Founder mistakes: hiring and brand withdrawal

In this episode of The Revenue Room, host Heather Holst-Knudsen sits down with Jacob Donnelly, founder of A Media Operator (AMO). They discuss why media business models built on algorithmic traffic are operating on borrowed time, and why anyone dependent on it is simply "done for". Between the threat of AI replicating "average" content and a shifting M&A landscape heavily influenced by Private Equity, the old publishing playbook is broken. Jacob reveals how the smartest CEOs are future-proofing their businesses by abandoning the mass-reach illusion and building a durable "three-legged stool": Media, Events, and Data.

Why Listen:

• Learn why Artificial Intelligence makes "average" content obsolete, and why CEOs need to have hard conversations with PE owners about compressing short-term EBITDA to invest heavily in elite, proprietary content.
• Discover why publishers must prioritize the Lifetime Value (LTV) of their audience and treat advertising as a high-margin secondary model behind reader revenue—much like Uber's advertising model.
•  Understand the current M&A market, why Private Equity buyers assign premium valuations to diversified media and event assets, and why pure-play event companies are leaving massive value on the table.
• Hear the hard truth on why the easiest way to make 7 figures is a media company, but the hardest way to make 8 figures is a media company.
• Find out why founder-led companies with clear-cut voices and rapid decisiveness drastically outperform executive-run media brands during times of industry disruption.

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.