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Dr. Rui Janota is an SSBM Geneva DBA alumnus and a senior finance executive with extensive international experience in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry. He serves as Chief Financial Officer at Cipan and Global Head of Finance for the Industrial Division of Suanfarma, a global pharmaceutical CDMO. Throughout his career, Dr. Janota has held leadership roles across multiple geographies, overseeing finance functions in highly regulated and competitive environments. He combines executive practice with academic insight, bringing a strong focus on strategic leadership, operational excellence, and long-term value creation in complex industrial organizations.
As I stated in my DBA thesis, “At the core of any scientific research project lies a rooted feeling of restlessness and curiosity – this project is no exception”. I’ve always been fascinated by the role of leadership in the performance of pharmaceutical organizations. I took this opportunity to find a structured way to deepen my strategic thinking, challenge assumptions, and connect academic research with real executive decisions. This DBA journey allowed me to step back from day-to-day execution and rigorously explore complex leadership, finance, and strategy questions that directly impact organizations like the ones I’ve been working for.
I chose SSBM Geneva because of the school’s growing notoriety, strong practical orientation, international perspective, and flexibility. The program design aligns with the schedules of senior executives, not full-time academics, and emphasizes applied research with real business relevance. The school’s mix of academic rigor and executive experience, combined with SSBM’s global network, made it a compelling choice.
Although this was a personal project, rooted in a lifelong learning mentality, completing this DBA significantly strengthened my ability to frame problems at a systemic level, evaluate decisions using evidence-based reasoning, and link leadership performance to long-term value creation.
I would definitely highlight the experience of one-to-one supervision and the interaction with a diverse cohort of senior leaders from different industries and regions. The program encouraged intellectual rigor while remaining closely connected to real organizational challenges, which made the learning immediately applicable.
I would recommend the SSBM Geneva DBA to experienced executives, CFOs, CEOs, and senior leaders who want to elevate their strategic impact without stepping away from their careers. It is particularly well-suited for professionals who wish to bridge practice and research, and who value critical thinking as a leadership capability.
My advice is to choose a research topic that genuinely connects with your professional reality, plan your time rigorously, and treat the DBA as a strategic investment rather than an academic obligation. I’ve used consistency, discipline, and curiosity as key drivers in my research. If approached with the right mindset, the DBA becomes a powerful tool for both personal and professional growth.