Jennifer  Belissent, PhD

Jennifer Belissent, PhD


As a Principal Analyst at Forrester Research, Jennifer Belissent, Ph.D., focuses on the tools and services to help organizations better use and share data. She has a particular interest in the role of technology and data in transforming government and has written and spoken extensively on "smart city" initiatives. Her research spans data leadership, the data economy and insights services, as well as the Internet of Things and connected urban infrastructure. Before joining Forrester, Jennifer spent eight years at Sun Microsystems. Prior to entering the tech world, Jennifer consulted on public policy reform in developing and transitioning countries. She designed post-communist housing reforms in Eastern Europe and Russia with the Urban Institute and USAID, and taught high school math as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Central African Republic. Jennifer earned a Ph.D. from Stanford University and a B.A. from the University of Virginia. She currently lives in the French Alps.