ISM students and alumni represent more than 130 countries throughout the world. View testimonials by country, program, or a combination of both. You can also browse through the testimonials further down this page.

The Student View

The student view

The flexibility that ISM offers is truly unparalleled. The ability to seamlessly transition between regular lectures and distance-based e-learning is yet another advantage.

The small class sizes help us connect to the professors.

The entrepreneurship course I took at ISM was pivotal. The professor was able to create a shift in the how we viewed innovation and entrepreneurship.

Studying at ISM is a great way to learn, see the world, and expand your international network.

I found it very helpful that you can break your coursework into manageable amounts so you can really focus on the coursework, but also continue to have a normal work and family life.

If you want international exposure and practical learning, and you don't want to interrupt your work while you study, then ISM is the place to be.

ISM is very hands-on with the development of its students and creates professionals destined for greater horizons.

The culture at ISM facilitates success by motivating students while providing the individual support they may need.

ISM offers flexibility without compromising the quality of the academic experience.

Having an international DBA with ISM allows me to make an impact globally.

Testimonials by program:

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For the last 20 years, I have worked as a senior executive as a Finance Director and then as a Managing Director after completing my MBA in Innovation and Technology. I wanted to ensure that in my journey as an executive leader, I mastered the social skills and emotional intelligence that leaders need in the C-suite.

I conducted research for a year to...

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I have tremendously enjoyed my academic experience at ISM and can truly recommend it to all those hard working business minded individuals who have the drive for success and achievements.

The ISM allowed me to conduct research at Governmental level namely in the fields of OPCW and CSDP that might not be available in other academic institutions and for...

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The PHD program at ISM is highly distinguished. In general, course structure, subject matter, and materials of the DBA courses are very contemporary and cover critical issues. More specifically, the finance courses that I completed whether in Paris or on-line were both interesting and challenging. the assignments, mainly of on-line courses, were...

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I was looking for higher education institutions that allowed me to continue to work as a busy financial professional and study overseas. I believe ISM is the only institution that offers this flexibility. Prior to joining ISM, I was a young professional trying to build my practice in wealth management.

I have had the best experience at ISM. I take...

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Annette Templeton, PhD Candidate from the USA

"I feel that this is such an international experience. Now I'm making personal friends from countries ranging from Egypt to Singapore to Portugal to Nigeria and because we are sharing so much of our professional experiences, we are developing professionally as well. We are sharing not just problems and finishing papers for class, we are actually...

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Between my teaching schedule with both daytime and evening classes, my family, and the frequent travel I do leading study abroad programs, I needed a PhD program with maximum flexibility. Living in Los Angeles, of course I had plenty of schools I could choose from. But it was a much better use of my time to fly to classes every couple months and finish...

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Prior to my enrollment at ISM, I had a well-rounded career as an engineer and management consultant in the United States. While working as a management consultant, I was frequently traveling, mostly domestically in the United States, and increasingly doing work which I no longer found interesting or challenging. There was an aspect of consulting which...

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I found the participants, at the ISM NY Program at St. John's University, an inspirational network of future leaders and self-investors. The professors and students, gathered under one roof for several weeks, provided a world class learning environment. The entire time spent in NY was - in the words of Shakespeare - "A Midsummer Night's Dream".

In 2005, while I was living in Shanghai, I decided to pursue a doctoral degree to further my passion for teaching. Before enrolling at ISM, I did extensive research on accredited institutions, exploring which programs would offer the best combination of location flexibility and robust academic curriculum. There was only one program that fit my...

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Grace Chew, PhD Candidate from Singapore

The decision to start a doctoral program was not easy. However, I enjoyed the study and travelling to China, Paris, New York and Brazil to mingle with all the high quality cohorts and lecturers.

The decision to enroll in the ISM PhD in Business Administration was an interesting journey for me. I started to look for a suitable program in 2012. I...

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I have always studied while working, so when a fellow scholar mentioned ISM, I felt I was ready to take on that challenge. I started in fall 2019 and every interaction with ISM was smooth and friendly. I was looking forward to taking some courses in Paris and going to my hometown of NYC to take some courses there too.  

As I joined...

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I thoroughly enjoyed the Advanced Corporate Strategy seminar. Professor Weber was truly inspiring and he made this seminar interesting and motivating. His style of teaching brought out the best in the students, and the classroom format was an excellent mix of lectures, discussion, case studies and student presentations.

The materials covered in the...

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You should choose to study at ISM to obtain the benefits of its outstanding International Business programs. I studied in both Paris and New York and I enjoyed the interaction with the disciplines presented by the doctoral professors. I specifically enjoyed the two-week courses and subsequent research projects given at St. John's University in New York...

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Prior to joining ISM, I had done thorough research. I had compared the ISM PhD program with various universities from Europe. According to my personal research, the ISM PhD program was the most comprehensive in terms of professional development and teaching methodology. Moreover, I had contacted numerous ISM alumni and from every single resource, I...

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Kimberly Reeve, PhD Candidate from the USA

I knew that I didn’t want to leave my work for an extended amount of time. One of the things that I value about ISM is their flexibility in allowing us to essentially have the condensed modules where you're on site for three to four days at a time to take a course. I found it very helpful that you can break your coursework into manageable amounts so...

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The thing that first inspired me to apply to ISM was the flexibility and ability to attend courses in different countries. Prior to starting the program, I was working in academic business providing executive educational solutions and also teaching academic courses for level 3-7.

It was a brilliant experience meeting different lecturers from...

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ISM offered the only part-time PhD program in Europe at the time, and the program’s flexibility allowed me to study and work in parallel. From the very first class, there was an aura of celebration and a euphoric exchange of knowledge that continued in all ISM courses, creating an amazing feeling that I will never forget.

While studying, I attended...

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In 2013, I knew that I needed a higher academic license in order for me to accede to a choice position within my field of Electronic Engineering Technology. The competition is usually fierce in that environment and getting a PhD degree is what I needed to make me a good candidate for any executive promotion. Because I was under the obligation to be...

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After years of taking care of my family, I wanted to go back to school to earn my PhD and begin teaching. I wanted to be at an International School, to learn both locally and internationally.

I looked into many options, however, ISM was different. Matthew Werner, ISM Executive Director, took an interest in me, as person, and not as just another...

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I was first introduced to ISM when I was searching for high-ranking business schools. ISM’s ranking, global perspective, and the advanced elective courses the school offers inspired me to become a part of the ISM community. I had already received my Master's degree in Healthcare Management from the Royal College of Surgeons, National University of...

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Merit Al-Sayed, PhD Candidate from Jordan

I am incredibly fortunate to have pursued my PhD at ISM Paris. The level of care and interaction I received from the faculty, across academic disciplines is unrivaled. ISM has prepared me to be a good colleague and was personally enriching to myself despite living miles away from the school. I know that the “open door” policy shared by many faculty...

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I have a great deal of appreciation for the experience studying in the ISM PhD program provides me. The professors and students coming from all over the world are an invaluable resource to my professional and personal growth. I am particularly impressed by the New York summer session at St. John's University, where I had the opportunity to study at an...

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Olivia Choi, PhD Candidate from Canada

Strength and diversity across international markets should be the school’s mission statement --helping students really become students of the world.

Having worked in the financial industry for eight years and taught business statistics at University of Hong Kong for another six years, I find the ISM PhD program an ideal platform to further my...

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Prior to enrolling at ISM in 2009, I was looking for ways to improve my understanding of global business. Once I discovered ISM, I realized it was a good fit for me. At the time of my enrollment, I was very busy running my businesses and traveling across continents for official engagements. I needed a school that would allow me the flexibility to study...

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As the Chief Executive Officer of my business, it is not possible for me to abandon my work and do a full-time PhD course. ISM offered me a perfect match in terms of flexibility. In addition to flexibility, the quality aspect of the course is remarkable. The contents covered were very helpful for my application in the business world. The professors...

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Ram Ramachandran, PhD Candidate from the USA

My due diligence before selecting ISM included talking to several alumni and current students. There was a resounding endorsement for the program curriculum and faculty members. Since joining my PhD program, I have found the validations to be absolutely true. ISM administration ensured that the onboarding process was smooth and were easily accessible...

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The first thing that impressed me about ISM was the prompt and professional responses from the staff and administration. I work in academia as a program director and yet it was a daunting prospect for me personally to think about the process for making application, interviewing and starting courses in a PhD program. I had explored a number of options...

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Once your non-academic career starts, a PhD is little more than a dream as traditional programs allow for only full-time students. ISM changes that. This highly-accredited doctoral program makes a PhD or DBA attainable for the non-traditional student, making the elusive doctorate a reality.

What I enjoyed most about studying with ISM in New York and...

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The ISM PhD provides a rewarding educational experience with the ideal combination of breadth, depth, and flexibility. The eclectic nature of this experience has aided me in achieving my personal, professional, and academic goals.

I consider myself very lucky to have had the opportunity to study at ISM and continue my postgraduate studies. My DBA program gave me the chance to be one of those successful candidates and establish a good friendship with many students.

ISM is the best school to offer an intensive international program that helped me gained valuable field experience...

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With a vibrant career in banking and international capital markets that spanned nearly three decades, Dr. Ben Nwoji has always harbored a deep passion for international business. Starting with a BSc in Management from the University of Nigeria, he went on to earn an MBA in Finance from the University of Stirling, Scotland. His 28 years dedicated...

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ISM has a unique position as a practitioner oriented doctoral program that is international in scope, in its faculty and in its student body, with flexibility in courses at different times in different cities that make the learning stimulating and doable for a busy executive. I enjoyed immensely the Shanghai courses and professors and left thinking I...

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​​Imagine dreaming of joining the world of current and future leaders, taking part in groundbreaking conversations and research, and pushing boundaries… Now imagine living it. That’s an experience that ISM made my reality. With the desire to contribute to something unique, benefit from a diverse environment, and open up opportunities for people and...

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As a full-time nonprofit healthcare executive, wife, and mother of three, being a DBA student and member of the ISM community is something that I take pride in. My journey as a student at ISM began in 2017 and has been one of the most impactful and important experiences of my personal and professional life. The personal growth and career trajectory...

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I have been a student of the International School of Management for approximately 5 years and have recently graduated from the DBA program. The school’s teaching methods are excellent and my instructors were knowledgeable, encouraging and patient. The unique program philosophy has allowed me to learn and make progress towards my personal and...

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Deseye Umurhohwo, DBA Candidate from Nigeria

One of the best decisions I made in 2015 was to enroll in the DBA program at ISM. I realized this after attending four courses in Paris.  Some of the courses I have taken have changed my thinking and added so much value to both my professional and personal life. ISM is a life-changing institution, and the support provided by the staff is...

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In 2015, I decided to advance my academic career and began my search for a school that fit my needs. I was interested in studying at ISM and chose to enroll because of the school’s global perspective and cultural diversity. The opportunity to interact and learn from people from different parts of the world was something I did not want to miss. My work...

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ISM was my first and best business school selection to pursue my DBA degree. The knowledge, study materials, and academic supervision all were above the academic standards. Relating what I learned to my work enhanced the work performance and I experienced more management techniques to implement. ISM environment is like my family. Thanks to ISM.

The thing that inspired me to apply to ISM’s DBA program was its flexibility, which allowed me to work and study at the same time. Prior to my time at ISM, I was working as an industrial engineer/product manager in the field of soft drinks manufacturing. When I applied, I knew the DBA program would expand my scope and the focus of my professional...

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I found the Change Management seminar with Prof. Smits excellent. I recently attended a change management program at Erasmus University and was therefore able to compare the two programs. The Erasmus program was very focused on a specific change methodology, where I felt the ISM program focused on the broader dynamic of change. I found some of the...

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ISM is an end-to-end great experience. The quality of engagement with faculty and other students enables continuously rich learning. The courses are relevant for today and the future, and the content is delivered through excellent tools and methods. The knowledge and perspectives that intersect are at the frontier of relevance and usefulness. I...

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I am currently the CEO of Spyder Works, a leading business consultancy for mid-market organizations and intrapreneurs. I am also the Chair of the Mississauga Board of Trade in Ontario, Canada. I have been recognized internationally as a business and innovation thought leader who helps organizations, investors and business families bring their ideas to...

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I had a great experience at ISM and enjoyed networking at each of the courses in different world-class settings. The opportunity to connect with other professionals during courses and build a network is great and opens so many doors.

I had just given birth to my second child and was preparing to take over a class while my friend was on sabbatical. Switching from the industry I had worked in for almost 10 years to working at a university was unexpected, as many things in my life have been. As I began to enjoy lecturing and working with students from various parts of Europe, I...

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I enrolled in ISM's DBA program with the explicit intention of teaching full-time at the university level. I was both pleased and impressed with the academic rigor of the program. This experience included work with both New York and Paris based faculty.

Importantly, I found the faculty and staff universally supportive of my goal to join the academic...

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I chose the ISM DBA program because of its enrollment standards, flexible program, and the intense focus on international business. Not only could the curriculum fit my schedule, but attending class with other classmates from around the world helped form relationships that will last long after the program.

 

 

The international and...

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Sthu Zungu-Noel, DBA Candidate from South Africa

My experience at ISM has been truly wonderful. Three features of the school have been major highlights for me: the diversity of the student body, the flexibility of the program and the cutting edge faculty.

Since enrolling in the DBA program, I have met so many people and made new friends with different backgrounds from all over the world who work...

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I have worked in global companies like Unilever, Globo, and Vale, and my current role is a Manager of Mergers & Acquisitions at Vale S/A, a Brazilian mining company. My responsibilities involve the execution of acquisitions, divestments, and partnerships not only in Brazil but also abroad. During my career, in different roles in strategy, business...

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I chose ISM's DBA program because of the blended system that included courses in person and online. The program was very international with a high level of diversity and global networking possibilities.

The courses provided knowledge that was immediately applicable in the real professional world. I found that the professors were highly...

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Troy C. Troublefield, DBA Alumnus from the USA

The best part of being at ISM is the ability to converse and collaborate with people from all over the world. Though the education is world class, ISM's best attribute is its ability to bring together people from all walks of life to learn from and grow with one another in an enriching and creative learning environment. ISM has given me an experience...

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