Professional Development Plan

My ultimate goal is to earn a DBA within three years. I chose Walden University because
the doctoral curriculum provides me with the flexibility I need during my doctorate journey and
its reputation as a world-class institution. This professional development plan describes three of
the most important goals I wish to achieve as I pursue my doctorate program. The three goals
include: (1) finishing my DBA in human resource management; (2) joining at least two
residences of Walden University; and (3) authoring and publishing at least three journal articles.
This plan also describes the resources I will need to accomplish my goals and the timelines for
achieving them. This professional development plan will guide me during this DBA program and
my career in human resources.
Goal 1: Finishing My DBA in Human Resource Management
My desire to earn a DBA is based on an enduring passion for contributing to knowledge
development through research. I am also interested in developing competencies in business-
oriented leadership roles. I recall my childhood when I began building an interest in leadership
after leading small teams of students to accomplish specific class-based tasks. This trend
continued after joining the high school and during my undergraduate and master’s programs. The
ability to build strong relationships has been one of my strongest pillars throughout my academic
and professional journeys. Since the early days, I knew I would rise to become a woman leader,
and my desire to excel in that path has been my desire. I am also passionate about empowering
others by helping them grow individually and career-wise. Completing my MBA in human
resource management re-invigorated my passion for becoming an authority in this field. I have
also benefited immensely from the support I received from my family and my colleagues at

3
work. I am confident that I will accomplish my goal of earning a DBA in human resource
management at Walden University in the next three years.
Goal 1 Narrative
Earning a DBA will open many opportunities for me to serve in leadership roles in my
business field while building solid competencies as a scholar. I expect that I will be able to
accomplish this goal within three years. The desire to exceed my expectations motivates me to
achieve my desires. I believe I am well prepared to pursue this goal since my mindset focuses on
that ultimate goal. I plan to use the resources available at Walden University, including adhering
to the DBA curriculum, to achieve this goal. I will also seek to interact closely with the faculty,
my colleagues, and other professionals during the entire journey of my doctorate program. I
know there would be many obstacles on the way, such as the time limitation and the challenge of
balancing family and academics. To overcome these challenges, I will plan ahead and seek
advice from the relevant people, including my coach, peers, and learning community members.
There are many resources I intend to use in the pursuit of my DBA in human resource
management. However, I have singled out the “Voices of DBA Students” as one resource that
will be pivotal in guiding me.
Laureate Education (Producer). (2013b). Voices of DBA students [Interactive media]. Retrieved
from the Laureate CDN databases. (DDBA 8006).
The Voices of DBA students provides essential ideas relating to DBA programs at
Walden University. These will be a crucial resource since it provides insights based on the
experiences of students and the entire Walden Learning Community. I have already identified
students whose circumstances are relatable to my situations, and I am already getting handy

4
ideas for overcoming the obstacles I will likely face in this journey. I also intend to maximize the
use of resources like Walden’s library for my research and other academic tasks. I will adhere to
the timelines provided in the syllabus to complete my assignments and projects.
Goal 2: Joining at least two Residences of Walden University
Apart from learning from the Voices of DBA Students, I will also join at least two
residences of Walden University since this is a crucial requirement of the DBA program. I am
aware that I may face challenges in attending the residences due to my commitments and
responsibilities. To overcome this challenge, I will work closely with my coach and also engage
my employer in planning how I will be able to accomplish this goal. I am passionate about
learning from and collaborating with others to find solutions. I will also prepare my finances in
advance to meet the expenses associated with attending a residency.
Goal 2: Narrative
Residencies are aimed at helping doctoral students to know and understand the program’s
requirements and expectations, create a learning network with peers and provide opportunities
for students to interact with mentors and the faculty. I will mainly be interested in the residency
for program orientation, particularly the one that focuses on delivering the doctoral study
proposal and completing the capstone project. I identified a recent study under the topic
“Experiences in an Online Learning Community,” which provides important insights into the
principles of a professional learning community and the components of online learning
communities and their efficacy.
Wylie, M. (2021). Experiences in an Online Learning Community. Warden Dissertations and
Doctoral Studies.

5
This dissertation outlines self-motivation, time management, and working with others in
the community as crucial in enabling doctoral students to excel in their studies. Other factors
include engagement with faculty and participation in outside the classroom activities. I will apply
for the residencies ahead of time to increase my chances of being registered.
Goal 3: Write and Publish at least one Journal Article Each Year
In line with my desire to contribute to the human resource knowledge pool, I intend to
author and publish at least three journal articles in addition to the minimum research
requirements in my doctoral program. I am particularly interested in researching topics that align
with the contemporary practices in human resource management.
Goal 3: Narrative
I am particularly interested in topics focused on technology application in human
resources and strategic management of human resources. I will engage my coach, mentor, and
professors to choose suitable topics for the journal article. I am a research-oriented person, and I
intend to leverage this strength to conduct original research on issues relevant to contemporary
human resource practices. To accomplish this goal, I will strive to update myself with the current
trends in human resource management and the relevant research topics in this area by reading
widely and attending human resource conferences and expo events. I will also work closely with
my coach and peers in choosing the most appropriate peer-reviewed journal to publish my
research. I will rely on various guides when writing and publishing my studies. The following is
one of the resources I will consult to guide me in my research endeavors.
Walden University, (2021). Traditional doctoral study capstone research handbook.
https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/research-center/program-documents/dba

6
Although the handbook is explicitly focused on guiding capstone projects, it can provide
valuable insights about the conduct of research in specific areas, such as formulating the research
problem, objectives, and research methodologies, among other realms. I will strive to write one
article per year during my doctoral studies, and I also intend to continue with this practice after
completing my studies.

Conclusion

This plan prioritizes finishing my DBA in human resource management as the ultimate
goal of my doctoral studies. The plan outlines the goals, steps to accomplish the goal, and
resources. Walden University’s curriculum structure largely dictates the timelines for achieving
these goals. This plan will enable me to become an accomplished scholar and an active
contributor to knowledge development in human resource management. I will rely on the
resources available at the university and my peers, the coach, the faculty, and other professional
resources to meet my goals.

7

References

Laureate Education (Producer). (2013b). Voices of DBA students [Interactive media]. Retrieved
from the Laureate CDN databases. (DDBA 8006).
Walden University, (2021). Traditional doctoral study capstone research handbook.
https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/research-center/program-documents/dba
Wylie, M. (2021). Experiences in an online learning community. Walden Dissertations and
Doctoral Studies.