Profile
Sofya Isaakyan is an Associate Professor of Organisational Behaviour at the Department of Organisation and Personnel Management, Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University. She received her Ph.D. in Organizational Behaviour from Maastricht University in 2018. Her research focuses on understanding employees' upward expression of ideas and concerns about work-related issues (i.e., voice behaviour) and the corresponding reactions by managers. Her second area of research focuses on how managers can effectively build their leadership capacity and leader identity. Her research has been published in top-tier academic outlets including the Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, and Organizational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes. Sofya is the recipient of a prestigious Veni research grant by NWO in 2022. She is an editorial member for the Journal of Management Studies.
Sofya teaches a wide range of topics on Leadership, Leadership Development, and Teams in Bachelor, Master, Full-time MBA, Executive MBA, and Executive Education programs at RSM.
Before entering academia, Sofya worked as a consultant in the area of leadership development. Today she bridges the gap from science to practice by working with business leaders and other non-academic collaborators interested in co-developing evidence-based solutions to real-world problems and challenges.
Publications
Article (4)
Academic (3)
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Derfler-Rozin, R., Isaakyan, S., & Park, H. (2022). Swiftly judging whom to bring on board: How person perception (accurate or not) influences selection of prospective team members. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 173, Article 104206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2022.104206
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Isaakyan, S., Sherf, EN., Tangirala, S., & Guenter, H. (2021). Keeping it between us: Managerial endorsement of public versus private voice. Journal of Applied Psychology, 106(7), 1049-1066. https://doi.org/10.1037/apl0000816
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Sherf, EN., Parke, MR., & Isaakyan, S. (2020). Distinguishing voice and silence at work: Unique relationships with perceived impact, psychological safety, and burnout. Academy of Management Journal, 64(1), 114. https://doi.org/10.5465/amj.2018.1428
Professional (1)
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Isaakyan, S. (2020). Employee voice: An important dynamic in changing times. RSM Discovery - Management Knowledge, 38, 28-30.
Doctoral Thesis (1)
Internal (1)
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Isaakyan, S. (2018). Public versus Private Voice: The Role of Social Setting in Explaining Managerial Reactions to Employee Voice. [Doctoral Thesis, Maastricht University]. Maastricht University. https://doi.org/10.26481/dis.20180601si
Activities
Additional positions (3)
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RSM b.v.Start date approval: 31 Oct 2022End date approval: 30 Oct 2025Place: ROTTERDAMDescription: Teaching in RSM b.v. Executive Programs
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Erasmus Centre for EntrepreneurshipStart date approval: 02 Feb 2023End date approval: 31 Dec 2025Place: ROTTERDAMDescription: Leadership development
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EUR, Leading the Energy Transition ProgrammeStart date approval: 16 May 2024End date approval: 31 Dec 2024Place: NETHERLANDSDescription: Participation in the LET conference
Courses
Personal Career Narrative
- Study year: 2024/2025
- Code: BM04GBS
- Level: Master
POC Master Thesis
- Study year: 2024/2025, 2023/2024
- Code: BMMTPOC
- Level: Master
Past courses
HRM Master Thesis
- Study year: 2023/2024, 2022/2023, 2021/2022, 2020/2021
- Code: BMMTHRM
- Level: Master
OCC Master Thesis
- Study year: 2021/2022, 2020/2021
- Code: BMMTOCC
- Level: Master
HRM-OCC Master Thesis
- Study year: 2020/2021
- Code: BMMTHRM-OCC
- ECTS: 16 Level: Master
Negotiation
- Study year: 2020/2021
- Code: BMME150
- Level: ERIM, Exchange, IM/CEMS, Master
Behaviour in organisations
- Study year: 2019/2020
- Code: BK1102
- Level: Bachelor 1
Behaviour in organisations
- Study year: 2019/2020, 2018/2019
- Code: BKB010
Managerial and group decision making
- Study year: 2019/2020, 2018/2019, 2017/2018
- Code: BMME045
- ECTS: 6 Level: Master, Master, Master, Master, Master
Organisational Behaviour
- Study year: 2019/2020, 2018/2019, 2017/2018
- Code: BAP071
Organisational Behaviour
- Study year: 2019/2020
- Code: BT1102
- Level: Bachelor 1, Bachelor 1
Featured in the media
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Leadership ambitions? Here's how to take steps in the right direction
Sofya Isaakyan is quoted in this article about preparing for leadership. "According to her, hardly anyone is a born leader: leaders become successful by working hard and continuously developing themselves. All leadership skills…
Thursday, 12 September 2024 -
Review Inspiration Day Inclusivity and Skills in the Maritime Sector
Review of the inspiration day for maritime workers in September; a description of the active exercise in the morning session led by Dr Sofya Isaakyan.
Thursday, 12 September 2024 -
Research 'binding and captivating an increasingly diverse group of employees'
Enhancing Employee Engagement
Thursday, 16 November 2023 -
How Team Member Selection Goes Wrong
Research Reveals Flawed Swift Judgments in Team Selection, Emphasizing the Need for Balanced Assessment for Effective Team Building
Thursday, 9 November 2023 -
How to Sell Your Ideas up the Chain of Command
Sofya Isaakyan, Assistant Professor of Organisational Behaviour at the Department of Organisation and Personnel Management, is mentioned in this article of the Harvard Business Review.
Saturday, 1 January 2022 -
A more beautiful world and a safe and inclusive work culture through effective leadership
Sofya Isaakyan features in this article about the need for good leaders: socially committed people who feel responsible for the company they work for and their employees. But that is easier said than done. (in Dutch) …
Featured on RSM Discovery
Individual CEOs and presidents are leaders, but so are middle managers and team members. This edition of RSM Discovery magazine embodies this diversity in leadership.
