The Revenue Room™, by H2K Labs

In this episode of The Revenue Room™ Podcast, Heather Holst-Knudsen is joined by Marilu Paez, managing director and co-founder of Events Venture Group (EVG), for an insightful conversation on why operational know-how and strategic guidance are just as critical as capital for early-stage event ventures.Marilu shares how she transitioned from 17 years in senior leadership roles across major tech companies in Mexico to building EVG in Miami—a nonprofit consortium connecting event founders with seasoned operators and investors. She breaks down how EVG evaluates ventures, the signals investors watch for, and what makes an events business truly investment-ready. Drawing on her experience scaling Intuit in Mexico and advising early-stage founders, Marilu explains why collaboration accelerates growth, how founders can avoid common mistakes, and the strategic play behind EVG’s four standout investments: Quantum World Congress, Deep Tech Momentum, Explor, and Stable Con.WHY LISTENThis episode is essential listening for CEOs, founders, and event entrepreneurs who are:Seeking guidance on scaling early-stage events with limited capital and resourcesNavigating operational, strategic, and investor expectationsLooking to build sustainable, profitable, and investable event businessesCurious about how mentorship, community, and strategic capital intersect in the events ecosystemInterested in actionable lessons from industry veterans who have built and exited major eventsIf you’re a founder, investor, or operator in the events, media, or data-driven experience industries, this episode offers practical insights and frameworks for turning a passionate idea into a scalable, revenue-generating business.CONNECT WITH MARILU: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marilu-paez/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.

In this episode of The Revenue Room™ Podcast, Heather Holst-Knudsen sits down with Jason Bateman, Vice President of Community at XPRIZE, for a deep exploration of what it truly takes to build, scale, and sustain high-impact communities.Jason brings more than 25 years of experience designing and growing elite membership organizations, from Vistage to XPRIZE. He shares hard-earned insights on why community is not a “nice-to-have,” but a strategic growth engine when executed with intention, discipline, and care. This conversation goes beyond surface-level engagement tactics and dives into the mechanics of trust, curation, retention, and long-term value creation.This episode is a masterclass in community as infrastructure: how purpose-driven networks compound value, how diversity strengthens group dynamics, and why leadership, curation, and accountability determine whether a community thrives or fails.WHY LISTENThis episode is essential for CEOs, founders, and revenue-critical leaders who are:Building executive communities, networks, or membershipsStruggling with churn, engagement, or long-term retentionRethinking community as a business model, not a side projectLooking to align purpose, growth, and measurable impactExploring how innovation ecosystems actually scaleIf you’re a leader who believes community can drive both economic and societal outcomes, this conversation offers practical frameworks, real-world lessons, and a powerful reminder: the right people, curated with care, can change everything.CONNECT WITH JASON: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonbateman/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.

In this episode of The Revenue Room™ Podcast, Heather Holst-Knudsen sits down with Philip Thomas, Chief Creative Officer at Informa PLC and Chairman of Cannes Lions, to unpack why creativity, experience, and human connection have become some of the most powerful revenue levers in today’s data- and AI-driven economy.From the transformation of Cannes Lions into a global brand ecosystem, to why public markets consistently undervalue event businesses, Philip shares a candid, operator-level view of what actually drives long-term enterprise value in B2B media and events.This conversation explores how innovation must be paired with process, why not every business should chase a 365 model, and how AI will ultimately increase, not replace, the value of in-person connection.Why ListenThis episode is essential for leaders who are:Rethinking creativity, experience, and brand as core revenue driversNavigating the shift from transactional events to experience-led ecosystemsManaging complex global portfolios across media, events, and communitiesBalancing innovation, process, and scalability in growth strategiesEvaluating when 365 engagement models make sense — and when they don’tUnderstanding AI’s role in trust, authenticity, and human connectionIf you’re a CEO, CMO, CRO, or revenue-critical executive building for 2025 and beyond, Philip’s insights offer clarity, perspective, and a grounded framework for creating long-term enterprise value.CONNECT WITH PHILIP THOMASLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-thomas-127a541/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.

In this episode of The Revenue Room™, Heather Holst-Knudsen sits down with Janice Liu, the Mantis Group CEO reveals why "every company is a data company" whether they like it or not. Janice breaks down her proprietary methodology for appraising data assets—often proving they are worth more than a company's traditional operating business—and explains how this valuation can radically increase M&A multiples. We dive deep into "shadow inefficiencies," the mechanics of brokering data deals with Large Language Models (LLMs), and why ethical consent is the single most critical factor in future-proofing your revenue. If you think your data is just a compliance risk, this conversation will change your entire balance sheet. WHY LISTENThis episode is essential for leaders who are:Leading transformation inside legacy or scaled organizationsManaging growth through acquisitions or portfolio complexityAligning leadership teams during periods of uncertaintyUsing data to drive clarity and confidence in decision-makingNavigating AI disruption without losing organizational trustBalancing performance, culture, and long-term value creationIf you’re a CEO, CMO, CRO, or senior operator steering an organization through change, this episode delivers grounded, experience-driven perspective.CONNECT WITH JANICE LIU: linkedin.com/in/janice-liu-89905620About 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.

In this episode of The Revenue Room Podcast, Heather Holst-Knudsen sits down with Diana Florescu, Founder and CEO of Media for Growth, to unpack one of the most powerful alternative funding models reshaping consumer brand growth and media monetization today: Media for Equity.With more than 25 years of global precedent and recent expansion from Europe into the U.S., Media for Equity is gaining momentum as media companies and brands rethink capital efficiency, valuation, and long-term growth. Diana explains why this model is accelerating now, how it transforms underutilized media inventory into equity value, and why it offers a compelling path for both media owners and high-growth consumer brands.WHY LISTEN This episode is essential for executives who are: Exploring Media for Equity as a revenue or investment strategyDiversifying media revenue beyond traditional ad salesSupporting challenger brands without increasing cash burnTreating brand as a growth driver, not a cost centerNavigating valuation, liquidity, and exit pathsTurning underutilized media inventory into long-term equity valueIf you’re a CEO, CRO, CFO, investor, or corporate development leader operating at the intersection of media, consumer growth, and capital strategy, this episode provides a practical framework for understanding Media for Equity and its role in modern revenue growth.CONNECT WITH DIANA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianaflorescuAbout 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.

In this episode of The Revenue Room™, Heather Holst-Knudsen sits down with Christine Shaw, CEO and President of Naylor Association Solutions, to explore how modern associations are transforming their business models in a data-driven, AI-accelerated world. Christine shares how her leadership was shaped in high-velocity environments at PennWell and Future PLC, why clean data is the ultimate stabilizer in disruption, and how she built the business analyst role that now powers insights and decision-making across every organization she leads.Christine breaks down the complexity of Naylor’s multi-line business—from member communications and job boards to AMS technology platforms—and explains how associations can stay relevant as generational shifts reshape how people consume information, learn, and build community. She also offers a candid look at how AI is transforming internal workflows, client-facing products, and the future of year-round member engagement.Why listenThis episode is essential for leaders who are: • Navigating the shift from legacy business models to intelligence-driven operations • Building scalable, privacy-aware data foundations • Managing complex multi-line revenue organizations • Reimagining sales, marketing, and community engagement in an AI-first world • Leading multi-generational teams through disruption • Seeking a practical roadmap for modernizing associations, media companies, or membership-driven businessesIf you’re a CEO, CMO, CRO, association leader, or revenue-critical executive building for 2025 and beyond, Christine’s insights offer clarity, direction, and a blueprint for sustainable growth.CONNECT WITH CHRISTINE SHAWLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christineashaw/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.

Sean Griffey, co-founder and former CEO of Industry Dive who scaled the company from a few newsletters to a $100M+ multi-vertical business, joins to unpack growth strategy. He discusses niche-audience obsession and launching multiple verticals. He covers organizing sales by buyer, building enterprise penetration teams, first-party data and audience products. He also talks about AI as a tool and protecting owned audience connections.

In this episode of The Revenue Room™, Heather Holst-Knudsen sits down with Amanda Landsaw, Chief Marketing Officer at EndeavorB2B, to unpack how one of the industry’s largest B2B media and intelligence platforms is transforming into a modern data-driven growth engine.From rebranding a legacy publisher into a full-scale intelligence business, to redefining audience value, to building privacy-first data systems that still unlock revenue—Amanda offers a candid, strategic look at what it really takes to scale in an AI-powered, fast-moving B2B landscape.They also dive deep into the new role of the CMO, the rise of audience lifetime value as a mission-critical KPI, the realities of sales–marketing alignment, and how organizations can responsibly integrate AI without slowing their teams down.Why ListenThis episode is essential for leaders who are:- Navigating the shift from legacy media to intelligence-driven business models- Building scalable, privacy-first data strategies- Reimagining sales–marketing alignment for a multi-product world- Preparing teams for AI adoption without overwhelming them- Redefining audience engagement, value, and lifetime impactIf you’re a CEO, CMO, CRO, or revenue-critical leader building for 2026 and beyond, this conversation is a blueprint for modern transformation.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.

In this powerful and wide-ranging conversation, Heather Holst-Knudsen sits down with Blair LaCorte—Founder and Managing Director of LaCorte Ventures —to unpack what truly drives performance, transformation, and long-term success in business and in life.Blair has led and scaled companies across aviation, entertainment, AI, private equity, and tech. He’s built the world’s largest private charter airline, run the global leader in live event production, navigated major turnarounds, and coached some of the highest-performing CEOs in the country. But what makes this episode extraordinary is his radical clarity about why businesses win—and why leaders fail.Together, Heather and Blair dive into the essential truths leaders often overlook: how to identify the “one thing” that matters in your business model, why patterns and people are the real drivers of performance, how AI is reshaping the workforce, and why self-awareness—not strategy—is a CEO’s greatest competitive advantage.They also explore Blair’s work in longevity and healthspan at the Buck Institute, what CEOs can learn from athletes, and why community, authenticity, and curiosity may be the most powerful business levers of all.Why ListenThis episode is essential for leaders who are navigating:Business model transformationAI-driven shifts in operations, talent, and salesScaling teams while reducing complexityDecision-making under pressurePersonal performance, energy, and longevityBuilding communities and tribes that accelerate growthIf you're a CEO, founder, investor, or ambitious operator who wants to grow smarter—not just harder— This conversation is a blueprint for leading, scaling, and thriving in the new era of business. 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.

In this insightful conversation, Heather Holst-Knudsen sits down with Michael Barnett, CEO of InGo, and a leading expert in digital transformation and data-driven business strategies to explore the systems, processes, and leadership approaches that drive predictable revenue growth in complex B2B environments.Michael shares practical strategies for building revenue operating plans, aligning critical roles, and using data to uncover opportunities and measure impact—while also highlighting the cultural and leadership shifts needed to make revenue processes stick.Why ListenThis episode is essential listening for revenue leaders, executives, and operators who are:Turning revenue into a repeatable, scalable processAligning teams and roles around data-driven growthOptimizing KPIs for measurable business impactLeading organizations through operational and cultural change If your goal is to transform uncertainty into a steady growth trajectory, this conversation delivers actionable strategies for the year ahead. 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.