Doctoral Program in Values-Driven Leadership

Benedictine University’s Doctor of Philosophy/Doctor of Business Administration (Ph.D./D.B.A.) Program in Values-Driven Leadership is the first of its kind, specifically designed for senior leaders committed to using the creativity and discipline of business to:

• Create short-term and long-term shareholder value
• Enrich people’s lives
• Produce products and services that benefit society
• Contribute to the health and sustainability of the planet

This innovative three-year program is tailored to meet the exacting standards and demanding schedules of senior leaders. To accommodate students who work full time and commute from around the globe, classes are held once a month on weekends and during an annual 8-day intensive.

Program Distinctives

The Ph.D./D.B.A. in Values-Driven Leadership is a collaborative learning community that connects students globally with influential thought leaders and with a broad range of opportunities for research and practice. Distinctive features include:

• Convenience: to fit your schedule, classes are held on campus one weekend a month and during an annual 8-day intensive: the campus is located 30 minutes from Chicago’s O’Hare and Midway airports
• Learn from global thought leaders: distinguished visiting scholars and business leaders come from the world’s top universities and corporations to teach side by side with Benedictine University’s renowned full-time faculty
• Exceptional peer-to-peer interaction: join a cohort of likeminded executives with a track record of values-driven leadership success
• Leading-edge research: students work with a global network of top scholars to study the exemplary practices of socially-responsible companies
• Choose one of two degrees: select a research-focused Ph.D. or a practice-oriented D.B.A.

Built on a Platform of Success

The Doctoral Program in Values-Driven Leadership builds on the success of the Ph.D. Program in Organization Development at Benedictine University, which is considered to be one of the leading doctoral programs of its kind. The program has made major contributions to the field with over 30 awards and several hundred publications and papers presented at conferences in 16 countries. Contributions also include eight books in the last five years used at major universities, including Harvard, Stanford, and Case Western Reserve University, among others.

The Doctoral Program in Values-Driven Leadership builds on and extends the success of the Benedictine's Ph.D. OD Program by integrating the concept of the "distinguished visiting scholar" into the learning model -- leading contributors in the field, from such institutions as Harvard, MIT, Stanford, Michigan, and the Copenhagen School of Business, among others. The Ph.D. OD Program has graduated over 100 students and enjoys a graduation rate of 95% (compared to a national average of less than 50%) and we are committed to achieving a similar level of success.

To learn more about the Doctoral Program in Values-Driven Leadership, please contact Marie DiVirgilio at (630) 829.2178 or via email at mdivirgilio@ben.edu. Download Ph.D./D.B.A Program in Leadership Brochure (PDF.

Jim Ludema on CVDL’s Ph.D./D.B.A. Program in Values-Driven Leadership - Play Video

"If you are a senior leader and want to build a successful and sustainable enterprise by aligning social, ethical, and environmental performance with your core business strategies, I invite you to consider our Doctoral Program in Values-Driven Leadership. It will challenge you, stretch you, and open up whole new worlds of possibility. It will connect you with like-minded peers, the world’s best thinkers, and the most advanced knowledge to help you elevate your leadership to the next level – personally, organizationally, and globally. Join us."

~ Jim Ludema, Ph.D.
Co-Founder and Director,
Center for Values-Driven Leadership

The CVDL is launching a Revolution in Responsible Business by bringing the boardroom together with the classroom to capture proven practices, advance radical new ideas, and lead to a better way of doing business. Find out how we're igniting a revolution and what you can do to get involved.