The Skills Connection Reviews & Provider Details

Name: The Skills Connection
Rating: 4.9 (24 reviews)

The Skills Connection is an analyst relations consultancy founded in 2009. Its team of former senior Gartner analysts has a combined 145 years of direct Gartner experience and has worked with more than 650 technology vendors on analyst engagement including assessments such as the Gartner Magic Quadrant and the Forrester Wave. The firm is headquartered in Roslyn, New York, with an office in High Wycombe, United Kingdom. We have an NPS score of +83. Other analyst relations firms advise vendors on how to speak to analysts and to facilitate these meetings. We were the analysts. We wrote Magic Quadrants, one of our team invented The Hype Cycle, others helped develop the methodologies for IDC MarketScapes, FutureScapes and MaturityScapes. We scored vendor submissions, sat in review sessions, fielded inquiry calls from enterprise buyers, and decided which vendors deserved to be shortlisted and why. That institutional knowledge does not come from reading Gartner's published methodology. It comes from having lived it for decades. Since 2009, we have worked with more than 650 technology firms across the full spectrum of analyst assessments (e.g. Magic Quadrant, Wave, MarketScape, Leadership Compass, Peak Matrix, SPARK Matrix), engagement programs and go-to-market positioning challenges. Our clients range from early-stage SaaS companies engaging analysts for the first time to large enterprises defending a hard-won Leaders’ position. THE TEAM The depth of the team’s knowledge and experience is what makes The Skills Connection genuinely unique. This is not a one-person boutique or a rebranded PR agency with an analyst relations practice grafted on. Delivery is all done by senior, former analysts. Details of all the team members can be found at https://theskillsconnection.com/who-we-are/ WHAT WE DO FOR ANALYST ENGAGEMENT Analyst Assessment Services We are best known for preparing technology vendors for Gartner Magic Quadrant (MQ), Gartner Emerging Market Quadrant (EMQ), Gartner Startups Market Quadrant (SMQ), Forrester Wave, IDC MarketScape, and other structured analyst assessments. 1. We work with your subject matter experts (SMEs) to collectively identify the case to present and to identify and collate all the relevant evidence 2. Together we co-create the response materials set to reflect that case. We define structures and priorities, we identify key content for inclusion and the focus required, we review every aspect of the work in progress for the detailed content and structure. 3. We manage the process using our proven methodologies, and associated assets, for surveys, briefings, demos and customer feedback (e.g. references, Gartner Peer Insights) 4. At the draft review stage, we collaborate on both written and presented responses and, if required, orchestrate the content and processes required for content or process escalation 5. Finally, we provide guidance on how to turn research outcomes into real business outcomes (i.e. pipeline building and competitive wins) Our 2026 survey of over 100 vendors found that 90% of vendors find analyst criteria do not precisely align with their solution. Being a perfect fit is the exception. Knowing how to present your real capabilities compellingly within a complex assessment framework is the skill we have spent 17 years developing and delivering to clients. These are project-based activities following our proven Tune-Up methodology. 84% of clients, who engaged us to improve their assessment rating, report that we helped them to shift positively in their Magic Quadrant or Wave. Analyst Engagement Strategy Assessments are periodic. Analyst influence on your enterprise pipeline is continuous. Enterprise buyers talk to analysts through inquiry calls throughout their lifecycle of interest with any technology, often before a formal RFP has even been issued. If analysts don't understand your story, don't trust your evidence, and can't articulate your differentiation, your name may never reach the buyer. 1. We start with a deep dive into your business and relevant solutions. Using the information structure analysts use, we build up an understanding of your situation, goals and plans. Our proprietary analyst engagement assessment allows for us to collectively explore where the most urgent gaps are and prioritize actions 2. Our living annual plan is designed to align business and analyst goals and then set out a suitable collaborative program of work to deliver against those goals. The plan will include who to target, activity planning, evidence planning and goal alignment. 3. Together we plan out all the engagement activities throughout the year and, once again using our skills as experienced analysts, engage with all the relevant SMEs in your company, as well as analyst relations resources, to build out the right content for results 4. Whether its regular briefings, analyst news sheets, advisory sessions, demos, ad hoc communications (e.g. via email, social media posts) we work to co-create every piece of required content, review and stress test the content and its delivery 5. The analyst on the inside (i.e. our analyst on your team) will ensure execution of the plan through regular engagement and then facilitate a year-end assessment to identify future priorities for action For newer technology initiatives this can also lead to getting recognition from the likes of Gartner as a Cool Vendor or IDC as an IDC Innovator – both extremely valuable sources of trusted, third-party validation. 97% of our customers say that they would recommend The Skills Connection (and often do). COMMON QUESTIONS Do you only support Gartner Magic Quadrants? No. We support clients with assessments from across the analyst spectrum Do you only support assessment work? Not at all. Most of our clients work with us year-round on effective engagement with analysts. Assessments are often a part of that, whether Cool Vendor, SMQ/EMQ or full MQ, Wave etc. Why The Skills Connection versus an AR or PR agency Our focus is the story you tell and the evidence to tell it. Our senior analysts immerse themselves in your business and solution and have the credibility with your executives and SMEs to build that story and align messaging from across your organization What will the process demand from us? Effective engagement needs product, customer success, marketing and leadership input. The essential elements are the story and associated evidence, which we help you identify, construct, collate and orchestrate to get true ROI from your analyst engagement Do you work alongside existing AR teams? We work alongside AR teams and other AR agencies in a number of our clients. These AR professionals typically have strong relationships and institutional knowledge. What we bring is the analyst-side perspective and skillset to help assemble the right content to move the needle. WHY THE SKILLS CONNECTION IS DIFFERENT It’s simply that we are a team of former senior analysts and research executives with an average tenure of 11.5 years at Gartner alone, and over 16 years across different analyst firms. We have robust and proven processes, but for us these are table stakes. We focus on content using senior, experienced analysts who understand your technology, solutions and vision and know exactly how to root out the right information and take that insight and communicate it effectively to the analyst channel to drive real impact and measurable results.

Seller

The Skills Connection

Discussions

The Skills Connection Community

Languages Supported

German, English, French, Hebrew, Italian

Services Offered

Analyst Relations, Analyst Engagement, MQ Tune-Up, Wave Tune-Up, Marketscape Tune-Up

Locations Serviced

Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, + 23 more

Overview by

Simon Levin (Managing Director, The Skills Connection)

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User Insights

Average based on 24 real user reviews.

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Peter M.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

10/13/2026

"10+ years in and they still push us harder than we push them"

5/5

What do you like best about The Skills Connection?

We’ve worked with The Skills Connection for more than ten years, and what keeps us here is who actually does the work. The senior people you meet up front are the same people on our analyst calls and in our briefing prep. Nothing gets handed off to a junior coordinator. After this long, they know our business as well as a lot of our own people do.

Their team is made up of former senior Gartner analysts and it shows. They know how an analyst is going to read a briefing, where they’ll poke holes, and what proof they need before they buy what you’re saying. They spend almost no time on scheduling and logistics. Their time goes into what we say and how we back it up. They run a structured process, but it never feels like a template. They roll up their sleeves right alongside our product and leadership teams, and we go into every analyst conversation confident. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about The Skills Connection?

Honestly, not much. The closest thing to a downside is that they’ll push you. If something isn’t getting the results we want, they’re the first ones to say so, and they’ll ask us to do more prep or bring stronger proof. With most vendors it’s the other way around. If you want a firm that just books briefings and sends you a monthly report, that’s not them. Plan on putting real time in on your side. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering The Skills Connection:

If you want former analysts doing the work alongside you and you’re willing to match their effort, they’re the right call. Get your product leaders and execs involved early. That’s where you get the most out of them. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is The Skills Connection solving and how is that benefiting you?

We’re in cybersecurity, one of the most crowded markets out there, so how analysts see us shows up directly in our deals. Enterprise buyers are talking to Gartner and Forrester long before they talk to us. The Skills Connection makes sure the analysts get our real story with evidence behind it, and that we hear the tough feedback early enough to act on it. When something isn’t moving the needle, they change the plan instead of defending it.

A recent example is a new AI security offering we brought to market. They got us in front of the right Gartner analysts to pressure test the story, and the feedback is already sharpening how we position it. That’s the kind of impact that’s kept us working together for over a decade. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Grant M.

Head of Marketing

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

10/13/2026

"Expert Analyst Relations Guidance That Maximizes Every Response"

5/5

What do you like best about The Skills Connection?

The Skills Connection helped me create a workable strategy for my analyst relations program. I appreciated Jane Doorly’s expert advice on how to meet with analysts, write responses, and prepare deliverables like Gartner Magic Quadrants, Forrester Wave reports, and IDC surveys. She helped me structure written content, PowerPoints, and visuals in the format analysts respond best to, and advised me on how to answer questions to position SentinelOne in the best possible light. They also helped me find effective ways to communicate with analysts and maximize my capabilities in survey responses. During my time in this role, SentinelOne was able to get into a "Leader" role in a Gartner MQ and we maintain and improved our position for 3 years running! Jane was instrumental in that progress. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about The Skills Connection?

I don't have anything to say that is negative. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering The Skills Connection:

Ensure that they are current with the analyst markets you seek to cover. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is The Skills Connection solving and how is that benefiting you?

I used The Skills Connection’s expertise to build a workable analyst relations strategy and improve how I met with analysts and wrote survey responses, presentations, and other materials for Gartner, Forrester, and IDC. Their advice helped me communicate effectively and maximize my capabilities in responses when we weren’t well positioned. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Krishna A.

Co Founder - Product and Marketing

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

9/9/2026

"Helping us understand how analysts think, what we need to do and why"

5/5

What do you like best about The Skills Connection?

They are like the ultimate coach - they will not do it for you, but they will hold you accountable, provide you with the support, assist you where you need it - but you do it on your own. The thinking etc is all yours - helped by their valuable feedback as you sharpen every point you try to make, and have data/proof that makes it more credible.

The background of the folks at Skills Connection really matters - they have all been there, on the other side of the pitch. So, it is invaluable to have them by your side. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about The Skills Connection?

I cannot think of anything that matters here to be honest - expertise, coaching, availability (when we needed to speak to them), ownership of the whole thing as if its theirs - they checked nearly every box that I care about. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering The Skills Connection:

If you are looking to be deliberate about analyst relations and do not know where to start (like we were), you cannot go wrong with The Skills Connection. It needed us just one intro call with them to make make up our minds - so would encourage you to have that one call which will clear all your doubts, answer all your questions. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is The Skills Connection solving and how is that benefiting you?

For a company founder or executive who is always thinking about how to pitch to a prospective customer, the shift in thinking needed for describing the business to an analyst is quite big - it is very subtle, yet big. Skills Connection helped us understand this very well. The best thing is that they will not do it for you - they will tease it out of you with the right questions, with the right nudges so that the resulting output is completely yours, fully authentic.

They helped me cultivate a very dispassionate way of looking at our own business also - many a time, I used to have a really hard time deciding what to cut in a presentation. Working with Skills Connection, during the discussions, they helped me do this better by repeatedly questioning what an analyst will want to know the most, and it is often the one that is most differentiated and one that can be proven (and is not just a claim).

Doing the whole process with them has given me a new skill - almost that of an analyst, and this way of looking at things is very helpful in separating the signal from the noise beyond analyst relations and analyst pitches. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Geetika J.

Marketing Director

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

9/8/2026

"Analyst Relations Expertise That Sharpened Our Positioning and Messaging"

4.5/5

What do you like best about The Skills Connection?

What I like best about The Skills Connection is their ability to quickly understand our business and translate it into a compelling story for analysts. Their team brings deep knowledge of analyst relations, asks thoughtful questions, and provides practical guidance rather than generic recommendations. They challenged our thinking in the right way, helped us refine our positioning, and ensured our messaging was clear, differentiated, and credible. They truly felt like an extension of our team throughout the engagement. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about The Skills Connection?

We had a very positive experience overall, so there isn't anything significant that we disliked. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is The Skills Connection solving and how is that benefiting you?

The Skills Connection has helped us shape a much stronger analyst relations story. When we started working together, our goal was to better understand how to position LightMetrics, what messages would resonate with analysts, and what information was most relevant to include.

The team worked closely with us to identify our key strengths, refine our positioning, and build a compelling narrative that clearly communicates our value and differentiation. Their guidance gave us greater confidence in how we engage with analysts and present our business.

It has been a great experience working with The Skills Connection team. They brought valuable expertise, asked the right questions, and helped us develop a clear, focused story that truly reflects who we are. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Christie W.

VP of Marketing

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

9/2/2026

"Thorough, Constructive and Highly Collaborative Analyst Relations Expertise"

5/5

What do you like best about The Skills Connection?

The Skills Connection combines strong analyst expertise with a highly collaborative approach. They took the time to understand our goals, challenged our thinking, and provided meaningful, actionable feedback throughout the process. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about The Skills Connection?

I have very little negative feedback. The process was demanding, but that's largely due to the nature of the project rather than The Skills Connection. Their thoroughness and attention to detail required significant input from our team, but it ultimately resulted in a stronger outcome. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering The Skills Connection:

I'd recommend The Skills Connection to any organisation looking to improve its analyst relations strategy or maximise the impact of analyst submissions. Their expertise, constructive challenge, and practical guidance helped us strengthen our positioning, communicate our differentiation more effectively, and achieve a stronger outcome. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is The Skills Connection solving and how is that benefiting you?

The Skills Connection helped us improve how we positioned Haiilo for key analyst submissions. They challenged our thinking, provided expert analyst insight, and helped us clearly articulate our strengths, differentiation, and vision. Their feedback was thoughtful and practical, resulting in a much stronger submission, greater confidence in our analyst strategy, and visible progress. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Laura C.

Chief Marketing Officer

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

9/1/2026

"A true partner for building a best-in-class analyst strategy!"

5/5

What do you like best about The Skills Connection?

What sets them apart is depth. Their team's knowledge of how Gartner actually operates internally shows up in every recommendation, not just the general playbook. At M-Files, that knowledge helped us navigate our MQ submission and understand what was actually driving the outcome, not just what the process required. At Verato, we faced needed to build relationships outside an MQ process and they helped us achieve that including mentions in 5 reports. Their attention to detail is consistent across both engagements. They don't just hand you a plan and leave; they stay engaged at a level that matches how seriously they clearly take the work. That combination, real substance over process, plus a level of hands-on involvement, is why I've brought them into two different companies. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about The Skills Connection?

There really is no downside - amazing insight, great value. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering The Skills Connection:

If you're building an analyst relations function and want guidance grounded in how analysts actually think rather than generic AR process, they are the answer. They have a proven methodology and each member of the team digs in, rolls up the their sleeves and gets it done. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is The Skills Connection solving and how is that benefiting you?

I've worked with The Skills Connection at two companies and both times they helped us build out our analyst relations strategy from the ground up: which analysts to target, how often to engage them, and how to approach report submissions like the Magic Quadrant The Skills Connection helped us figure out how to build analyst credibility and without that structure we would have spent a lot more time and energy getting that done. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Luc B.

Head of Partner Success Team

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

7/23/2026

"Ex-analyst insight that actually moves the needle on Gartner MQ submissions"

5/5

What do you like best about The Skills Connection?

The team's background as former Gartner analysts and GVPs is the real differentiator. They know exactly what evaluators are looking for and can translate that into practical guidance on positioning, RFI answers, and reference calls. They're responsive, structured, and genuinely invested in helping us tell our story well, not just checking a box. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about The Skills Connection?

Turnaround on fact reviews can lag behind how fast the market and our own product moves, though to be fair that's more a Gartner-process issue than something TSC controls directly. It would help if there were a faster way to flag when submitted content is already outdated by the time feedback comes back. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering The Skills Connection:

If you're serious about improving your MQ or analyst evaluation outcomes, it's worth having people on your side who've sat on the other side of the table. TSC brings that perspective and it shows in the quality of the advice. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is The Skills Connection solving and how is that benefiting you?

We work with TSC to support our analyst market report submissions. Analyst relations work like this is time-consuming and full of nuance, and having ex-analysts on the other side of it means we get advice that's grounded in how these evaluations actually work, not just generic coaching. It's saved us a lot of internal back-and-forth and helped us present our story more sharply. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Don H.

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

7/17/2026

"Sharp, Hands-On Analyst Expertise with True Ownership and Urgency"

5/5

What do you like best about The Skills Connection?

Their team are former analysts, so they understand the Gartner/Forrester and analyst side of the equation, not just the vendor side. That expertise showed up directly in the session: sharp, practical guidance instead of generic consulting frameworks. They rolled up their sleeves and worked the content with us rather than just facilitating, engaging with the same ownership and urgency as if it were their own company. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about The Skills Connection?

There isn't a real downside to working with TSC. The one thing to flag, which may be a fit consideration rather than a true drawback, is that their team drives the process firmly. That same ownership and urgency that made them so effective can come across as aggressive, regardless of where you sit in your org's hierarchy. They've supported organizations through hundreds of analyst assessments (MQs, Waves, and similar), so they know the right path forward. Consider this if your team prefers to be advised rather than coached and driven. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering The Skills Connection:

Engage them as early as possible. It takes time to build the foundation for everything downstream, analyst inquiries, briefings, assessments, mentions, and guidance. The earlier TSC is involved, the more that foundation can support all of it. Come in ready to be driven and coached, not just advised, that's where they deliver the most value. Also know going in that you are doing the work and creating the output, TSC guides and drives the process, they don't do it for you. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is The Skills Connection solving and how is that benefiting you?

Our analyst relations program needed structure: a clear plan for Forrester/Gartner and other analyst engagement, not just logistics support. TSC brought a proven framework for building that strategy from the ground up, which let us move from reactive analyst interactions to a deliberate, planned cadence. This was especially critical as we were entering our first tier 1 analyst assessment and wanted to put our best submission forward. The result: a Leadership position, our best outcome yet. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Information Services

Enterprise (> 1000 emp.)

10/1/2026

"Strategic guidance that drove MQ movement"

5/5

What do you like best about The Skills Connection?

Their team brings a level of expertise you rarely find in AR consulting. For our engagement, they assigned someone with a PhD in Software, a former analyst who brought real technical depth. This enabled them to review, edit, and strategically guide every single response in the MQ survey, as well as build the underlying presentation decks.

The Skills Connection operates as a true extension of your team. When internal bandwidth falters, they step up, take ownership, and drive the process with complete reliability, instilling immediate confidence across executive leadership. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about The Skills Connection?

There is very little to criticize about their execution. Because their team is composed of highly senior, highly specialized former Gartner analysts, their availability may be tight during peak MQ seasons. However, this was never an issue for us starting from our first engagement. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering The Skills Connection:

If you treat an MQ submission as merely a project management exercise, you are leaving placement on the table. Bring in The Skills Connection if you want to elevate the strategic substance of your submission. Work with them as early in the process as possible, trust their structured methodology, and let their former analysts shape your positioning. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is The Skills Connection solving and how is that benefiting you?

We initially brought in The Skills Connection under high pressure: just one week after a major Gartner MQ launched, we realized our internal submission was in serious trouble and needed an immediate, heavy lift to pull us over the finish line. They stepped in seamlessly, effectively carrying the assessment on their back when our internal bandwidth was maxed out.

The Skills Connection owned the entire MQ lifecycle to completion, acting as the ultimate "cat herder" across every phase. More importantly, they provide a deep, substance-first review after initial drafts, which allowed us to dramatically improve our scoring and dot placement in the final quadrant.

They delivered real, measurable impact across two key MQs. We achieved significant positive movement into better quadrants than would have been impossible on our own. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Verified User in Computer Software

Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.)

9/25/2026

"Former analysts who give you confidence and roll up their sleeves"

5/5

What do you like best about The Skills Connection?

The Skills Connection brings real lived experience from inside the analyst firms, and you feel it in every conversation. They don't just tell you what the process requires; they explain how analysts actually think, what they'll listen for, and why it matters. That perspective has given me a lot of confidence as we've built out our analyst relations function. They're also genuinely happy to be hands on. Rather than handing over a framework and stepping back, they work through the content with us, pressure-test our story and help us sharpen it. On top of that, they're professional, respectful and a real delight to work with. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What do you dislike about The Skills Connection?

Honestly, very little. The main thing to know is that you get out what you put in. It's a collaborative engagement, so you'll get the most value when your team is ready to share context and do the work alongside them. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

Recommendations to others considering The Skills Connection:

If you're building or maturing an analyst relations program, especially at a fast-moving company, they're a great partner. Bring them in early, give them good context on your business and your analyst history, and be open to their candid advice. Their experience on the other side of the table is hard to find anywhere else. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.

What problems is The Skills Connection solving and how is that benefiting you?

As a fast-growing AI company, we move quickly and our deadlines are often tight. The Skills Connection keeps pace with us without compromising on quality, which has been invaluable. They've helped us prepare for analyst briefings, shape how we communicate our positioning, and plan thoughtful follow-up. The result is that we engage with analysts more deliberately and with more confidence, and our team has a much clearer sense of what good looks like. Review collected by and hosted on G2.com.