Alissa Sklar offers consulting for strategic communication and marketing, with specific expertise in economic development, B2B, and SaaS. Her expertise lies in high-level planning, analysis, and insight focused on an organization’s value proposition and target audiences, helping clients realize and implement these in effective, practical ways. Her clients are primarily in Canada, the U.S., the Caribbean, and Europe, but can be found anywhere across the globe.

Sklar Consulting is the creative brainchild of Alissa Sklar, Ph.D., following 12 years of experience as the Vice President of Content Marketing for GIS Planning and the fDi Intelligence (now FT Locations), a service from the Financial Times.

Dr. Sklar brings this extensive experience and expertise to work for her consulting clients. She has worked through numerous products and iterations to develop marketing plans, build an effective internal hub of digital marketing tools and analytics, author gorgeous marketing collateral, deliver memorable conference presentations, present hundreds of webinars, and provide critical client support materials. Her work wasn’t just focused on the data software and services that define FT Locations, as she also worked directly with client teams on integrating these sophisticated tools into their own digital marketing.

Dr. Sklar has built a sizable following for her engaging workshops, practical blogs, and insightful online articles. She is the co-author with Anatalio Ubalde of Economic Development Marketing & Priorities, 3rd edition, published in 2024 by the Financial Times, available for free download on the fDi Insights page.

Sklar Consulting clients know they can count on rigor and insight. With a Ph.D. and M.A. in Communication and Cultural Studies from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Dr. Sklar also held a post-doctoral fellowship at the School of Community & Public Affairs at Concordia University. She has worked extensively in both private and academic sectors, serving as a digital marketing consultant for economic development agencies, a full-time faculty member at Concordia University’s Department of Communication Studies, and research faculty at McGill University.

Using a customized, collaborative approach with client teams, Dr. Sklar works to expand the reach of location, B2B, and SaaS brands across these highly competitive industries.

Dr. Alissa Sklar is a communications and marketing expert specializing in economic development, B2B, and place-based marketing. She works with businesses and economic development organizations to clarify their value proposition and align digital marketing strategies with business development objectives.

Her work bridges research, strategy, and communication. Drawing on deep experience in digital marketing, social media, and content strategy, Alissa helps organizations sharpen differentiation, connect meaningfully with target audiences, and drive measurable results. Alissa is also an experienced professional speaker, workshop facilitator, and educator, delivering keynotes, workshops, and training sessions across North America and Europe. She combines data-driven insight with practical guidance, helping audiences understand complex issues and apply them directly to their work. Known for her clear, energetic, and engaging delivery, she uses storytelling, real-world examples, and dynamic visuals to ensure ideas resonate long after the event.

Alissa has delivered consulting, speaking, and training engagements in educational, cultural, and business settings across North America and Europe. Across formats and audiences, her focus remains the same: turning research and analysis into clarity, direction, and action.

She holds a Ph.D. in Communication from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and was an SSHRC post-doctoral fellow with Concordia University’s School of Community & Public Affairs. Her background spans both academic and private-sector environments, including roles as a digital marketing consultant to economic development agencies, university faculty member and researcher, and award-winning journalist.

Alissa works collaboratively with client teams to expand the reach and impact of B2B and location brands in competitive environments.

Alissa’s clients have included LocalIntel, Research fDi, Florida Power & Light, Oakland County Economic Development, the Economic Development Association of Canada, the Bermuda Development Agency, Violet PR, and Golden Shovel Agency.

She spent more than a decade as Vice President of Content Marketing for GIS Planning and the fDi Intelligence portfolio (now FT Locations), a service from the Financial Times. In this role, she led global marketing efforts for numerous industry-leading data software tools, managed the launch of new and redesigned products, authored copy for a full website redesign, introduced new digital tools and analytics, and developed marketing collateral, conference presentations, and client support materials. Alissa is well-known as a webinar host and presenter of the brand’s popular webinar series, delivering more than 300 webinars to thousands of followers over the years.

Alissa is the co-author, with Anatalio Ubalde, of Economic Development Marketing & Priorities, 3rd edition (2024), published by the Financial Times.