Leader Generation

In this episode of Leader Generation, host Tessa Burg speaks with Aaron Grando, VP of Creative Innovation at Mod Op, about how the agency is using AI to enhance creative work and improve client experiences. 

Aaron shares the story behind Brand Agent, Mod Op’s AI-powered assistant designed to align capabilities similar to ChatGPT with each client’s unique voice, values and goals. Aaron and Tessa discuss how Brand Agent not only enha...

To celebrate Women in Tech Day, Tessa Burg is joined by Elli Dimitroulakos, Head of Ad Product and Innovation at Media.net. As a trailblazer in the ad tech industry, Elli shares her journey through transformative roles in media, TV, DSPs, broadcasting, publishing and podcasting. 

She discusses how embracing change and fostering cultures of innovation have fueled her success, even when faced with resistance. Elli’s insights into bal...

Change is hard—especially in big organizations with deeply ingrained processes. But what if you could lead transformation in a way that not only gets buy-in but also generates real business growth? 

In this episode of Leader Generation, Alan Wizemann, Chief Digital Officer at Southern Glazer’s, shares how he has built a career helping companies like Target, Lululemon and Dollar Shave Club evolve in the face of digital disruption.

A...

Curious about AI-powered video and audio editing but don’t know where to start? 

In this episode of Leader Generation, Cheryl Boehm and Patty Parobek share their experiences with Descript, an AI-driven tool that simplifies the editing process—even if you have zero experience. They share real-world insights from their hands-on testing, covering both the advantages and limitations of the platform.

Whether you're a marketer, content c...

Experiential events are booming, and Liz Holden joins Tessa Burg to explain why. 

In this episode, Liz shares how AI and emerging technologies are revolutionizing how brands engage with audiences in physical spaces. From personalized event experiences to interactive tech like AR, VR and voice-enabled AI, the future of events is more dynamic than ever.

You’ll also hear about the lasting impact of the pandemic on events, the rising d...

Is your performance marketing strategy keeping up with the rapid changes in data, AI and media attribution? 

In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with Jeremy Haft, Chief Revenue Officer at Digital Remedy, about how brands can navigate these shifts to drive real business results.

Jeremy shares insights on how marketers can connect the dots between upper-funnel awareness channels and performance-driven outcomes, pro...

Retail marketing is changing fast, and AI is at the center of it all. John Gomez, CEO of RPM Labs, breaks down how AI-driven retail media is transforming the in-store shopping experience. 

John shares insights from his journey in the retail industry to pioneering AI-powered intent engines that make in-store media more relevant and effective. He reveals why traditional retail media has struggled, how AI is solving the biggest challe...

In this AI Playground episode of Leader Generation, the Mod Op team explores DeepSeek, a new open-source AI model making waves in the industry. 

Tessa Burg, Aaron Grando, Patty Parobek, and Sasha Dookhoo break down what makes DeepSeek different, how it stacks up against other AI models like ChatGPT, and why businesses must be cautious before jumping in.

You’ll hear firsthand insights on DeepSeek’s potential advantages—including imp...

Tessa Burg welcomes Tal Jacobson, CEO of Perion, for a conversation about the fast-moving world of digital media. 

Tal shares insights from his nearly 30-year career in digital marketing. With a deep understanding of both technology and media, Tal explains why marketers need to shift their focus from channels and formats to audience behavior—and how AI can help cut waste and drive real results.

Tal explains how to navigate a comple...

Navigating change in today’s fast-moving marketing landscape isn’t easy—especially with the constant pressure to adopt new technologies, evolve strategies and meet ambitious goals. 

In this episode of Leader Generation, host Tessa Burg talks with Anna Jankowska, Author and EVP of Adlook and RTB House, to discuss how leaders can bring their teams along through transformation while maintaining clarity, confidence and connection.

Anna...

In this episode of Leader Generation, host Patty Parobek is joined by Technical Project Managers, Ian Pescod and Jose Franceschi, who share their hands-on experience testing Microsoft Copilot in Mod Op’s AI Playground. 

Ian and Jose discuss how Microsoft Copilot has helped streamline their workflows, from automatic note-taking in meetings to document formatting and email assistance. They agree that this tool is for anyone who has e...

Before introducing Aaron Grando to review the AI-powered coding assistant Cursor, Tessa Burg explores the key trends shaping the future of AI in 2025.

From the explosion of new technologies to the rise of real-time personalization, Tessa lays out a roadmap for how businesses can strategically adopt AI. She also highlights the shift towards smaller, more senior teams and how collaboration will become critical for maximizing AI's pot...

In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg welcomes Kevin Purvis, managing partner at Cothrom Risk and Insurance Services, to discuss the growing risks marketers face in today’s fast-evolving digital landscape. 

From data privacy laws like CCPA and GDPR to the increasing use of AI tools in marketing, Kevin sheds light on the vulnerabilities these innovations bring and how marketers can address them proactively.

Listeners will...

Mod Op’s AI Playground makes exploring emerging AI technologies safe and effective. It gives people quick access to cutting-edge technology while making sure everything stays secure, compliant, and ethical. By testing real-world use cases and tracking results, the AI Playground turns ideas into solutions that bring real value to clients.

In this episode, Alyssa Curci and Jonathan Murray focus on practical ways businesses can use AI...

Paul Kelly, CEO of A Million Ads (AMA), joins us to explore the rapidly evolving world of personalized audio advertising. 

Paul shares how AI is revolutionizing audio marketing, turning what was once a branding channel into a performance-driven powerhouse. He also talks about AMA’s Studio.AI tool that allows marketers to deliver hyper-personalized, dynamic audio ads at scale.

Hear why podcasting, streaming audio and even audiobooks...

In this episode, Cheryl Boehm and Tessa Burg discuss the potential of AI agents in marketing. 

Tessa Burg explains the concept of AI agents and how they differ from GPTs. They talk about how these tools go beyond traditional apps, automating complex tasks, providing predictive insights and enabling marketers to focus on strategic problem-solving. 

Tessa shares real-world examples from Mod Op's AI journey, starting in 2016, and how ...

Building on part one of the Responsible Use series, Tessa Burg and Patty Parobek explore how organizations can assess AI tools, minimize risks and scale AI-driven innovations effectively. 

They share a framework—covering everything from understanding data privacy and compliance to evaluating ROI—designed to empower businesses to adopt AI responsibly while driving measurable value. Listeners will also hear about the "AI Playground,"...

In part one of a two-part series, Tessa Burg focuses on a critical topic for businesses today: the responsible use of AI. With ChatGPT and other AI tools rapidly reshaping marketing and business, this episode offers a thoughtful exploration of why every organization needs a Responsible Use Policy. 

Tessa outlines practical steps for creating frameworks that safeguard data, inspire confidence in AI experimentation and scale innovati...

In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg and Cheryl Boehm take listeners on a journey through the podcast’s past, present and future. 

Reflecting on its beginnings in 2019, they share how the series evolved from a biweekly exploration of rapid testing to its current role as a hub for insights, innovation and client-driven learning. Cheryl recounts how the podcast has grown beyond its initial vision, now touching on cutting-...