Sponsor expectations: consumer vs. trade

Revenue isn't just about transactions; it's about creating ecosystems where value compounds across multiple stakeholders. In this episode of The Revenue Room™, host Heather Holst-Knudsen sits down with Michelle Metter, CEO and Co-Founder of Fast Forward Events, to decode how modern event leaders build scalable, accelerated growth strategies.

Over the last two decades, Michelle has transformed a regional food festival into a nationally recognized economic driver, proving that live experiences aren't cost centers—they are sophisticated revenue platforms. Today, she services over 100,000 industry professionals annually across a growing portfolio of interconnected B2B and B2C properties. In this episode, we unpack her playbook for turning live media and events into dynamic ecosystems where consumer passion directly fuels B2B growth.

Key Takeaways:

• The B2B/B2C Hybrid Ecosystem: Discover how converging B2C consumer events with B2B trade initiatives allows your sales team to meet almost any brand objective and solve multiple stakeholder challenges.

• Mastering "Evolutionary Management": Learn Michelle's unique philosophy of intentionally treating every cultural movement as a direct revenue opportunity.

• Leveraging Data as Demand Signals: Understand why you should stop viewing attendees as mere ticket-buyers. Learn how to use registration data to predict future travel trends, attract non-endemic sponsors, and justify your pricing.

• Engineering Viral Brand Activations: Ditch the standard "menu" sponsorships. Hear the story behind the famous Monkey Shoulder Porta-Potty Speakeasy, a surprise activation that generated massive social engagement, residual media value, and raised the bar for all other event sponsors.

• Building Resilience Through Diversification: Hear a real-world case study on pivoting during a crisis with the launch of "Pitch Box Media". Learn why diversifying across new industry verticals protects your business against market compression.

• Empowering Women in Leadership: Discover the importance of building diverse teams, fostering mentorship, and teaching women to overcome the fear of "asking" and inserting themselves into spaces where they belong.

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.