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Rasmus Johnsen

Associate Professor

Subjects
Leadership Management Learning Climate Crisis Philosophy Future

Primary research areas

Ad­apt­ive Lead­er­ship and Com­plex­ity
I study lead­er­ship as a re­la­tion­al prac­tice in con­di­tions of un­cer­tainty, draw­ing on ad­apt­ive and com­plex­ity lead­er­ship the­or­ies. My work ex­plores how lead­ers mo­bil­ize col­lect­ive ca­pa­city, nav­ig­ate value con­flicts, and en­able emer­gent solu­tions rather than im­pose top-down con­trol.
Time, Bore­dom, and the Good Life
My re­search in­vest­ig­ates cul­tur­al, his­tor­ic­al, and or­gan­iz­a­tion­al ex­per­i­ences of time, in­clud­ing bore­dom, ac­cel­er­a­tion, and the search for “good time.” I ex­plore how tem­por­al struc­tures shape well-be­ing, mean­ing, and so­cial or­gan­iz­a­tion.
Slow Or­gan­iz­ing in the An­thro­po­cene
I de­vel­op the concept of slow or­gan­iz­ing as an al­tern­at­ive to ac­cel­er­a­tion lo­gics in the green trans­ition. My re­search brings to­geth­er craft the­ory, af­fect stud­ies, and posthu­man­ist thought to ex­plore how mak­ing, ma­ter­i­al­ity, and emo­tions shape or­gan­iz­a­tion­al life and can open new ways of ima­gin­ing respons­ibility in the An­thro­po­cene.
Lifelong Learn­ing and Ex­ec­ut­ive Edu­ca­tion
I con­trib­ute to re­think­ing the role of uni­ver­sit­ies in lifelong learn­ing and lead­er­ship de­vel­op­ment. My work bridges re­search and prac­tice to design trans­form­at­ive ex­ec­ut­ive edu­ca­tion that en­ables lead­ers to nav­ig­ate com­plex­ity, cli­mate change, and per­son­al trans­formation

Lead­er­ship and slow or­gan­iz­ing in the An­thro­po­cene

My research is rooted in philosophical anthropology and examines how leadership and slow organizing can help society navigate the challenges of the Anthropocene. I explore how adaptive leadership fosters resilience and personal insight, enabling individuals and organizations to respond creatively to environmental and social challenges.  

A central strand of my work develops the concept of slow organizing as an alternative to acceleration logics in the green transition. I investigate how participatory and democratic approaches can open more just and sustainable pathways for transformation. 

I also study our experiences of time—especially boredom—and their role in shaping meaning, identity, and engagement with life. This connects to broader organizational and cultural challenges and how they intersect with emotional experience. 

In addition, I am developing new approaches to lifelong learning and its role in creating a vibrant learning society. Across these areas, my ambition is to foster adaptive capacity and reimagine responsibility in a world increasingly shaped by uncertainty. 

Publications

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19 November 2025

"Am I Supposed to Listen to All This Advice?" (and Other Authority Dilemmas)

The Founder to Leader Podcast. Ep. 2

Ella Smoraczewska Harris

Ras­mus Jo­hn­sen, Associate Professor

Mia Jung

Yohanna Gustafsson
Go to publication

February 2025

Uncontrollability and the Politics of Resonance

Hartmut Rosa on the Human Condition

Ras­mus Jo­hn­sen, Associate Professor

Go to publication

2025

Learning Otherwise

An Integrated Model of Adaptiveness in Adaptive Leadership

Ras­mus Jo­hn­sen, Associate Professor

Frank Mei­er, Associate Professor

Go to publication

Recent research projects

Ho­ri­zon Europe Pro­ject Hep­h­aes­tus

HEP­H­AES­TUS aims to fuse cut­ting-edge tech­no­lo­gies with crafts­man­ship, co-cre­at­ing sus­tain­able solu­tions in tools, meth­od­o­lo­gies, and busi­ness mod­els for the fu­ture of European craft eco­sys­tems.
Hephaestus