particular focus on how stakeholder alignment and inter-sectoral collaboration influence sector performance. I combined quantitative analysis of cargo data with qualitative interviews from multiple sectors, and benchmarked Oman’s performance against leading global hubs.

The research confirmed that challenges such as fragmentation, regulatory gaps, and limited digitalisation hold back growth, but it also identified clear opportunities for improvement, from governance reforms to adopting global best practices.

What’s Next

Now that I’ve completed the DBA, my goal is to use this research as a springboard. I want to continue contributing to aviation and logistics policy in Oman and the wider region, applying what I’ve learned to strengthen the sector’s competitiveness. At the same time, I’m eager to publish parts of my work more widely and engage in teaching and mentoring to support others embarking on similar journeys.

Advice for Future DBA Candidates

• Know your purpose: The DBA is demanding. A clear sense of why you are doing it will carry you through the difficult phases.
• Use the support system: Supervisors and peers are not just advisors, they are partners in your journey.
• Balance persistence with flexibility: Structure helps, but research often evolves in unexpected directions. Embrace that.
• Celebrate milestones: Each draft, presentation, or dataset analysed is a victory worth recognising.
• Think beyond the thesis: The DBA is not only about the final document. It’s about the person you become and the opportunities you unlock along the way.

Looking back, the DBA at Strathclyde has been one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. It tested my limits, sharpened my thinking, and gave me a new voice as both a scholar and a practitioner. For anyone considering this path: be prepared to be stretched, supported, and ultimately transformed.

About Sumaiya Al Nabhani

Sumaiya Al Nabhani is a senior manager in Oman’s aviation sector and a recent graduate of Strathclyde Business School’s Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA). A mother of four, she is passionate about bridging research and practice, with her doctoral research focused on strategies to revitalise the air cargo sector through stakeholder alignment and inter-sectoral collaboration.