Shaping the Future of Recruitment: Dr. Hirsch on Human-Centered Leadership

Blog > Shaping the Future of Recruitment: Dr. Hirsch on Human-Centered Leadership

We are proud to introduce Dr. Diego Hirsch, SSBM Geneva DBA graduate and the founder of Hirschman Associates and a recruitment expert for the Banking & Financial Services sector across the D-A-CH region. With a strong international background and deep expertise in financial regulations, he advises companies on critical talent decisions while helping professionals navigate their next meaningful career steps. Diego holds a DBA with research focused on AI governance and human-centered decision-making in recruitment, reflecting his commitment to combining cutting-edge insight with practical, ethical leadership.

SSBM Geneva alumni testimonial

What motivated you to pursue a DBA, and why did you choose SSBM Geneva?

I pursued a DBA to connect academic rigor with applied business practice. As a Recruitment professional in the financial services industry, I work closely with leadership and decision-making. I chose SSBM for its practice-oriented doctoral model and focus on applied research.

How did your DBA journey change how you think about leadership or decision-making?

It shifted my approach from intuition-driven decisions to evidence-informed and ethically grounded judgment. The DBA helped me structure complex decisions more critically;  especially where people, technology, and long-term impact intersect.

I pursued a DBA to connect academic rigor with applied business practice. As a Recruitment professional in the financial services industry, I work closely with leadership and decision-making. I chose SSBM for its practice-oriented doctoral model and focus on applied research.

What leadership abilities did you develop that are most relevant in the age of AI?

Three key abilities:

  • Critical evaluation of AI outputs
  • Ethical awareness around bias and transparency
  • Hybrid decision-making, combining human judgment with AI efficiency

As a Recruitment professional, what is your advice on implementing AI responsibly without losing human oversight?

Use AI as decision support, not a decision-maker. Automate low-risk tasks, but keep humans accountable for evaluation, ethics, and final decisions, especially in regulated environments.

Looking back, what advice would you give to someone considering a DBA?

Be clear on your purpose. A DBA is ideal if you want to strengthen strategic thinking and applied research skills. Choose a topic closely tied to your professional field to maximize impact.

Dr. Hirsch exemplifies the blend of deep industry expertise, ethical leadership, and innovative thinking that defines modern recruitment in the financial sector. Through his DBA research on AI governance and human-centered decision-making, he continues to shape how organizations make critical talent decisions while empowering professionals to take meaningful next steps in their careers.