Appnovator Spotlight: Jenny Hols

Jenny Hols, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Appnovation, leads partner growth across AMER by building impactful alliances with top tech companies. Her day spans strategy, partner check-ins, and co-selling enablement—always with an eye on where AI can accelerate results. From using ChatGPT and Gemini to craft sharper proposals to relying on Read AI for meeting insights, AI is now part of her daily toolkit. Based in sunny Palm Springs, Jenny balances her fast-paced role with hiking, wine nights, and adventures with her dog, Little Richard.

What is the main focus of your role and how does AI impact it?
As Head of Strategic Partnerships at Appnovation, AMER, I focus on building and managing high-value partnerships with technology and SaaS providers (e.g., Google, Builder.io, Contentful, WordPressVIP, Acquia, Sanity, Atlassian, etc.) to drive revenue growth and enhance Appnovation’s service offerings. My role involves developing co-selling leads and qualified opportunities, and our Partner, Delivery and Revenue teams to identify new partners and negotiate partnership agreements, working with customers, developing proposals and aligning internal teams (sales, marketing, and delivery) to maximize business impact through our strategic alliances. 

These days, AI is showing up everywhere in my world. From pitching smarter, faster solutions to helping our teams co-sell more effectively, I’m always looking at how we can plug AI into what we do, whether that’s using tools like Gemini or ChatGPT to write cleaner proposals or teaming up with partners to build AI-driven strategies for clients. It’s not just the tech; it’s changing the way we think, sell, and deliver.

What is your favourite thing about working at Appnovation?
One of my favorite things about working at Appnovation is the collaborative and innovative culture. We get to work with cutting-edge technology and industry-leading partners, all while being surrounded by smart, passionate people who are dedicated to delivering real impact for clients. It’s exciting to be part of a team that’s constantly evolving and pushing the boundaries of digital transformation.

What does a day in the life of Jenny look like?
Strategy & Planning 

• Review KPIs & Partnership Goals – Check pipeline reports, partnership performance metrics, and revenue contribution from our existing partners.
• Team Sync – Meet with the partnership teams to align on active deals, co-marketing efforts, and upcoming partner initiatives.
• Market & Industry Research – Stay updated on trends in digital transformation, tech consulting, and key partner ecosystems.

Partner Engagement & Business Development 

• Partner Check-ins – Meeting with key tech partners like Google, Contentful, Atlassian, Vercel, etc. to discuss potential co-selling opportunities.
• Lead Generation & Joint Opportunities – Align with partner sales and marketing teams to identify accounts where partnerships can drive revenue.
• Proposal Reviews – Work on joint proposals with our partners and our team for enterprise clients leveraging partner technology.
   

Internal Collaboration & Enablement 

• Sales Enablement – Train our internal teams on partner solutions and co-selling strategies.
• Product & Service Alignment – Collaborate with delivery teams to ensure partner technology and integrations align with our client’s needs.
• Legal & Contract Negotiations – CLOSING DEALS 🙂
   

When I travel…. Events, Thought Leadership & Growth Planning 

• Attend or Speak at Industry Events - Engage in panels, webinars, or networking events to strengthen our brand presence and share our achievements with project work we've delivered.
• Content & Thought Leadership - Contribute to content showcasing Appnovation's expertise in digital strategy & innovation.

What do you like to do in your spare time?
I live in beautiful Palm Springs, CA where it is warm (e.g. HOT) and sunny for most of the year! I enjoying challenging hikes, biking and adventures with our dog, Little Richard:

When I’m not outside, I’m amateur chefing and wine tasting and hosting dinner parties 🙂…and sometimes trying my luck at one of the many casinos in our area…
 

Do you have any favorite AI tools or tricks that you would recommend?
Absolutely! I’ve been fully leaning into AI lately, and it’s become part of my daily workflow. Our team uses many, many more tools - but the ones I use daily mainly assist and augment new business and partner opportunities.

• ChatGPT is my go-to for brainstorming, drafting emails, prepping decks and tightening up proposals. It’s basically my supercharged sidekick.
• Gemini (from Google) is super handy when I’m working across docs, slides, and Gmail—it just blends right into the workspace.
• Read AI is a game-changer for meetings. I love that it auto-summarizes and grades calls, and highlights action items so I can stay focused and still get a clean recap.

Want to learn about joining our team? Follow Appnovation on LinkedIn or visit our Careers page to apply to one of our open positions (yes, we’re hiring!).