Why AI Only Pays Off When You Redesign the Operating Model | Aditi Sinha, MarketCast

Heather Holst-Knudsen is a distinguished figure and expert in the events, media, marketing and technology sectors. Using her extensive experience, she guides clients in adapting to structural economic and market changes, seizing the chance to innovate and evolve. She specializes in digital and data disruption and opportunity, exploring how these overarching factors can impact revenue growth,customer-centricity, operational efficiency, profit margins, and the overall valuation of companies in both public and private markets. Her journey began at her family business, Thomas Publishing Company, where she honed her skills. She further expanded her expertise by holding positions at early industry giants Miller Freeman, Reed Elsevier, and IDG. Returning to Thomas Publishing, Heather founded and spearheaded Manufacturing Enterprise Communications, an integrated media portfolio connecting buyers and sellers in the manufacturing and technology sectors. Starting in 2015 and spanning the next seven years, she leveraged her expertise as a revenue and business leader in various SaaS businesses, including Feathr, Gleanin, Brella and Edflex. Heather is deeply passionate about digital innovation, data monetization, and AI and how these strategies fuel revenue growth, profitability, and company valuation. To serve and create value for clients in these areas, she launched H2K Labs, dedicated to generating and leveraging value through data for media, business information, events, and adjacent technology and service markets.

As an Executive Vice President Global Head of Technology & Operations at MarketCast, I lead the convergence of engineering and operations to power the organization's next-generation productized, tech-driven insight delivery. With over 15 years of global senior leadership experience spanning information services, research and technology in NielsenIQ and Kantar, and DHL, my unique ability is to translate bold transformation visions into scalable, tech-powered operating models. I am a co-author of an active US Patent for using DL, NLP & AI for extracting & decoding purchase receipt image.

A certified executive coach, public speaker, and an advocate for inclusive leadership and growth mindset. I mentor emerging leaders, serve on boards the promote entrepreneurship, and am passionate about cultivating cultures where curiosity, collaboration, and innovation thrive.