Dr. E.P. Graamans
Investigator | Teacher | Counselor
EDUCATION
VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Doctor at the VU School of Business and Economics (2020)
Dissertation entitled: Beyond the Idea of Culture: Understanding and Changing Cultural Practices in Business and Life Matters
Promotores: Prof.dr.mr. S. ten Have and prof.dr. W.D. ten Have
Reading Committee: Prof.dr. S.N. Khapova, prof.dr. H.W. van den Borne, prof.dr. C.G.J.M. Hilders, prof.dr. M.W. Mutugi and prof.dr. J.F.D.B. Wempe
Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands
Master of Science in Industrial and Organizational Psychology (2014)
Awarded with the qualification ‘Cum Laude’ for exceptional achievement
Supervisor: Dr. T. Verheggen
Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands
Bachelor of Science in Psychology (2011)
Awarded with the qualification ‘Cum Laude’ for exceptional achievement
Supervisor: Em.prof.dr. J.E.M.M. Syroit
VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
University Teaching Qualification (UTQ) (2015)
The UTQ certificate is a nationally recognized certificate since the signing of an agreement by the VSNU (Association of Universities in the Netherlands) in 2008. Teachers at this level are qualified to provide education to students, are systematically and responsibly involved in education and are able to guide, instruct, test and evaluate students individually and in groups.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
School of Business and Economics, Department of Management and Organization
Assistant Professor of Culture and Leadership (2020 – present)
Course Coordinator:
– Being a Thought Leader: Business and Peace;
– Top Management and Political Skills;
– Leadership: Mobilizing People;
– Academic Knowledge and Skills.
Nederlandse Foundation voor Management Development, The Netherlands
Board Member (2024 – present)
VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
School of Business and Economics, Executive Education, Organizational Development and Change
Core Lecturer (2015 – present)
VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
School of Business and Economics, Executive Education, Compliance & Integrity Management
Lecturer (2016 – 2022)
Nyenrode Business Universiteit, Breukelen, The Netherlands
Cross-Cultural Management
Guest Lecturer (2021 – present)
Adamas University, Kolkata, India
School of Liberal Arts and Culture Studies
Guest Lecturer (2022 – 2023)
TEN HAVE Change Management, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Industrial-Organizational Psychologist and Senior Researcher (2012 – 2020)
VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
School of Business and Economics, Executive Education, Change Management
Doctoral Researcher (2015 – 2020)
University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Amsterdam Business School, MBA Healthcare Management
Guest Lecturer (2016 – 2020)
Amref Flying Doctors, Leiden, The Netherlands
Guest Speaker (2017 – 2019)
National University, San Diego, United States of America
School of Health and Human Services
Guest Lecturer (2017 – 2018)
Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
College of Business and Economics, Transformational Leadership Program
Guest Lecturer (2018)
Independent
International Fashion Model (1998 – 2012)
PEER-REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS
Graamans, E. (2024). Laying the foundation for a second counterculture: A psychology of loving. Futures, 156,1-9, Article 103308. doi: 10.1016/j.futures.2023.103308
Graamans, E. (2024). The blurry line between corporation and cult: A retrospective autoethnographic study. The Qualitative Report, 29(4), 880-897. doi: 10.46743/2160-3715/2024.6398
Stephenson, K., Khapova, S., & Graamans, E. (2023). What are we waiting for? How gendered temporal experiences maintain the gender leadership gap. Academy of Management Proceedings, 2023(1), Article 15078. doi: 10.5465/AMPROC.2023.15078abstract
Strengers, J., Mutsaers, L., van Rossum, L., & Graamans, E. (2022). The organizational culture of scale-ups and performance. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 35(8), 115-130. doi: 10.1108/JOCM-09-2021-0268
Graamans, E., ten Have, W., & ten Have, S. (2021). Against the current: Cultural psychology and culture change management. Culture & Psychology, 27(2), 325-343.
doi: 10.1177/1354067X21993789
Graamans, E. (2020). Beyond the idea of culture: Understanding and changing cultural practices in business and life matters (Doctoral dissertation). Amsterdam, NL: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Graamans, E., Aij, K., Vonk, A., & ten Have, W. (2020). Case study: Examining failure in change management. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 33(2), 319-330. doi: 10.1108/JOCM-06-2019-0204
Graamans, E., Ofware, P., Nguura, P., Smet, E., & ten Have, W. (2019). Understanding different positions on female genital cutting among Maasai and Samburu communities in Kenya: A cultural psychological perspective. Culture, Health & Sexuality: An International Journal for Research, Intervention and Care, 21(1), 79-94.
doi: 10.1080/13691058.2018.1449890
Graamans, E., Smet, E., & ten Have, S. (2019). Legislation against girl circumcision: A cultural psychological understanding of prohibition. Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters, 27(1), 307-309. doi: 10.1080/26410397.2019.1601964
Graamans, E., Zolnikov, T., Smet, E., Nguura, P., Leshore, L., & ten Have, S. (2019). Lessons learned from implementing alternative rites in the fight against female genital mutilation/cutting. The Pan African Medical Journal, 32(59). doi: 10.11604/pamj.2019.32.59.17624
Vernooij, C., Millenaar, L., Graamans, E., & ten Have, W. (2017). Rechtvaardigheid als vaardigheid: Leiding geven aan organisatieverandering op rechtvaardige wijze. Tijdschrift voor Management en Organisatie, 71(2), 21-36.
Graamans, E., Millenaar, L., & ten Have, W. (2014). Dynamieken binnen het topmanagementteam van een grote zorgorganisatie: Een cultuurpsychologisch perspectief. Tijdschrift voor Management en Organisatie, 68(3), 22-42.
PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS
Graamans, E. P., & Freriks, M. (2025). Hoe de term cultuur misbruikt wordt: ‘Dat is nu eenmaal de cultuur’. Basisschoolmanagement, 39(5), 6-9.
Graamans, E. (2024). V.
Graamans, E., & Millenaar, L. (2023). Het cultuurafstemmingsmodel: Belichaming en articulatie. Holland Management Review, 208, 84-93.
Graamans, E. (2023). Culture is still “a thing”: On why it’s so, but shouldn’t be. The European Business Review, Sept-Oct, 102-106.
Graamans, E. (2023). Understanding Indian culture: Inconceivably one and different. The Corridor Magazine INBCB, 2, 22-24.
Graamans, E., Otto, M., Smit, S., & ten Have, W. (2017). Cultuurverandering is verandering van afstemming. Opleiding & Ontwikkeling, 1, 28-34.
Graamans, E., ten Have, S., & ten Have, W. (2016). Een alternatief voor opportunistisch gebruik van het begrip ‘cultuur’ in organisaties. Holland / Belgium Management Review, 165, 32-39.
Graamans, E., & Millenaar, L. (2015). Spiritualiteit in organisaties: Zingeving of zweverigheid? Management & Consulting, 4, 44-53.
Millenaar, L., Graamans, E., & ten Have, W. (2015). Het belang van rechtvaardigheidsbelevingen bij organisatieverandering: Over distributieve, procedurele en interactionele rechtvaardigheid. Maandblad Nederlands Instituut van Psychologen, 50(3), 10-18.
Millenaar, L., Graamans, E., & ten Have, W. (2013). Rechtvaardigheid als bepalende factor bij organisatieverandering. Holland / Belgium Management Review, 149, 44-52.
Millenaar, L., & Graamans, E. (2012). Just change. Management & Consulting, 63(6), 39-43.
PEER-REVIEWED BOOK CHAPTERS
Graamans, E. (2025). Envisaging a culture of love: Leadership of the heart. In C.-H. Mayer & E. Vanderheiden (Eds.), International handbook of love: Transcultural and transdisciplinary perspectives (2nd ed.) Springer Nature Switzerland AG. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-76665-7_76-1
ten Have, W., Graamans, E., & ten Have, S. (2019). Reconsidering essentials of organization development: An evidence-based change management perspective. In R. G. Hamlin, A. D. Ellinger, & J. Jones (Eds.), Advances in business strategy and competitive advantage (ABSCA) book series. Evidence-based initiatives for organizational change and development (pp. 52–75). Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference/IGI Global. doi: 10.4018/978-1-5225-6155-2.ch003
ten Have, W., Graamans, E., & ten Have, S. (2019). Manager hopefulness when seeking to acquire change solutions: Buyer beware! Critical reflections on “best practice” change management consultancy in the Netherlands. In R. G. Hamlin, A. D. Ellinger & J. Jones (Eds.), Advances in business strategy and competitive advantage (ABSCA) book series. Evidence-based initiatives for organizational change and development (pp. 658-668). Hershey, PA: Business Science Reference/IGI Global.
doi: 10.4018/978-1-5225-6155-2.ch046
PEER-REVIEW MANUSCRIPTS REVIEWER
Culture, Health & Sexuality (Taylor & Francis Group)
Global Public Health (Taylor & Francis Group)
Journal of Organizational Change Management (Emerald Publishing)
PLOS One (Public Library of Science)
Sexual and Reproductive Health Matters (Taylor & Francis Group)
SSM – Qualitative Research in Health (Elsevier)
PUBLICATION AWARDS
Emerald Literati Award 2023 – Outstanding Paper
Emerald Publishing
Recipients: Dr. E.P. Graamans, drs. L. van Rossum, drs. L. Mutsaers and drs. J. Strengers
ROA Professional Publication Award 2013
Raad van Organisatie-Adviesbureaus
Recipients: Drs. L. Millenaar, dr. E.P. Graamans and prof.dr. W.D. ten Have
GRANTS
AbbVie | Pharmaceutical Research & Development
Recipients: Prof.dr. S.N. Khapova, dr. K. Stephenson, dr. M. Tims, dr. E.P. Graamans and dr. J. Oostrom
Project: Addressing the leaky pipeline, why still so few high-potential women reach General Management level?
Awarded date: 2020
Amount: €72.000
ACADEMIC CONFERENCES
Graamans, E. (2025, May 2). Culture: Why preferences need no inferences [Keynote address]. Linguistic Empowerment Cell, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, India.
Graamans, E. (2024, November 23). Who is leading culture? [Keynote address]. Distinguished Lecture Series, School of Business and Management, Jaipur National University, Jaipur, India.
Graamans, E. P. (2024, June 7). Philosophy of science in culture and health research [Keynote address]. Research Methodology and Data Analysis Workshop Series, Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
Graamans, E.P. (2023, November 23). Work and organizational life as art [Keynote address]. International Conference on Society, Religion and Work, Department of Sociology, SOLACS, Adamas University, Kolkata, India.
Graamans, E.P. (2023, January 2-3). Spirituality and embodiment: Inconceivably one and different [Conference session]. Interdisciplinary International Conference 2023 on Morality, Spirituality, Culture and Society: East and West, Adamas University in collaboration with the Center for the Study of Religion and Society, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, India.
ten Have, S., ten Have, W., Vernooij, C., & Graamans, E.P. (2021, July 7-10). Behavioral bias and change in organizations [Paper presentation]. 37th EGOS Colloquium, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Khapova, S.N., Loo, E. van de, Winter, J., Engbers, M., Tcholakian, L., & Graamans, E.P. (2020, May 14-15). Board research: An international conference Inside the Black Box of Boards’ Decision Making [Conference organizers]. VU Center for Boards and Executive Leadership Development, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Zolnikov, T.R., & Graamans, E.P. (2019, November 2-6). Bridging health and culture to end female genital mutilation/cutting with alternative rites [Poster presentation]. American Public Health Association Annual Meeting and Expo: Creating the Healthiest Nation: For science. For action. For health, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
Graamans, E. (2018, July 10). Understanding different positions on female genital cutting [Keynote address]. Anti-FGM/C Champions Conference, KCB Leadership Centre, Nairobi, Kenya.
MASTERCLASSES
Graamans, E. (2025, October 13). Leiderschap in herstel [Keynote address]. “NFMD Congres 2025: Verslavend leiderschap,” ‘The Hub’ Politie, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Graamans, E. (2025, March 18). Cultuur: Een kwestie van smaak [Keynote address]. NFMD Bijeenkomst, Berenschot, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Graamans, E.P. (2021, June 7/14). Culture change management. In-company training provided by the VU School of Business and Economics Executive Education at The Netherlands Red Cross, Zeist, The Netherlands.
Graamans, E.P. (2021, March 16/23). Culture change management. In-company training provided by the VU School of Business and Economics Executive Education at the Tax and Customs Administration of the Netherlands, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Graamans, E.P. (2019, December 12). Community-led change. Presentation at War Child Holland, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Graamans, E. (2019, September 24). Who is leading culture? Masterclass at “Amref-VvAA Leadership Conference”, Driebergen, The Netherlands.
Graamans, E. (2018, June 12). Understanding different positions on female genital cutting. Discussion on practical implications research findings at Amref Business Club, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Graamans, E. (2018, March 7). Changing social norms and behavior [Keynote address]. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of the Netherlands, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Graamans, E. (2017, October 11). On the introduction of new surgical suture. Preliminary research findings presented at management meeting VU Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Graamans, E. (2017, October 2). From Kenya to the Netherlands: Female circumcision and gender inequality. Masterclass at symposium “It takes a woman to change the world.” Hosted by the Entrepreneurial Development Bank FMO, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Graamans, E. (2017, June 21). Working towards the abandonment of harmful cultural practices. Masterclass at workshop “Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) / Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH),” Loitokitok, Kenya.
Graamans, E. (2017, June 19). Changing embodied practices: A cultural psychological analysis of female genital cutting and alternative rites of passage. Preliminary findings field research presented at Amref Health Africa Headquarters, Nairobi, Kenya.
MEDIA
Graamans, E. (2025, April 10). Part 2 – Love as a lever of change (Niek Droffelaar and Boy Droffelaar, PhD., Interviewers). Leaders into the Wild [Podcast].
Graamans, E. (2025, March 31). Part 1 – Love as a lever of change (Niek Droffelaar and Boy Droffelaar, PhD., Interviewers). Leaders into the Wild [Podcast].
van Noort, W. (2024, January 6). Liefde als drijvende kracht van verandering? NRC Future Affairs [Newsletter].
Graamans, E. (2024, February 26). Designing cities for all: Re-generation series Beings of the Economy: The Healing [Panel]. Pakhuis de Zwijger, Amsterdam.
Graamans, E. (2022, January 21). What are ARPs a passage to? (Dr. L. Hughes, Interviewer). University of Bristol.
Graamans, E., ten Have, W., & ten Have, S. (2021, June 30). Cultuurverandering kabinet klinkst als een verlossing, maar is gedoemd te mislukken. Het Parool, p. 18.
van Dijk, T. (2019, November 18). 40.000 meisjes in Nederland zijn besneden – Klopt dit wel? De Volkskrant.
NOS Nieuwsuur (2018, June 27). Deze Masai-vrouw maakt een einde aan vrouwenbesnijdenissen. [Blog].
Amref Flying Doctors (2018). Hoe verander je een diepgewortelde traditie als meisjesbesnijdenis? [Blog].
Graamans, E. (2018, June 13). Ritueel zonder snijden (W. Visser, Interviewer). Advalvas: Onafhankelijk platform van de Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Graamans, E. (2016, April 1). Organisatiecultuur is geen aangrijpingspunt voor verandering: Cultuur is een mythe! ManagementSite.
Graamans, E., ten Have, W., & ten Have, S. (2016, March 10). Cultuur van organisatie doet niets, mens doet ertoe. Het Financieele Dagblad, p. 11.
Graamans, E. (1997, March 5). De spetter van Europa is een zoeker. (M. Kieft, Interviewer). Trouw, p. 2.
LANGUAGES
Dutch – native language
English – speak fluently and read/write with high proficiency
German – speak, read and write with basic competence
LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS
Trompenaars Hampden-Turner, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Cultural Dilemma Reconciliation
Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands
Psychogerontology and Sexuology
Schoevers, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Financial & Cost Accounting (PDB)
Royal Dutch Military Police, Vogelenzang, The Netherlands
High Risk Aviation Security