What if you could test your business strategy in days instead of months? That’s what Kate O’Keeffe, CEO and Co‑Founder of Heatseeker, makes possible. From building the first AI‑powered platform for market experimentation to helping companies validate strategy, positioning, and buyer demand at lightning speed, Kate’s career is all about turning bold ideas into measurable results. Former BCG Partner and Silicon Valley innovator, she’s here to show how AI is rewriting the rules of testing ideas — fast, smart, and with real data. What You'll Learn How AI and Heatseeker enable companies to validate strategy, positioning, and buyer demand in days instead of months Why traditional surveys and panels are unreliable and how real-time experimentation can replace them The importance of starting experimentation early in the funnel to uncover hidden customer desires How to balance speed and rigor when testing ideas and avoid misleading results Ways to foster a culture of experimentation where data informs thousands of daily marketing micro-decisions Episode Chapters (00:00) Intro (00:38) Why AI is changing brand strategy (01:41) Heatseeker explained and the problem with traditional surveys (05:17) Common mistakes in testing and the role of AI (10:23) Balancing speed with rigor in experiments (14:12) Creating a culture of experimentation without chaos (19:42) The future of AI-driven market experimentation (23:53) A brand that made Kate smile recently and how to connect Kate O’Keeffe is the CEO and Co-Founder of Heatseeker, the first AI-powered platform for market experimentation that helps companies validate strategy, positioning, and buyer demand in days instead of months. She spent a decade in Silicon Valley founding CHILL, Cisco’s global co-innovation lab, and launching high-impact ventures for Fortune 100 companies at startup speed. A former Partner at BCG, Kate has advised executives and boards on innovation, growth, and digital transformation, delivering hundreds of millions in business value. She also serves on the board of Birchal and as a non-executive director for Naked Ambition and CircleOf, Inc. What Brand Has Made Kate Smile? L’Oreal impressed Kate with its recent work in the refill movement, turning sustainability into a movement people want to join. She loved how the brand tapped into the human need to feel like part of something bigger and clever messaging that invites consumers to “be a recycler” rather than simply recycle. Links & Resources Connect with Kate on LinkedIn. Check out the Heatseeker website. Watch or listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, Amazon/Audible, TuneIn, and iHeart. Rate and review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help others find the show. Share this episode — email a friend or colleague this episode. Sign up for my free Story Strategies newsletter for branding and storytelling tips. On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network. Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Brand with Nick Westergaard

Nick Westergaard

AI-Powered Business Strategy at Lightning Speed

DEC 8, 202529 MIN
On Brand with Nick Westergaard

AI-Powered Business Strategy at Lightning Speed

DEC 8, 202529 MIN

Description

What if you could test your business strategy in days instead of months? That’s what Kate O’Keeffe, CEO and Co‑Founder of Heatseeker, makes possible. From building the first AI‑powered platform for market experimentation to helping companies validate strategy, positioning, and buyer demand at lightning speed, Kate’s career is all about turning bold ideas into measurable results. Former BCG Partner and Silicon Valley innovator, she’s here to show how AI is rewriting the rules of testing ideas — fast, smart, and with real data.


What You'll Learn

  • How AI and Heatseeker enable companies to validate strategy, positioning, and buyer demand in days instead of months
  • Why traditional surveys and panels are unreliable and how real-time experimentation can replace them
  • The importance of starting experimentation early in the funnel to uncover hidden customer desires
  • How to balance speed and rigor when testing ideas and avoid misleading results
  • Ways to foster a culture of experimentation where data informs thousands of daily marketing micro-decisions

Episode Chapters

(00:00) Intro

(00:38) Why AI is changing brand strategy

(01:41) Heatseeker explained and the problem with traditional surveys

(05:17) Common mistakes in testing and the role of AI

(10:23) Balancing speed with rigor in experiments

(14:12) Creating a culture of experimentation without chaos

(19:42) The future of AI-driven market experimentation

(23:53) A brand that made Kate smile recently and how to connect


Kate O’Keeffe is the CEO and Co-Founder of Heatseeker, the first AI-powered platform for market experimentation that helps companies validate strategy, positioning, and buyer demand in days instead of months. She spent a decade in Silicon Valley founding CHILL, Cisco’s global co-innovation lab, and launching high-impact ventures for Fortune 100 companies at startup speed. A former Partner at BCG, Kate has advised executives and boards on innovation, growth, and digital transformation, delivering hundreds of millions in business value. She also serves on the board of Birchal and as a non-executive director for Naked Ambition and CircleOf, Inc.

What Brand Has Made Kate Smile? L’Oreal impressed Kate with its recent work in the refill movement, turning sustainability into a movement people want to join. She loved how the brand tapped into the human need to feel like part of something bigger and clever messaging that invites consumers to “be a recycler” rather than simply recycle.


Links & Resources

On Brand is a part of the Marketing Podcast Network.

Until next week, I’ll see you on the Internet!

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices