drs. Patrick van Veen

About Patrick van Veen

As a biologist you first learn to observe, only later does the amazement come and only very much later do you start thinking about what you can do with your observations.

Biologist Patrick van Veen focuses on primal social behaviour, or the monkey tricks we display in the workplace. He addresses the question of why we display certain behavior or why problems arise around various themes. He uses the behavior of monkeys as an example. After all, they are not bothered by shame, rational approaches, culture or concealing clothing. They can provide us with a perfect framework within which to examine our problems.

Patrick van Veen completed his studies in biology at the Faculty of Biology at Utrecht University. He then switched to a different sector: the insurance industry, where he worked in commercial positions and as a project manager. It was in these positions that he discovered that there are similarities between an organization and a monkey rock.

Behavior is always there, we are just usually completely blind to it.

In 2002 he continued as an independent biologist, trainer and researcher and founded his company Apemanagement. From this position he advises companies, gives presentations and training. He is regularly seen in the media as a behavioral expert and he participates in Dutch TV programs such as Married at first Sight and the popular science program Galileo.

Patrick van Veen not only translates existing research, he also conducts his own research from Apemanagement into the basic drivers of our behaviour. To find answers to questions like: “Is collaboration an innate instinct?” and “What are the basic conditions for good cooperation?”, he and his colleagues conduct behavioral research in chimpanzees and gorillas. The research into the drivers of bullying behavior has already provided education with concrete tools to recognize this behavior more effectively.

The basis for his current work is research into the similarity between social behavior of monkeys and humans in companies. He published several books, including  “Monkey see, monkey do” about Ape management at the office.

Patrick’s motto is translating science to knowledge. In doing so, he tries to make biological science accessible to managers and entrepreneurs, among others, and he makes people aware of our biological primal behaviour.

Fact: Patrick van Veen is a trustee and member of the Executive Committee of the Jane Goodall Institute Global, which works internationally for the protection and welfare of chimpanzees and their natural habitats.