Growth approach: focus, execution before M&A

Welcome to another episode of The Revenue Room™ Podcast! This week, Heather Holst-Knudsen sits down with Will Lee, CEO of Adweek, to discuss his journey from traditional media to leading one of the most influential brands in marketing and advertising. Will shares his vision for transforming Adweek from a trade publication into a cutting-edge business intelligence platform, and the role AI, data, and innovative thinking play in that journey.

Key Takeaways:

• Will Lee's impressive career trajectory, from NPR to Adweek, and how his experiences shaped his leadership approach.
• The major industry news of the week, including the OmniCom-IPG acquisition, and its implications for the advertising ecosystem.
• Adweek’s transformation under Will’s leadership which focuses on four core pillars: editorial excellence, curated events, community, and actionable intelligence.
• How AI and data are helping Adweek better serve its readers and advertisers.
• Will’s vision of making Adweek indispensable to C-suite leaders beyond marketing and advertising.

Memorable Quotes:

• "Adweek is like a 45-year-old startup—still the disruptor, still the insurgent."
• "I want Adweek to be the first seven minutes of your morning—every day."
• "Our mission is to provide investment-grade journalism, inspiration through community, and intelligence that drives better decision-making."

About RevvedUP 2026
RevvedUP 2026 is where CEOs and revenue-critical C-Suite leaders reset their growth playbook for the AI-first economy. Taking place March 23–24, 2026 at The Vinoy Resort in St. Petersburg, FL, this two-day strategy lab helps leaders pressure-test how AI moves from cost center to growth driver and turn data and disruption into competitive advantage.

About Heather Holst-Knudsen
Heather Holst-Knudsen is the founder and CEO of H2K Labs and Revenue Room™ Connect. A seasoned executive and operator across media, marketplaces, events, and technology, she specializes in digital transformation, data-driven growth, and customer-centric value creation. Heather shares her insights on multisided business models through The Revenue Room™.

About Revenue Room™ CXO
Revenue Room™ CXO is a private executive community for CEOs and revenue-critical C-Suite leaders navigating growth in the data and AI economy. Through curated peer discussions and strategy sprints, members tackle real-world challenges in revenue transformation, customer intelligence, and business model innovation.

Learn more or apply for membership at info.h2klabs.com/apply-cxo.