Keld Jensen
Global negotiation expert ranked #2 worldwide, specializing in AI, trust, and measurable value creation.
Why book Keld Jensen for your next event
- Ranked #2 worldwide in negotiation and creator of a Top 3 global negotiation methodology.
- Trusted advisor to Rolls-Royce, LEGO, Microsoft, Google, and governments across Europe and North America.
- Delivers measurable financial impact through AI-driven negotiation and trust-based strategy.
Non-binding request for Keld Jensen
Negotiation strategist, AI thought leader, and creator of SMARTnership
Dr. Keld Jensen is an internationally recognized negotiation expert, keynote speaker, and author who helps organizations create measurable value through smarter negotiation strategies. Ranked #2 worldwide in negotiation in 2026 and creator of the globally acclaimed SMARTnership Negotiation methodology, he combines academic insight with executive experience. With a doctorate focused on negotiation behavior, AI-supported decision-making, and trust economics, Dr. Jensen equips leaders to negotiate complex deals with confidence, clarity, and financial impact.
Keld Jensen – Negotiation Expert and AI Strategist
Dr. Keld Jensen is one of the most prominent voices in global negotiation strategy. As a keynote speaker, advisor, professor, and author, he works at the intersection of negotiation, artificial intelligence, and trust. Ranked #2 worldwide in negotiation in 2026 and consistently listed among the Top Global Gurus in Negotiation, he brings a rare combination of research-based insight and real-world executive leadership.
He holds a Doctorate in Business Administration with a research focus on negotiation behavior, AI-supported decision-making, and trust economics. His work explores how trust and data-driven insights influence outcomes in complex negotiations, and how organizations can transform negotiation into a measurable driver of financial performance.
Creator of SMARTnership Negotiation
Dr. Jensen is the creator of SMARTnership Negotiation, ranked among the Top 3 negotiation training methodologies globally. The methodology is designed to move organizations beyond traditional win-lose thinking and toward structured, value-creating negotiation strategies.
SMARTnership Negotiation focuses on:
Creating measurable financial impact through structured preparation
Leveraging AI-supported insights for stronger decision-making
Building trust as a strategic asset in high-stakes negotiations
Driving long-term value instead of short-term concessions
This framework has been implemented by global corporations and public institutions seeking consistent, scalable results across procurement, sales, leadership, and cross-border negotiations.
Trusted by Global Organizations
Throughout his career, Dr. Jensen has advised and trained executives from some of the world’s most respected organizations, including Rolls-Royce, LEGO, Novo Nordisk, Chevron, Microsoft, Google, and Bechtel. His expertise has also supported public institutions and governments in Canada, Denmark, and the United Kingdom.
His approach is practical and outcome-focused. Leaders gain tools they can apply immediately in complex contract negotiations, strategic partnerships, and enterprise-wide transformation initiatives. The emphasis remains clear: negotiation must generate measurable financial outcomes and sustainable value.
Before dedicating himself fully to academia and advisory work, Dr. Jensen served as CEO of a publicly listed technology company. This executive background shapes his keynote presentations and advisory projects. He understands the commercial pressure leaders face and speaks the language of boards, executives, and decision-makers.
Academic Authority and Global Influence
Dr. Keld Jensen currently serves as professor at Aalborg University in Denmark, BMI Executive Institute / Louvain University in Belgium, and Thunderbird School of Global Management at Arizona State University in the United States. He also acts as Negotiation Expert in Residence at World Commerce & Contracting.
Across these institutions, he bridges research and business practice. His academic work informs corporate strategy, while his advisory experience enriches his teaching. This dual perspective positions him as a sought-after keynote speaker for global conferences, executive programs, and leadership summits.
He is the author of 27 books published in more than 30 countries, reflecting his international reach and influence. His insights have been shared in over 200 television interviews, and he frequently contributes to global business media. His thought leadership centers on trust-based decision-making, value creation, and the financial dynamics of negotiation.
Book Keld Jensen for Your Event
Organizations book Dr. Keld Jensen when they want more than inspiration. They want frameworks, evidence, and tools that drive results. His keynote presentations address topics such as:
Negotiation strategy in complex global environments
AI-supported decision-making in high-stakes deals
Trust economics and its impact on financial performance
Value creation through structured negotiation processes
Every keynote is grounded in research and enriched by real-world case experience from multinational corporations and public sector institutions. Audiences leave with concrete strategies for strengthening negotiation performance across their organization.
For conferences, leadership offsites, procurement summits, and executive forums, Keld Jensen delivers clarity, credibility, and commercial impact. His expertise in negotiation, AI, and trust equips leaders to navigate complexity and unlock measurable value in every agreement.
Keynotes
Keynote by Keld Jensen:
The SMART Negotiator: Why More Tactics Don’t Improve Results
Most negotiation training focuses on tactics, what to say, when to say it, and how to gain short-term advantage. Yet research shows that tactics alone rarely improve financial outcomes. In this keynote, Dr. Keld Jensen explains why negotiation performance is driven by strategy, structure, and economic understanding rather than clever moves at the table.
Drawing on global research and real-world cases, he demonstrates how top performers consistently create more value by designing negotiations before they begin. Audiences gain insight into the structural mistakes that quietly erode margins and the disciplined preparation models that prevent hidden losses. The result is a shift from reactive bargaining to strategic value creation.
Audience takeaways:
A strategic framework for increasing measurable negotiation outcomes
Insight into why tactical training often fails to deliver financial impact
Tools to design negotiations that consistently create and protect value
Keynote by Keld Jensen:
The 42% Problem: Why Negotiations Lose Value and How to Get It Back
Research based on decades of large-scale negotiation simulations reveals a striking reality: up to 42% of potential value is typically lost in negotiations. In this keynote, Dr. Jensen breaks down where that value disappears, why most teams never see it, and how leaders can recover it.
He explains the behavioral, structural, and decision-making factors that cause value leakage, from poor preparation and narrow framing to lack of trust and weak process design. Through practical examples, he shows how organizations can redesign negotiations to capture hidden value and turn missed opportunities into measurable financial gains.
Audience takeaways:
Understanding of where and why value disappears in negotiations
Practical methods to identify and capture hidden financial opportunities
A systematic approach to increasing negotiation performance across teams
Keynote by Keld Jensen:
Negotiation Is Leadership
Negotiation is no longer reserved for procurement or sales. It is a core leadership competence. Every strategic initiative, budget alignment, stakeholder management, change implementation, partnerships, requires negotiation.
In this keynote, Dr. Jensen demonstrates how effective leaders apply negotiation principles to align interests, manage complexity, and turn strategy into execution. He shows how negotiation thinking improves internal collaboration, reduces friction, and strengthens accountability across organizations. Leaders learn to approach challenges with clarity, structure, and economic awareness.
Audience takeaways:
A leadership mindset built on negotiation principles
Tools to align stakeholders and reduce organizational friction
Practical frameworks for turning strategy into committed execution
Keynote by Keld Jensen:
AI in Negotiation: What Changes and What Doesn’t
Artificial intelligence is entering negotiations rapidly. Many organizations are experimenting with AI tools, yet few understand how to use them effectively. In this keynote, Dr. Keld Jensen separates practical application from hype.
He explains where AI genuinely improves negotiation performance particularly in preparation, data analysis, scenario modeling, and decision quality. At the same time, he clarifies what remains fundamentally human: judgment, trust-building, and ethical responsibility. The result is a balanced perspective on how AI strengthens negotiation capability without replacing leadership.
Audience takeaways:
Clarity on how AI improves negotiation preparation and decision-making
Understanding of what remains uniquely human in high-stakes negotiations
A roadmap for integrating AI into negotiation processes responsibly
Keynote by Keld Jensen:
Trust Is Not Soft: The Economics of Trust in High-Stakes Deals
Trust is often framed as a cultural or personal trait. Dr. Keld Jensen reframes it as a measurable economic driver. Based on longitudinal studies and large-scale negotiation research, he demonstrates how negotiations designed around trust-based structures have generated more than 30% additional value compared to traditional, tactic-driven approaches.
This keynote reveals how trust directly impacts cost levels, speed of agreement, risk exposure, decision quality, and long-term performance. When trust is missing, negotiations slow down, control mechanisms increase, and financial outcomes suffer. When trust is structured intentionally, measurable value is created.
Dr. Jensen provides leaders with a practical understanding of how trust can be designed into negotiation processes rather than left to personality or chance.
Audience takeaways:
Evidence-based insight into the financial impact of trust
Understanding of how trust affects cost, risk, and long-term performance
Practical methods to measure, manage, and monetize trust in negotiations
Keld Jensen keynote at the Vilnius International Negotiation conference 2024
Watch Keld Jensen in action!
