The Revenue Room™, by H2K Labs

Heather Holst-Knudsen, CEO, H2K Labs

Welcome to The Revenue Room™, brought to you by H2K Labs. Our podcast is designed for CEOs and their revenue-critical executive teams leading media, events, data/info, and marketplace businesses. We focus on boosting revenue, enhancing profitability, and elevating enterprise value. Each episode delves into cutting-edge data-driven strategies to accelerate revenue, manage risks, and establish scalable, predictable processes. We also discuss elevating revenue to the core of operational excellence, empowering you to consistently outperform your competitors. 

  1. The Future of Media Is Data-Fueled: How Future PLC & Bombora Are Rewriting the Rules of Revenue

    13 OCT

    The Future of Media Is Data-Fueled: How Future PLC & Bombora Are Rewriting the Rules of Revenue

    In this powerful conversation, Heather Holst-Knudsen sits down with two industry innovators—Allison Markert of Future PLC and Jaime Schultheis of Bombora—to unpack how data, AI, and intent intelligence are redefining the future of media and revenue growth. Together, they reveal how Future PLC’s massive B2B portfolio is leveraging first-party and intent data to uncover hidden buyers, build audience intelligence, and measure real business impact—while also tackling the leadership and cultural shifts needed to thrive in an AI-driven economy. Why Listen This episode is essential listening for leaders in media, marketing, or technology who are: Shifting from impressions to impactBuilding data-fueled growth strategiesNavigating AI transformationLeading teams through rapid changeIf you’re a CEO, CMO, CRO, or data-driven decision maker redefining growth in 2025 and beyond, this episode is your playbook. Resources & Mentions RevvedUP 2026 is where CEOs and revenue-critical C-Suite leaders reset their growth playbook for the AI-first economy. Across two intensive days — March 23–24, 2026 at The Vinoy Resort, St. Petersburg, FL — the event functions as a high-stakes strategy lab where leaders pressure-test how AI moves from cost center to growth driver. From revenue engines to board expectations, RevvedUP equips executives to turn data, disruption, and intelligent reinvention into competitive advantage. Click here to learn more:  https://info.h2klabs.com/revvedup-2026 About Heather Holst-Knudsen Heather Holst-Knudsen is the founder and CEO of H2K Labs and Revenue Room™ Connect. She is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in digital transformation, data, and revenue growth. She is a recognized leader and operator in media, marketplaces, events, and adjacent technologies. Heather has a proven track record of leading organizations to achieve customer-centric innovation, revenue growth, and enterprise value creation. As a thought leader, Heather shares her insights on multisided business models under The Revenue Room™. Connect with Heather on LinkedIn. About Revenue Room™ CXO Revenue Room™ CXO is a private executive community for CEOs and revenue-critical C-Suite leaders who are shaping the future of growth in the data and AI economy. Through curated peer discussions, benchmarking sessions, and strategy sprints, members tackle real-time challenges in revenue transformation, customer intelligence, and business model innovation. This is not another networking group — it’s a confidential forum for leaders ready to accelerate enterprise value in 2025 and beyond. Learn more or apply for membership at info.h2klabs.com/apply-cxo

    50 min
  2. From Startup to Scale: Jerry Li’s Playbook for the Next Economy

    29 AUG

    From Startup to Scale: Jerry Li’s Playbook for the Next Economy

    In this episode of Revenue Room™, Jerry Li shares his hard-won lessons on building, scaling, and thriving in the age of AI. From navigating the leap from startup scrappiness to sustainable scale, to reshaping work and leadership for the next economy, Jerry’s playbook is equal parts visionary and practical. You’ll learn how to: Rethink growth strategies beyond short-term winsLead teams through rapid innovation cyclesHarness AI without losing the human edgePrepare your business for the economy that’s coming next Whether you’re a founder, operator, or future-focused leader, Jerry’s insights will change how you think about growth, technology, and the future of work. About Jerry Li Jerry Li is the CEO and Co-Founder of Gradual, the all-in-one community platform built to turn engagement into insight and scale connection with purpose. Before starting Gradual, he led engineering teams at Amazon and Groupon, focusing on building systems at scale and mentoring emerging leaders.  His passion for community took shape through building ELC—the Engineering Leadership Community—which has grown into the world’s largest and most recognized network for engineering leaders and executives. What began as small, in-person gatherings evolved into a global community. During the shift to virtual at the start of the pandemic, the internal tools created to support ELC became the foundation for Gradual.  Today, Gradual powers communities for companies like OpenAI, Perplexity, Fiverr, Scale AI, and Siemens. Jerry remains focused on helping organizations build community-led ecosystems that drive growth, deepen relationships, and unlock collective intelligence. About Heather Holst-Knudsen Heather Holst-Knudsen is the founder and CEO of H2K Labs and Revenue Room™ Connect. She is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in digital transformation, data, and revenue growth. She is a recognized leader and operator in media, marketplaces, events, and adjacent technologies. Heather has a proven track record of leading organizations to achieve customer-centric innovation, revenue growth, and enterprise value creation. As a thought leader, Heather shares her insights on multisided business models under The Revenue Room™. Connect with Heather on LinkedIn. About Revenue Room™ CXO Revenue Room™ CXO is a private executive community for CEOs and revenue-critical C-Suite leaders who are shaping the future of growth in the data and AI economy. Through curated peer discussions, benchmarking sessions, and strategy sprints, members tackle real-time challenges in revenue transformation, customer intelligence, and business model innovation. This is not another networking group — it’s a confidential forum for leaders ready to accelerate enterprise value in 2025 and beyond. Learn more or apply for membership at info.h2klabs.com/apply-cxo

    51 min
  3. Branded or Buried: Pete Pachal on Why AI Will Expose the Real Value of Media

    29 JUL

    Branded or Buried: Pete Pachal on Why AI Will Expose the Real Value of Media

    In this episode of The Revenue Room™, Pete Pachal, founder of The Media Copilot and longtime tech journalist, joins Heather Holst-Knudsen for a sharp, future-forward conversation on how AI is reshaping the media landscape. From the decline of brand trust to the rise of zero-click content, Pete unpacks the brutal clarity that AI brings—and why it may force media companies to finally prove their real value. Key Topics Discussed: Why AI’s biggest disruption isn’t productivity—it’s radical transparency.How zero-click content is changing content discovery and engagement.Why media brands must differentiate or risk being buried by algorithms.The case for authenticity as the next competitive advantage.What tech’s evolution tells us about the future of media.How Pete built The Media Copilot to help publishers and marketers navigate the AI transition.What it takes to thrive in a world where AI can replicate—but not originate—trust.About Pete Pachal Pete Pachal is the founder of The Media Copilot, a consulting and strategy platform for helping media and marketing leaders make sense of AI. He is also a longtime tech journalist, having served in editorial leadership roles at CoinDesk, Mashable, and PCMag. Pete is known for his sharp analysis and ability to demystify emerging technologies in plain language. He’s appeared as a tech expert on The Today Show, CNN, Fox Business, CNBC, and more. About Heather Holst-Knudsen Heather Holst-Knudsen is the founder and CEO of H2K Labs and Revenue Room™ Connect. She is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in digital transformation, data, and revenue growth. She is a recognized leader and operator in media, marketplaces, events, and adjacent technologies. Heather has a proven track record of leading organizations to achieve customer-centric innovation, revenue growth, and enterprise value creation. As a thought leader, Heather shares her insights on multisided business models under The Revenue Room™. Connect with Heather on LinkedIn. About Revenue Room™ CXO Revenue Room™ CXO is a private executive community for CEOs and revenue-critical C-Suite leaders who are shaping the future of growth in the data and AI economy. Through curated peer discussions, benchmarking sessions, and strategy sprints, members tackle real-time challenges in revenue transformation, customer intelligence, and business model innovation. This is not another networking group — it’s a confidential forum for leaders ready to accelerate enterprise value in 2025 and beyond. Learn more or apply for membership at info.h2klabs.com/apply-cxo

    56 min
  4. Owning the Room: Samantha Skey on AI, Imposter Syndrome, and Leading with Intention

    17 JUL

    Owning the Room: Samantha Skey on AI, Imposter Syndrome, and Leading with Intention

    In this episode of The Revenue Room™, Samantha Skey, CEO of SHE Media, shares her bold, human-centered take on leadership, AI disruption, and the future of digital publishing. From reframing imposter syndrome as a systemic issue to building a diversified media model grounded in authenticity, Samantha offers a masterclass in leading with courage, clarity, and purpose in a time of massive change. Key Topics Discussed: -How Samantha approaches leadership with a focus on ethics, empathy, and long-term impact—not just short-term performance. -The tension between AI as an operational asset vs. existential threat to publishers. -Her prediction of a new industry for authenticity verification in content. -Samantha redefined imposter syndrome as a systemic issue, not a personal flaw. -A call to redesign environments to be more inclusive of non-traditional leaders. -SHE Media’s three-pronged business model: owned brands, creator monetization, and immersive brand partnerships. -The importance of leveraging both quantitative and qualitative inputs to drive business decisions. About Samantha Skey About Samantha Skey Samantha Skey is CEO of SHE Media, a top 10 media company reaching 80 million monthly unique visitors through brands like SheKnows, Flow Space, StyleCaster, Soaps, and TVLine. Acquired by Penske Media Corporation in 2018, SHE Media also operates one of the largest networks of independent lifestyle publishers and creators in the U.S. via the SHE Media Collective, which Skey launched in 2016 to support underrepresented voices. In 2021, she introduced Meaningful Marketplaces (MMP), helping advertisers scale media buys while supporting premium independent media. That equity-driven mission continued with the 2023 launch of Flow Space, a women’s health platform that won Anthem and Viddy Gold Awards. She also led the debut of SHE Media’s Co-Lab Whole Life Health at SXSW, earning honors from Fierce Pharma and the Anthem Awards. With over 25 years in digital media and tech, Skey has held leadership roles at CNET, Disney, RecycleBank, and SheKnows. She’s been honored by Ad Age, Folio, and DM News, and serves on the boards of The Ad Council, World Surf League, and Acast. She lives in Princeton with her husband and two children and coaches girls’ lacrosse on weekends. About Heather Holst-Knudsen Heather Holst-Knudsen is the founder and CEO of H2K Labs and Revenue Room™ Connect. She is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in digital transformation, data, and revenue growth. She is a recognized leader and operator in media, marketplaces, events, and adjacent technologies. Heather has a proven track record of leading organizations to achieve customer-centric innovation, revenue growth, and enterprise value creation. As a thought leader, Heather shares her insights on multisided business models under The Revenue Room™. Connect with Heather on LinkedIn. About Revenue Room™ CXO Revenue Room™ CXO is a private executive community for CEOs and revenue-critical C-Suite leaders who are shaping the future of growth in the data and AI economy. Through curated peer discussions, benchmarking sessions, and strategy sprints, members tackle real-time challenges in revenue transformation, customer intelligence, and business model innovation. This is not another networking group — it’s a confidential forum for leaders ready to accelerate enterprise value in 2025 and beyond. Learn more or apply for membership at info.h2klabs.com/apply-cxo

    47 min
  5. Zero-Click Futures and AI Truths: How Tag Digital is Redefining Event Marketing

    27 JUN

    Zero-Click Futures and AI Truths: How Tag Digital is Redefining Event Marketing

    What do hamster photos, AI-powered marketing, and global event domination have in common? In this episode, Heather Holst-Knudsen sits down with Laura Davidson, CEO and co-founder of Tag Digital, to uncover how she turned a scrappy startup into a global performance marketing powerhouse for events. From their first client win with UBM to building AI-powered digital twins and tackling the zero-click future, Laura shares bold insights on data, creative, authenticity, and the leadership grit it takes to grow in a rapidly changing market. Key Topics Covered How Tag Digital went from local web agency to global event marketing leaderThe hamster photo dispute that sparked their pivot to eventsWhy clean, segmented data is non-negotiable for ROIAI, automation, and the rise of the zero-click economyWhy emotional creative and authenticity drive true event successHow AI will change attribution—and why media mix modeling is your new best friendBuilding confidence, adaptability, and humor as leadership superpowersAbout Laura Davidson Laura Davidson is currently the CEO and Director at Tag Digital, a company specializing in paid media across various platforms exclusively within the events sector. With over 2500 event campaigns run annually in 40 countries, Laura has a wealth of experience in this field. Prior to her role at Tag Digital, Laura worked as a Lecturer at the Digital Marketing Institute, teaching courses in SEO, PPC, ecommerce, and analytics. She also worked as the Communications Director at Moviecom.tv and as a Contributing Writer at LiPulse Magazine. Laura holds a 2:1 degree in Law and English from the University of Strathclyde. About Heather Holst-Knudsen Heather Holst-Knudsen is the founder and CEO of H2K Labs and Revenue Room™ Connect. She is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in digital transformation, data, and revenue growth. She is a recognized leader and operator in media, marketplaces, events, and adjacent technologies. Heather has a proven track record of leading organizations to achieve customer-centric innovation, revenue growth, and enterprise value creation. As a thought leader, Heather shares her insights on multisided business models under The Revenue Room™. Connect with Heather on LinkedIn. About Revenue Room™ CXO Revenue Room™ CXO is a private executive community for CEOs and revenue-critical C-Suite leaders who are shaping the future of growth in the data and AI economy. Through curated peer discussions, benchmarking sessions, and strategy sprints, members tackle real-time challenges in revenue transformation, customer intelligence, and business model innovation. This is not another networking group — it’s a confidential forum for leaders ready to accelerate enterprise value in 2025 and beyond. Learn more or apply for membership at info.h2klabs.com/apply-cxo

    47 min
  6. Reinventing Event Revenue: Michelle Troop on Customization, AI Tools, and Selling Beyond the Booth

    24 JUN

    Reinventing Event Revenue: Michelle Troop on Customization, AI Tools, and Selling Beyond the Booth

    In this episode of The Revenue Room, host Heather Holst-Knudsen speaks with Michelle Troop, Chief Revenue Officer of Ai4, the world’s largest artificial intelligence event. Michelle shares how she helped scale Ai4 from boutique gatherings into an 8,000+ attendee juggernaut—and how her entrepreneurial mindset has led to multiple successful event acquisitions. She breaks down the playbook behind Ai4’s revenue transformation, including: How to enable your sales team to go beyond square footageWhy modern sponsors expect customization and real-time ROIHow to use AI tools like ChatGPT to boost outbound performanceRethinking hosted buyer models and 1:1 meetingsWhat signals you're ready to scale or sellWhether you lead events, sales, or strategy, Michelle’s insights will inspire you to rethink how you monetize audience, data, and content in today’s fast-moving B2B environment. About Michelle Troop Michelle Troop is currently the Chief Revenue Officer of Ai4, the largest and most significant international artificial intelligence event, which was recently acquired by CloserStill Media—a global events organization with over 200 award-winning brands spanning Business Technology, Learning, HR & Education, Healthcare, and Future Transport & Infrastructure. With over 35 years of trade show experience across consumer events, trade shows, and conferences, Michelle has consistently transformed and scaled events into industry-leading platforms. Her career highlights include rebuilding key trade shows into Trade Show Top 35 events, traveling the globe for the launch of the original PlayStation, and—over the past 13 years—co-founding and building several premier events such as InsureTech Connect (ITC), Mobile Apps Unlocked (MAU), and LeadsCon. All of these grew from launch to critical mass and were ultimately acquired by Clarion and Access Intelligence. Most recently, she helped reshape the strategy and scale of Ai4, growing it from a series of 300-person events in New York into the leading global AI event, drawing over 8,000 attendees to Las Vegas. Michelle is passionate not only about building great events, but also building exceptional teams. Together, they’ve delivered exponential growth in attendance, revenue, and audience experience. When she's not driving innovation in the events world, Michelle enjoys rescuing anima About Heather Holst-Knudsen Heather Holst-Knudsen is the founder and CEO of H2K Labs and Revenue Room™ Connect. She is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in digital transformation, data, and revenue growth. She is a recognized leader and operator in media, marketplaces, events, and adjacent technologies. Heather has a proven track record of leading organizations to achieve customer-centric innovation, revenue growth, and enterprise value creation. As a thought leader, Heather shares her insights on multisided business models under The Revenue Room™. Connect with Heather on LinkedIn. About Revenue Room™ CXO Revenue Room™ CXO is a private executive community for CEOs and revenue-critical C-Suite leaders who are shaping the future of growth in the data and AI economy. Through curated peer discussions, benchmarking sessions, and strategy sprints, members tackle real-time challenges in revenue transformation, customer intelligence, and business model innovation. This is not another networking group — it’s a confidential forum for leaders ready to accelerate enterprise value in 2025 and beyond. Learn more or apply for membership at info.h2klabs.com/apply-cxo

    50 min
  7. From Legacy to Tech-Enabled: How MEDQOR is Transforming Healthcare Media

    17 JUN

    From Legacy to Tech-Enabled: How MEDQOR is Transforming Healthcare Media

    In this episode, Heather sits down with Brian Weaver, the innovative mind behind Chronicle, MEDQOR's proprietary data platform that is redefining how B2B media companies deliver performance and prove ROI. Brian shares the story of acquiring MEDQOR in 2009—then a traditional print publisher—and turning it into a data-powered marketing engine that delivers buyer intelligence, real-time leads, and measurable outcomes. He pulls back the curtain on how Chronicle combines AI, CRM integration, and predictive analytics to create a completely new value proposition for healthcare marketers—and how it’s scalable across verticals. This is a masterclass for any media, events, or B2B leader looking to move beyond impressions and into the era of performance-proofed media. Key Takeaways: Why media companies need to evolve from content sellers to strategic growth partnersHow Chronicle turns passive media engagement into revenue-driving buyer signalsWhat it takes to build proprietary platforms that deliver guaranteed performanceThe power of first-party data in transforming advertiser relationships and revenue modelsWhy today’s marketers demand proof—and how media companies can rise to meet itAbout Brian Weaver Brian is the Chairman of MEDQOR, a healthcare intelligence media company and CEO of Torch.AI, an AI-powered data infrastructure platform. He’s an expert in behavioral data science and enterprise-grade machine learning and an endurance athlete who brings that same mindset to business transformation. Connect with Brian on LinkedIn About Heather Holst-Knudsen Heather Holst-Knudsen is the founder and CEO of H2K Labs and Revenue Room™ Connect. She is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in digital transformation, data, and revenue growth. She is a recognized leader and operator in media, marketplaces, events, and adjacent technologies. Heather has a proven track record of leading organizations to achieve customer-centric innovation, revenue growth, and enterprise value creation. As a thought leader, Heather shares her insights on multisided business models under The Revenue Room™. Connect with Heather on LinkedIn. About Revenue Room™ CXO Revenue Room™ CXO is a private executive community for CEOs and revenue-critical C-Suite leaders who are shaping the future of growth in the data and AI economy. Through curated peer discussions, benchmarking sessions, and strategy sprints, members tackle real-time challenges in revenue transformation, customer intelligence, and business model innovation. This is not another networking group — it’s a confidential forum for leaders ready to accelerate enterprise value in 2025 and beyond. Learn more or apply for membership at info.h2klabs.com/apply-cxo

    50 min
  8. The Revenue Room™ with Anne Lafère, Group CEO, Easyfairs

    1 MAY

    The Revenue Room™ with Anne Lafère, Group CEO, Easyfairs

    In this episode of The Revenue Room Podcast, Heather Holst-Knudsen sits down with Anne Lafère, Co-CEO of Easyfairs, to explore how the company is transforming the events industry through deep digital integration, centralized technology, and a fiercely data-driven culture. Anne shares how Easyfairs uses AI to improve personalization, predict attendee no-shows, and enhance both customer and employee experience. They discuss the company’s transition from family-owned to private equity-backed, the power of a co-CEO leadership model, and why Easyfairs is eyeing global expansion—including the U.S. market. Anne also dives into how her team operationalizes innovation—from acquisitions and onboarding to training and talent management—backed by a proprietary data lake and real-time dashboards. With a focus on mission alignment and sustainable growth, she offers tactical and strategic insights for leaders navigating rapid change in a tech-driven world. About Heather Holst-Knudsen Heather Holst-Knudsen is the founder and CEO of H2K Labs and Revenue Room™ Connect. She is a seasoned executive with extensive experience in digital transformation, data, and revenue growth. She is a recognized leader and operator in media, marketplaces, events, and adjacent technologies. Heather has a proven track record of leading organizations to achieve customer-centric innovation, revenue growth, and enterprise value creation. As a thought leader, Heather shares her insights on multisided business models under The Revenue Room™. Connect with Heather on LinkedIn. About Revenue Room™ CXO Revenue Room™ CXO is a private executive community for CEOs and revenue-critical C-Suite leaders who are shaping the future of growth in the data and AI economy. Through curated peer discussions, benchmarking sessions, and strategy sprints, members tackle real-time challenges in revenue transformation, customer intelligence, and business model innovation. This is not another networking group — it’s a confidential forum for leaders ready to accelerate enterprise value in 2025 and beyond. Learn more or apply for membership at info.h2klabs.com/apply-cxo

    43 min

About

Welcome to The Revenue Room™, brought to you by H2K Labs. Our podcast is designed for CEOs and their revenue-critical executive teams leading media, events, data/info, and marketplace businesses. We focus on boosting revenue, enhancing profitability, and elevating enterprise value. Each episode delves into cutting-edge data-driven strategies to accelerate revenue, manage risks, and establish scalable, predictable processes. We also discuss elevating revenue to the core of operational excellence, empowering you to consistently outperform your competitors.