Stanford Technology Ventures Program; Arbor Advisors
Stan Christensen is a partner at Arbor Advisors, an investment banking firm where he negotiates on behalf of mid-market technology companies. He has nearly twenty years of experience in both transactional and operations roles and has worked on hundreds of transactions. Before starting Arbor, he was the General Manager of Eazel, a Linux-based software startup. He started his career in corporate finance on Wall Street, and then worked for ten years with CMG, a negotiation advisory firm affiliated with The Harvard Negotiation Project. In this capacity he worked with corporations and governments-advising, negotiating, and mediating transactions and conflicts. In 1996 he was selected as a Kellogg Fellow for his work in the non-profit and public sectors. He is a member of The Council On Foreign Relations and currently teaches a course on Negotiation at Stanford University in The School of Engineering.
He holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.A. from Brigham Young University.
Related Links: stvp.stanford.edu arboradvisors.com/
Last Updated: Mon, Oct 30, 2006
Do as much informational interviewing as you can, advises Arbor Advisors partner Stan Christensen, who, through the practice, learned that law school was not a good fit for his interests. Learning the specifics of a prospective career from a distance is an enriching road map to a career path that might not suit you. And, potentially, it can save time, money, and emotional distress. 
Stan Christensen, partner at Arbor Advisors and Stanford instructor, advises those planning a career not to be overly concerned with a linear path. While certainly there are some jobs that require specific training and expertise, the majority of positions in the business world are available to the savvy and the willful who are willing to work their way in.
Stan Christensen, Stanford instructor and a partner at Arbor Advisors, outlines a few of the erroneous career assumptions that land workers in an ill-fitting career. Don't take a job simply to build your resume; follow your passions, rather than guessing what an employer will want. The fun should outweigh the drudgery - even in entry-level positions. Don't feel that by taking one job, you're committing to a career; people switch teams often. And remain a generalist, rather than specializing in a single pursuit, as this will retain your flexibility and keep your skills from becoming irrelevant. 
An overbearing career is unhealthy, says Stan Christensen, Arbor Advisors Partner. Rather than working long hours, Christensen relays a successful negotiation with his manager explaining his interests outside of work. He asked to be judged by the tasks he completed, and not by the amount of hours he was in the workplace. He recalls that the results were fewer long evenings and weekends at his desk, earning him respect and the time needed for his own pursuits.
All organizations of employment have a political structure and revolve around the subtle arts of negotiation and relationship management. How we treat our peers - particularly our subordinates - speaks a lot about a person's character, say Arbor Advisors partner Stan Christensen. Particularly when it comes to difficult conversations - discussing problems, giving negative feedback, etc. - those who can do so with tact to all members of the organization are certain to elegantly progress.
Stanford instructor and Arbor Advisors partner Stan Christensen strongly advises career carvers to save salary negotiations for last, and not to overlook the myriad other topics of new employment to be discussed, including time off, assignment specifics, start dates, etc. When it is time to discuss dollars, do your due diligence and have competitive salaries at hand. This will make asking for more money a mere matter of fact, rather than an emotional escapade. Other tips include getting promises in writing, and dealing directly with your future boss whenever possible.
Men and women do indeed negotiate for compensation differently, says Stan Christensen, Arbor Advisors partner and Stanford instructor. He cites one study where 60 percent of men asked for more money, whereas women with comparable backgrounds asked for more money only ten percent of the time.
Leaving a job is as critical a negotiation as starting one, says Arbor Advisors partner Stan Christensen, and the last impression you make is even more critical than the first. Christensen offers two examples of employees who have left his firm: One who shared his desire to move on and arranged for a six-month transition plan, and the other who slammed down a same-day letter of resignation. He extols the first case as an example of what to do to facilitate a long-term positive relationship. He also points to the awkwardness of the second scenario, and comments on its dishonesty and the difficulties left in its wake. 
Stan Christensen, a partner at Arbor Advisors, offers advice on transactional negotiations and relationship management geared toward the student embarking upon their career. Topics covered include choosing a career, on-the-job expectations, work/life balance, and benefit mediation
Stan Christensen is a partner at Arbor Advisors, an investment banking firm where he negotiates on behalf of mid-market technology companies. In this lecture, Christensen builds a framework and illuminates a few of the classical mistakes in negotiation. He defines negotiation as an attempt to persuade or influence a situation. He emphasizes relationship management and problem solving as being fundamental to negotiation. He also alludes to the conceptual framework by illustrating examples from his vast global experience.
Stan Christensen highlights the fact that negotiations are serial events. He notes that it is important for one to realize this as you would encounter the same people in the future. He illustrates this fact from his experience in Seoul.
Stan Christensen throws light on the art of effective negotiation. He defines it as any attempt to persuade or influence a party to do something. He adds a note of humor by illustrating it with a story of one his students.
Stan Christensen believes that communication is a key element in negotiation. He stresses the fact that communication is about convincing the other side that you can hear them and that they are being heard. He illustrates it with anecdotes and his personal experiences in negotiating deals.
Stan Christensen talks about his experience in negotiating salaries and fills the conversation with interesting personal experiences. He believes that developing a best alternative to a negotiated agreement and having a good idea about the objective criteria is key to effective negotiation of salaries.
Stan Christensen is a partner at Arbor Advisors, an investment banking firm where he negotiates on behalf of mid-market technology companies. In this lecture, Christensen builds a framework and illuminates a few of the classical mistakes in negotiation. He defines negotiation as an attempt to persuade or influence a situation. He emphasizes relationship management and problem solving as being fundamental to negotiation. He also alludes to the conceptual framework by illustrating examples from his vast global experience.
Stanford lecturer and Arbor Advisors Managing Director Stan Christensen discusses legal issues related to startups and entrepreneurs with attorney Martin Nichols, partner at DLA Piper. The conversation covers selecting and working with legal advisors, issues of compensation and negotiation, and the need for entrepreneurs and companies to always seek practical and efficient advice.
Attorney Martin Nichols shares subjective early filters to use when trying to find a proficient attorney. Beyond these basic measurements, a difference in quality will be found in each attorney's ability to get deals done. Nichols suggests finding an attorney who can also be a solid advisor and a true value-add for your company.
Individuals or startups seeking legal advice need to obtain solid referrals on all prospective attorneys. Martin Nichols, partner at legal firm DLA Piper, believes entrepreneurs often don't need big legal teams, but should always seek efficient legal teams.
Billing is less of an issue, if you build a relationship with legal advisors you trust, says attorney Martin Nichols. Entrepreneurs should share their acceptable fee ranges with attorneys, but they may also be able to work out fee caps and flat rates for services. Clients can help ensure the best service from attorneys by showing mutual respect through offering referrals and paying bills on time.
Attorney Martin Nichols suggests separating legal issues from business issues before entering into negotiations. This strategy is often very helpful, particularly in face-to-face negotiations. In meetings and conference calls, Nichols sets out an agenda and key issues, and then tries to come up with a basket of issues for the business people to try and work out with their counterparts.