Jason Borrevik

As a leading management compensation consultant, Jason Borrevik has established his reputation as a knowledgeable expert in both fields of technology and law. He was born and raised in Oregon where he went to high school and the University of Oregon. After graduating with a degree in economics, however, he moved to California to pursue a degree in law.  

Afterward, Jason Borrevik joined one of the most prominent law firms in the country, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, and spent nearly a decade working with clients who needed help in the areas of law and technology. Now, however, he serves Compensia as a Principal who spends a lot of his time working with a wide range of private and public technology company clients that require high-level consulting from someone who understands the compensation market very well. 

What does an average day look like for you?

I usually start my day the night before by creating a detailed agenda and list of action items for the next day. This helps me get going the moment that I wake up and I do not have to waste any time doing last-minute planning. I normally sleep between six to seven hours and start work by 7. I typically work 10 to 12 hours a day and work ranges from developing client-specific reports to participating in client calls and Board meetings. These meetings can be in-person or via phone/video.  

Was there ever a time when you doubted your career choices and decisions?

Definitely. Even now, I still have some moments when I question myself and wonder if I could have completed a certain project in a more efficient way. Those periods where I analyze my own decisions, however, are almost always very short-lived as I do not dwell on the past. If I made a judgment call and there is no way to change it, I do not believe that additional stress will help. 

How do you deal with the constantly evolving market and the never-ending amount of knowledge that you must possess to remain efficient?

I spend a lot of time catching up with the latest trends in the market. This means that I learn something new almost every day. Although it can get pretty tiring after a while, you have to understand that your consulting practice is solely dependent on your ability to offer current advice to your clients. So, if you fall behind and are not familiar with the latest changes, you will be setting your clients up for failure. 

What have been some unexpected developments in your industry that caught you off guard?

Political and regulatory developments can lead to unexpected outcomes in the compensation filed. For instance, the current administration’s changes to the tax law impacted compensation practices in a material way.

Would you agree that most entrepreneurs who fail can only blame themselves for such outcomes?

To an extent. I think that is a pretty harsh statement, however, as certain businessmen and women fail due to extenuating circumstances that they have no control over. For instance, almost all Blockbuster owners went out of business when Netflix became popular. In most cases, however, this was not their fault but simply an evolution of the market that they could not keep up with.