Balancing boardrooms and books

How DBA student Jean-Paul Destarac is applying research to real-world supply chain challenges — and paving a path toward academia.

Last fall, W. P. Carey launched a Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) with a concentration in supply chain management. A three-year hybrid program, the DBA prepares tomorrow's thought leaders to solve the world's most pressing supply chain challenges through innovative coursework, cutting-edge research, and co-curricular experiences led by world-class faculty and supply chain experts.

"When I saw ASU was starting this program, I knew it was exactly what I was looking for," says Jean-Paul Destarac (DBA Supply Chain Management '27), a member of the program's inaugural cohort. "The DBA gives me flexibility in my schedule to think, research, read, and learn."

By combining in-person and online learning, the DBA makes advanced degrees accessible to working professionals like Destarac, who serves as CEO of the U.S. customs brokerage company Capin-Vyborny, which is based in Nogales, Arizona. W. P. Carey spoke with Destarac about his professional journey, experience in the DBA program, and advice for prospective students.

Question: Briefly describe your professional background before enrolling in the DBA program.

Answer: I'm from Guatemala, but grew up in Texas. After studying finance and sociology at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, I worked in the financial services industry in New York City. After a few years of working, I earned my MBA at Barcelona's IESE Business School, and then started a search fund, an investment vehicle where an entrepreneur aims to buy small businesses from owners without a clear succession plan and manages the company for the next generation.

I joined Capin-Vyborny in 2019. Most of our clients are U.S.-based companies that manufacture in Mexico to benefit from the U.S.-Mexico Free Trade Agreement. Our company helps navigate U.S. customs documents, transportation, warehousing, and consulting. Throughout the journey of acquiring and building the company, I became a licensed U.S. customs broker, which gives me the ability to represent clients to U.S. customs. Our goal as a company is to continue supporting our customers with personalized service and expertise, and growing with them.

I'm also an economics lecturer at the Catholic University of America's business school and serve on the board of REIS, a Mexican logistics company.

Q: What initially attracted you to the DBA program, and how has your previous experience informed your approach to and engagement with the program and its curriculum?

A: My goal after completing my graduate degree was to go into the field and get more business experience. I thought if I discovered something interesting in my career that students could grow from, I could reconnect with academia later. While the idea of a PhD had crossed my mind, I didn't want to leave my job.

I'm so fortunate to have been accepted to the DBA: It's been a great experience. The projects I'm working on and researching are directly applicable to my work. It’s been interesting to have the opportunity to learn from some of the faculty at ASU, while also bringing some of what I'm working on to the table.

Q: Looking back at your journey so far in the program, what experiences or projects have been the most impactful in shaping your research interests and professional goals?

A: In my day-to-day job, I don't have many opportunities to sit back and tackle complex issues or have academic discussions with my peers. It’s been interesting to have that in these small classes. For example, we had a four-person class with Thomas Choi, Regents and AT&T Professor of supply chain management. It's a huge opportunity to have such a well-renowned professor spend significant time with us. It's a real luxury.

Professor Choi invited me on his research trip to the University of Cambridge in December. It was an interesting trip, and the ideas that came out of it have become part of my thesis. Cambridge has a database that could be useful for some of the work that we're doing. It's an incredible experience to work with academic researchers and expand my professional and academic world.

Q: You are balancing your studies, work, family life, and trips. What has been most effective for you in managing your time and maintaining motivation throughout the program?

A: I have figured out what I want to spend time on. You have to be committed to what you want. Managing a demanding job with the DBA requires rethinking how you spend your time. Leisure is not necessarily not doing anything, because sometimes that can actually be draining. Leisure can be changing the activity to focus on a different one.

The DBA is a three-year program: It's going to be a big commitment. But once I complete the program, my goal is to keep writing, producing work on different topics, and perhaps begin a career in academia.

My wife and I questioned if this was the right time for the DBA — my job is busy, and we have a toddler and are expecting another baby. But there's never a good time, and life is only going to get busier, more complicated. If you want something, you need to create the time in your life to pursue it.

Q: As you continue in the DBA program, how do you envision your research contributing to your field of study or the broader impact of your business? What are your aspirations for your work and research beyond the program?

A: I'm researching how the regionalization of supply chains impacts resilience. During the globalization period, companies sourced from all over the world, optimizing for price, but recent crises have posed questions about whether supply chains should be more regionalized, which is related to what I do professionally. This research has been useful for my workplace because I can understand and uncover some of the trends, understand their impact, and have more sophisticated conversations with our clients and employees.

In the longer term, my goal is to continue providing a good service to our clients and eventually become a faculty member at ASU or another university to teach about what I’m uncovering in my work and research interests. Professor Choi, who serves as my advisor, thinks some of what we’re working on could be published in an academic journal, which is exciting.

I'm honored that ASU accepted me into such a prestigious program. Being part of the inaugural cohort has been a great experience, and I look forward to continuing to learn and grow with my classmates.

For additional information about the Doctor of Business Administration program at ASU, please visit our website. Applications for the fall 2025 cohort will be accepted until July 1.