Lead(er) Generation on Tenlo Radio: Recent Episodes
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The Lead(er) Generation podcast features conversations, interviews and Q&A with influential marketers in the B2B and B2C industries who share how to win at digital and pipeline marketing.
AI can analyze enormous amounts of information, but more data does not always lead to better decisions.
In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with Dean Smith, CTO at Credit Benchmark, about why accurate, trusted data matters more than ever and how poor-quality information can quickly lead AI further from the truth.
Dean shares a practical way for businesses to make progress without trying to overhaul everything at once: start with one problem, bring together the data needed to solve it and build from there.
Listen to learn how your organization can improve data quality, show value sooner and create a more adaptable data-first culture. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Dean Smith:Dean Smith is Chief Technology & Product Officer at Credit Benchmark, where he leads the company's technology strategy, engineering, data infrastructure and platform development. He is responsible for scaling Credit Benchmark's technology platform and advancing its data capabilities to meet the evolving needs of global financial institutions, with a focus on strengthening the integration between product innovation, data infrastructure and client delivery. Dean can be reached on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Every marketer and business leader is talking about AI right now, but many companies are stuck. They’ve run the pilots, tried the tools and still can’t turn any of it into real results.
In this episode, Tessa Burg talks with Dhiraj Rajaram, Founder and CEO of Mu Sigma, about why that gap between AI hype and AI impact exists. And what it actually takes to close it. Dhiraj breaks down some big ideas in an easy-to-follow—and very entertaining—way, like why every new technology creates a bubble and why AI is no different. He explains why most companies are trying to bolt AI onto old ways of working rather than rethink how decisions are made.
If you’ve ever wondered why your company’s AI investment has not paid off the way you had hoped, this conversation will give you a new way to think about the problem. You’ll walk away with practical language and a framework you can bring back to your own team along with a clearer picture of what needs to change before any new technology can really move the needle.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Dhiraj Rajaram:As Founder, Chairman and CEO of Mu Sigma, Dhiraj Rajaram built one of India’s first profitable unicorns. He pioneered decision sciences, digitizing management consulting by mapping decision and perception traces—visionary concepts now critical in an agentic, AI-driven corporate world. Today, Mu Sigma helps over 140 Fortune 500 organizations, including Microsoft, Walmart, Pfizer and Dell, convert technology investments into scalable decision systems. An elite business leader and University of Chicago Booth School of Business Distinguished Alumnus, Dhiraj’s background spans consulting at PwC and Booz Allen Hamilton. He has been recognized by Fortune’s 40 Under 40 and Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. He can be reached on www.mu-sigma.com.
About Tessa Burg:Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
AI is moving fast, but most teams are still figuring out how to use it responsibly. In this episode, Tessa Burg talks with advertising attorney Candice Kersh about the legal and practical questions marketing leaders are facing right now. They cover what companies should worry about, where risk tends to show up and why policies, training and better decisions matter more than ever.
This is the conversation that will help you cut through the AI noise. You’ll get a clearer understanding of AI contracts, copyright, ownership, data protection, synthetic performers and what brands need to think about before launching AI-powered work. It’s a helpful listen for anyone trying to move faster with AI without creating bigger problems later.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Candice Kersh:Candice is a leading advertising and marketing attorney and a longtime member of Frankfurt Kurnit’s advertising, marketing, and public relations practice. Widely recognized for her expertise and practical approach, she is consistently ranked by Best Lawyers in America, Chambers USA, The Legal 500, and Super Lawyers, and was named a 2025 Financier Worldwide Distinguished Advisor in Advertising and Marketing. The first woman named “Advertising Lawyer of the Year” by Best Lawyers in America and the only lawyer recognized by Folio as a Top Woman in Media, Candice is a go-to advisor for brands navigating complex advertising, marketing, and emerging technology issues. Her client testimonials speak volumes about the trust her clients place in her and the high standard of counsel she provides. Candice’s experience, insight, and creative problem-solving make her a trusted advisor on the full range of advertising and marketing law issues, including IP, right of publicity, advertising clearance, false advertising and substantiation, AI-related matters, talent and sponsorship agreements, union issues, agency and media agreements, and branded entertainment deals—helping leading brands clear legal hurdles and bring innovative campaigns to market. Candice can be reached on LinkedIn or on her firm’s website, fkks.com.
About Tessa Burg:Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Today on Leader Generation, Tessa Burg welcomes back Linda Owens, Global Vice President of Digital Customer Experience at Sherwin-Williams. Six years after becoming the podcast's very first guest, Linda returns to discuss how B2B leaders can navigate rapid changes in technology, AI and buyer behavior while staying focused on what matters most: the customer.
Linda shares practical advice for separating meaningful trends from hype, creating trust earlier in the buying journey and designing customer experiences that reduce friction across every touchpoint. She also explains why customer obsession should drive every decision, how to use experimentation without losing sight of scale and what leaders need to do to successfully manage change across their organizations.
Whether you're leading digital transformation, evaluating AI initiatives or looking for ways to create more value for customers, this conversation offers actionable insights you can apply immediately. Tune in to learn how today's most effective B2B leaders are building customer experiences that drive both business growth and long-term loyalty.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Linda Owens:Linda Owens is the Global Vice President of Digital Customer Experience at Sherwin-Williams, where she leads initiatives that advance digital customer experiences, scale eBusiness capabilities and drive enterprise transformation. With more than 20 years of experience spanning marketing, sales, ecommerce and digital customer experience, she has helped organizations modernize customer engagement and accelerate growth across B2B and B2C markets.
Throughout her career, Linda has led cross-functional teams and developed digital strategies that improve customer experiences across channels and global regions. Her expertise includes ecommerce strategy, digital marketing, customer journey optimization, CRM lifecycle programs, Martech and digital innovation. She is passionate about simplifying complexity, empowering high-performing teams and creating customer-centric solutions that deliver measurable business impact. Linda can be reached on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Coming up with AI ideas isn’t the struggle for most teams. The real challenge is to make those ideas stick. In this episode, Shashank Kadetotad, Global Senior Director of Enterprise Data Science and AI at Mars, breaks down what helps companies move from interesting pilots to real business impact. He explains why adoption matters just as much as the technology itself, how culture and leadership shape success and why the best AI solution is not always the most complex one.
You’ll get practical advice on involving the right users early, setting clear success and failure criteria for pilots and deciding when to build versus buy. Shashank shares lessons from leading AI work inside major organizations and offers a grounded view of what it takes to scale responsibly. If your team is trying to get more value from AI, this conversation will give you a clearer and more useful way to think about the work.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Shashank Kadetotad:Shashank Kadetotad is the Global Senior Director of Enterprise Data Science and AI at Mars, where he leads the deployment of AI and advanced analytics across global consumer goods operations. With a background that spans Amazon operations, retail and CPG forecasting, and AI leadership across multiple Fortune 500 companies, he has built and scaled enterprise AI platforms that power decisions in supply chain, marketing, and finance. Shashank is recognized for his work on generative AI and multi-agent architectures, with multiple provisional patents focused on applying AI to product innovation, analytics, and consumer engagement. A frequent industry speaker, he is known for making complex AI topics accessible to business leaders while keeping the focus on responsible, high-impact AI in retail and CPG. He can be reached on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Why do so many promising pilots fail to scale? In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with digital transformation leader Kenneth Phua to explore what separates successful pilots from initiatives that never move beyond the testing phase.
Drawing on his experience leading digital strategy and transformation programs for global brands, Kenneth shares the common mistakes organizations make when measuring pilot success, why repeatability matters more than one-time wins and how businesses can build the capabilities needed to scale digital and AI initiatives across teams, markets and functions.
The conversation also explores the role of leadership in successful transformation. Kenneth explains why empathy, curiosity, trust and a willingness to challenge assumptions are essential for leaders navigating rapid technological change.
Whether you're launching a new digital platform, testing an AI-powered solution or leading enterprise transformation, this episode offers practical insights for turning experimentation into sustainable growth.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Kenneth Phua:Kenneth Phua is a global digital transformation, ecommerce, and AI leader with more than 15 years of experience helping organizations turn digital investments into measurable business growth. Most recently, he served as Global Head of Digital Strategy & Innovation at The Coca-Cola Company, where he led enterprise-scale transformation initiatives across 115 markets and delivered approximately USD $900 million in system value. His work has spanned digital strategy, ecommerce, consumer platforms, first-party data, AI and operating model design.
About Tessa Burg:Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In this episode, Tessa Burg talks with Stephen Trammell, Vice President of New Business Models at Nestlé Purina North America, about what it really takes to build stronger customer relationships in a digital world.
Instead of focusing on the point of sale, Stephen explains how brands can create value across the full pet ownership journey by understanding real needs, solving real pain points and showing up in ways that feel natural and helpful.
The conversation dives into how teams can decide when to build, buy or partner, what makes a pilot worth scaling and why loyalty is a better goal than short-term conversions. This is the conversation for marketers and business leaders who want to think bigger about growth, innovation and the customer experience.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Stephen Trammell:Stephen Trammell is an experienced marketing leader who bridges traditional marketing with digital innovation. His career in consumer products spans over two decades. He currently serves as Vice President of New Business Models at Nestlé Purina North America, leading Purina’s portfolio of digital-first brands. He has worked in marketing research, led billion-dollar brands like Fancy Feast and is currently pioneering digital platforms and apps including myPurina, Petfinder and Petivity’s portfolio of IoT-connected pet care devices and health kits. Stephen can be reached on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with Tariq Hassan about what it really takes to modernize a business for the AI era. Drawing from leadership roles at agencies, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Petco and McDonald’s, Tariq shares lessons from leading transformation at some of the world’s biggest brands.
They explore why success with AI is not chasing the newest tools. Instead, it starts with understanding the problem you’re trying to solve, organizing your business around customer needs and using data in ways that build trust—not just transactions.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Guest:Tariq is a transformational, global business leader whose career sits at the intersection of culture, sports, commerce, and technology. With more than 25 years of experience spanning Fortune 50 companies to fast growth startups across a wide range of categories. He’s recognized for modernizing organizations through digital transformation and harnessing culture to drive relevance required to grow in a digital economy.
Tariq has served as U.S. Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Office at McDonald’s and Petco and has held global leadership roles at Bank of America and HP. Today, Tariq is Founder and CEO of Light21, an advisory firm helping startups and Fortune-scale companies modernize marketing through AI and data platforms to create digitally enabled customer ecosystems. He also serves as a Google CMO-in-Residence while advising emerging technology and sports ventures. He can be reached on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In this episode, Tessa Burg talks with Fabio Ranieri, Head of AI Content Transformation at HP, about what it really takes to create content at scale without losing relevance. Fabio explains why better content doesn’t come from simply making more of it. But rather it comes from better inputs, better audience understanding, and better systems that help marketers create content that fits the product, the customer, and the moment.
Fabio makes a strong case for why AI should free marketers up to focus on bigger ideas, sharper insights, and stronger customer experiences. It’s a smart, grounded conversation for anyone trying to move past the hype and use AI in a more meaningful way.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Fabio Ranieri:Fabio is a growth and innovation leader with 18 years of global experience in product marketing, partner marketing, category management, and go-to-market strategy across B2B, B2C, e-commerce, SaaS, Telco, and consumer product sectors. Known for turning ambiguity into opportunity, he specializes in launching and scaling new experiences and products, driving digital transformation, and orchestrating high-impact GTM strategies across highly complex organizations. He’s led end-to-end initiatives that delivered real business outcomes—from redesigning HP’s global e-commerce channel experience, launching and leading new product lines and categories, to introducing Intuit QuickBooks’ new mid-market offering. Always action-oriented, analytical, and creative, Fabio bridges the gap between product, marketing, and sales to maximize impact. He can be reached on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
What if the biggest problem in digital advertising isn’t creativity or budget—but waste? In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with Zach Rosen of Multilocal to unpack the growing shift happening in programmatic media and why brands are rethinking how they buy and optimize advertising.
Zach explains how AI-powered curation and sell-side decisioning are helping marketers reduce waste, improve performance and reach audiences in more meaningful moments. The conversation goes into why “cheap CPMs” are no longer the goal, how brands can focus more on outcomes instead of impressions and why better targeting doesn’t have to come at the expense of inclusivity or sustainability.
If you’re trying to make sense of AI’s impact on media, personalization and advertising performance, this episode offers practical insights without the hype. You’ll walk away with a better understanding of how smarter media buying can improve ROI, uncover overlooked audiences and help brands adapt to the rapid pace of change happening across marketing today.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Guest:Zach Rosen is SVP, Business Development and Partnerships at Multilocal, where he leads global partnerships and drives the company’s expansion in the US market. Over the past 15 years, he has built his career across ad tech and media, with leadership roles in revenue, strategy, and commercial partnerships. His experience includes launching Index Exchange’s US headquarters and expanding its presence across North America, EMEA, and APAC offices; serving as SVP of Global Supply and Partnerships at Yieldmo; and leading addressability strategy as VP, Head of North American Publishers at LiveRamp.
About Tessa Burg:Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
AI is changing everything, but not in the way most leaders think. In this episode, Rishad Tobaccowala breaks down how we got here, from the early days of broadcast marketing to today’s fast-moving, AI-powered world. He explains why the current moment is different, what’s actually changing and what still matters more than ever.
If you’ve been hearing about AI strategy and wondering where to start, this conversation will shift your perspective. Rishad makes the case that focusing on AI alone is a trap and instead challenges leaders to rethink their entire organization, their role and how they create value. He also shares a powerful framework for moving from control to inspiration and why imagination is becoming one of the most important leadership skills.
You’ll walk away with practical ways to think about talent, structure your team and stay competitive in a world that’s evolving faster than ever. Whether you’re leading a team or just trying to keep up, this episode will give you a clearer way forward.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Rishad Tobaccowala:Rishad Tobaccowala was named by BusinessWeek as one of the top business leaders for his pioneering innovation, and TIME magazine dubbed him one of five “Marketing Innovators”. He is one of only 300 people elected to the Advertising Hall of Fame since 1948.
Rishad is the author of Restoring the Soul of Business: Staying Human in The Age of Data which helps people think, feel, and see differently about how to grow their companies, their teams, and themselves to remain relevant in transformational time, and Rethinking Work which helps people thrive amidst the seismic changes that will occur at work due a combination of changing demographics, new mindsets, the rise of distributed work, and the spread of AI.
Rishad Tobaccowala remains a Senior Advisor to the Publicis Groupe where he has spent his entire career, most recently serving as the Chief Growth Officer and Chief Strategist of the 100,000+ person firm. Prior to those roles Rishad was the Chairman of Digitas and Razorfish.
About Tessa Burg:Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Technology doesn’t have to be scary or steal jobs. In this episode of Leader Generation, Katya Lobynko shares a fresh perspective on digital transformation—one that puts people at the center. From her “people-priorities-process" approach to getting user feedback in hours instead of months, Katya breaks down practical frameworks for leading change that actually work.
If you’re tired of hearing about AI taking over and want to learn how technology can make work more meaningful, this episode is for you. Katya offers real strategies for building change from both the bottom up and top down, plus her lean startup approach to testing new technologies before making big investments. You’ll walk away with actionable tools for becoming the kind of change leader who creates transformation that people want to be a part of.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Katya Lobynko:Katya Lobynko is a digital transformation leader with 15+ years across FMCG and pharma in EMEA and Asia. Her expertise spans commercial operations, data & analytics, conversational AI, and innovation with emerging technologies. She has held roles from global strategy and operating model evolution to local program leadership at P&G, Sanofi, and Danone, where she currently serves as IT & Data Director. Katya brings structure to complexity and delivers business results through a pragmatic, people-centered approach with a strong focus on stakeholder alignment, business value, and sustainable change. She serves on the global P&G Alumni Network Board. Connect with Katya on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Tessa Burg talks for a second time with Mariano Bosaz, Global VP of Consumer Data and Strategy at Coca-Cola and the author of “Digital Mindset.” This time, they dive deeper into practical applications of digital thinking, moving beyond theory to give you actionable strategies you can implement right away.
Mariano shares real-world examples of how the shift from analog to digital thinking transforms problem-solving, particularly around the "last mile challenge" that affects so many industries. You'll discover what teams of the future look like and get concrete use cases from recent headlines that make these concepts accessible and immediately applicable.
Whether you're a business leader looking to stay ahead or someone curious about how AI-era marketing really works, this conversation offers valuable insights from someone operating at the highest levels of global business.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
Listen to the previous episode with Mariano here.
About Mariano Bosaz:Mariano Bosaz is the author of Digital Mindset and an experienced digital leader serving as the Global VP of Data and Digital Head of China at The Coca-Cola Company. With a career spanning over two decades, his background includes founding and selling a digital business during his student exchange the University of Richmond in 1999 and holding key leadership roles such as Group Digital Director for Eurasia and Africa—overseeing 92 countries—and Vice President of Digital in Asia. In addition to his corporate experience, Mariano has served as an assistant professor at London Business School since 2015. His current work focuses on the intersection of emerging technologies and strategy, underpinned by research into blockchain and cryptocurrencies since 2020 and his role on the advisory boards of several AI startups. Mariano can be reached on LinkedIn or at marianobosaz.com.
About Tessa Burg:Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
AI is moving fast, and for a lot of leaders that creates both pressure and possibility. In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with Rohit Prabhakar, Global Head of Digital Experiences and Capabilities at Visa, about what it really takes to lead transformation when the rules keep changing. They dig into why strong foundations still matter, why connected data is more important than ever and why leaders need to balance quick wins with bigger reimagining.
If you’re trying to make sense of AI beyond the hype, this conversation is worth your time. Rohit shares practical ways to think about adoption, experimentation and change management without getting stuck in overplanning or unrealistic ROI expectations. It’s a thoughtful listen for anyone leading teams, modernizing operations or figuring out how to move forward while bringing people along with them.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Rohit Prabhakar:Rohit Prabhakar is a Fortune 50 CMO and Chief Digital Officer who has generated $1.7B+ in business value by turning customer obsession into revenue growth. Currently leading global digital experiences at Visa, he has transformed marketing, data, AI, and CX across McKesson, Thomson Reuters, and FIS. Rohit's superpower: making customers love the most powerful growth engine. You can reach him at Rohitprabharkar.com or on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
During National Women’s History Month, Leader Generation welcomes Nicole Purcell for a conversation about creative leadership. While so many conversations right now are focused on AI, this episode shifts the spotlight to something just as powerful: hospitality, intuition and the kind of human-centered thinking that makes teams thrive and people feel seen.
Nicole shares how her career journey shaped her leadership style and how she built The Clios into a bigger, more connected brand by listening closely, trusting her vision and creating space for others to grow. She talks openly about resilience, communication and what it really means to lead with both strength and heart. You’ll also hear how creativity shows up far beyond design—in problem-solving, team building and making great decisions under pressure.
If you’re leading a team, growing in your career or just looking for a fresh perspective on what strong leadership can look like, this episode is worth your time. It’s an inspiring listen for anyone who wants to build with more intention, lead with more empathy and stay connected to the human side of work.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Nicole Purcell:
Nicole Purcell is CEO of the Clios, a global awards platform celebrating creative excellence in advertising. With a bold, culture-forward approach to business, creativity, and leadership, she has reinvented the Clios, transforming it from a traditional awards show into a dynamic, year-round ecosystem that inspires, celebrates, and connects creators and brands across industries and continents.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Ever feel overwhelmed by all the data and metrics coming your way? You're not alone. In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with Scott Sutton about one of marketing's biggest challenges: figuring out what's actually worth measuring.
Scott shares real-world insights from his experience managing media for major restaurant brands like Hardee's and Carl's Jr. You'll discover why measuring everything can actually hurt your marketing efforts, how to identify the metrics that truly matter to your business and practical strategies for getting leadership buy-in on your measurement approach.
This conversation is packed with actionable advice for anyone trying to cut through the noise and focus on outcomes that drive real business growth.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Scott Sutton:
Scott Sutton helps brands cut through complexity and focus on what truly moves the needle. With a deep belief in practical measurement and cross-channel accountability, he ensures media decisions are grounded in business impact—not just impressions or trends. Scott’s career spans iconic brands including Bridgestone, Nissan, Mars Petcare and AT&T. He is known for building integrated measurement frameworks that align media investments with real business outcomes—whether that’s driving app downloads, loyalty sign-ups or in-store traffic. His recent work includes orchestrating the Alix Earle “Hangover Burger” campaign, which generated over 4 billion paid and earned media impressions—without a Super Bowl buy. At Mars Petcare, he helped establish Pedigree as a founding partner of Animal Planet’s Puppy Bowl, creating breakthrough engagement through content-led partnerships. Scott brings practical, tested insights on driving results in today’s fragmented media environment—where focus, flexibility, and accountability matter more than ever. Scott can be reached at s.sutton@ckr.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
AI isn’t just changing marketing tools—it’s changing how leaders think about strategy, value and growth. In this episode, Tessa Burg talks with Mariano Bosaz, author of Digital Mindset: Marketing Strategies for the AI Era, about what it really takes to lead through transformation without losing what already works.
You’ll hear a practical way to think about “digital mindset” as a bridge, not a replacement, for how businesses operate today. Mariano explains why companies need both analog and digital approaches, how AI is accelerating productivity (and making prioritization harder) and what leaders can do to support teams through the shift. He also breaks down the difference between engagement and involvement—and why involvement is where brands build real equity.
If you’re trying to make sense of AI’s impact on work, marketing, and competitive advantage, this conversation provides a clearer framework. It’s full of real examples and down-to-earth guidance on how to move faster, make smarter choices and create value that’s difficult for competitors to copy.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Mariano Bosaz:
Mariano Bosaz is the author of Digital Mindset and an experienced digital leader serving as the Global VP of Data and Digital Head of China at The Coca-Cola Company. With a career spanning over two decades, his background includes founding and selling a digital business during his student exchange the University of Richmond in 1999 and holding key leadership roles such as Group Digital Director for Eurasia and Africa—overseeing 92 countries—and Vice President of Digital in Asia. In addition to his corporate experience, Mariano has served as an assistant professor at London Business School since 2015. His current work focuses on the intersection of emerging technologies and strategy, underpinned by research into blockchain and cryptocurrencies since 2020 and his role on the advisory boards of several AI startups. Mariano can be reached on LinkedIn or at marianobosaz.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Marketing used to feel more predictable. You picked your channels, launched a campaign and tracked performance in a fairly linear way. Today? Consumers are bouncing between social, search, streaming, AI tools, connected devices and more—all before making a decision. In this episode, Matt Fanelli joins Tessa Burg to unpack what’s actually broken in marketing measurement and how leaders can rethink performance in a fragmented world.
Matt breaks down why platform-led measurement often misses the mark, how attribution gets messy when multiple touchpoints influence a purchase and why defining “what success really looks like” is the first step most marketers skip. The conversation explores real-world examples—from healthcare to retail—and explains how better attribution, smarter use of AI and stronger human oversight can help teams build trust in their numbers again.
If you’re responsible for performance, budget allocation or defending marketing results to leadership, this episode will give you a clearer framework for measuring what matters. It’s a practical conversation about cutting through the noise, focusing on quality over volume and building measurement strategies that actually reflect how people buy today.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Matt Fanelli:
Matthew Fanelli is Chief Revenue Officer at Digital Remedy, where he leads commercial strategy, revenue operations, and go-to-market execution as the company scales its performance-driven media platform. With more than 20 years of experience in digital advertising, Matt brings deep expertise across programmatic media, data strategy, and performance marketing. Prior to Digital Remedy, he served as SVP of Sales at Media Now Interactive, leading data-driven revenue initiatives. Matt focuses on helping brands and agencies drive measurable outcomes through unified, cross-channel performance intelligence.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
AI is evolving fast—and so are the risks that come with it. In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with Mod Op’s EVP of PR, Chris Harihar, to unpack a growing issue most brands aren’t fully prepared for: AI-driven brand misrepresentation. From deepfakes to manipulated logos and inappropriate brand placements, the conversation explores how generative AI tools are creating new reputational threats in ways that feel chaotic, fast-moving and hard to control.
Chris introduces Mod Op’s new AI Risk Intelligence capability, designed to help brands proactively identify and address harmful AI-generated content before it spirals. They dig into real examples—including manipulated executive deepfakes and brand misuse across platforms like Sora and Grok—and explain why this isn’t just a cybersecurity issue, but a reputational one that belongs squarely in the PR and communications world.
If you're a CMO, brand leader, or marketer wondering how exposed your company might be—or how to get ahead of risks that didn’t exist a year ago—this episode offers clarity, practical thinking, and a smart path forward. It’s a timely conversation about protecting your brand while still embracing the power of AI.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Chris Harihar:
Chris Harihar is the EVP of Public Relations at Mod Op. With deep expertise in business and tech media relations, Chris counsels clients at a high level while maintaining hands-on involvement in media relations and content strategy. He has developed and run highly successful programs for leading B2B and tech brands, from Verizon Media/Yahoo and DoubleVerify to Signal AI, IDG (now Foundry) and WeTransfer. Chris can be reached on LinkedIn or at Chris.Harihar@ModOp.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
While most enterprises are still celebrating their AI pilots, a quiet revolution is happening: Organizations that stopped collecting tools and started building capabilities.
In this episode, Tessa Burg and Michael Ditter, Director of AI Strategy and Emerging Technology at Diageo, dismantle the playbook many thought they needed.
Discover why empathy matters more than efficiency in capability building, how your organization’s hardest problem is the most fertile training ground and why it’s ok to completely fail.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Michael Ditter:
Michael Ditter is an AI strategist and innovation leader who operates at the frontier of how organizations think, build and compete. With more than 15 years at the intersection of consumer goods, commercial strategy and emerging technologies, he specializes in translating complex shifts in AI, culture and behavior into scalable systems that deliver measurable business impact.
Michael’s work blends strategy, organizational design and hands-on prototyping. He architected AI and machine-learning initiatives across sales operations, brand engagement, predictive analytics and product innovation, consistently reducing time-to-value and enabling teams to move from idea to working solution at unprecedented speed. He is known for building bridges between C-suite leaders, marketing and commercial teams and technical builders—creating alignment around bold ideas and the operating models required to bring them to life.
In 2025, Michael won 1st place at the SCSP AI+ Expo Hackathon, one of the most competitive AI and national-security innovation challenges in the country. There, he built SentinelAI, a multi-agent crisis-response system that demonstrated how frontier models can augment human judgment in high-stakes environments. The experience reinforced his philosophy that the barrier between imagination and implementation is collapsing—and that responsible, human-centered deployment will define the next era of advantage.
Michael has also been an early mover in spatial computing, AR/VR, computer vision and conversational AI, creating new modalities for brand storytelling and consumer interaction. He focuses on helping organizations build AI-enabled cultures where creativity, speed and thoughtful governance coexist. You can find Michael on X, LinkedIn or at Michael.Ditter@diageo.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
What does it really mean to be consumer-obsessed, and how is AI changing the face of the beauty industry?
In this episode, Tessa Burg and Irina Kulikova—VP, Strategic Development & Integration at The Estée Lauder Companies Inc.—explore the intersection of consumer insights, brand experience and emerging technology. The two discuss how store beauty advisors must now compete with AI, the magic of “small data” and Gen Z’s AI shopping revolution.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Irina Kulikova:
Irina Kulikova is the Vice President of Strategic Development and Integration and Chief of Staff to the President of the EUKEM region (Europe, UK & Ireland, and Emerging Markets) at The Estée Lauder Companies. As a member of the regional management team, she shapes the strategic direction of more than 85 markets and over 20 iconic brands.
In her role, Irina leads regional strategy development and execution, market intelligence, consumer insights, strategic pricing, and large-scale transformation initiatives. She also drives key corporate development priorities, including operating model evolution, new market and channel entry, brand integration, and expansion into emerging geographies.
Before joining The Estée Lauder Companies, Irina spent more than a decade at Bain & Company across the UK, Middle East, and Russia, advising leading global players in luxury, beauty, jewelry, fashion, and retail. Her experience at the intersection of strategy, brand building, and transformation has given her a deep understanding of how to unlock growth and resilience in the luxury and beauty industries both in developed and emerging markets.
Irina holds an MBA from INSEAD. She can be reached on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
The marketing landscape is changing faster than ever—and the marketers who treat their work like product and embrace AI will win.
This week, Leader Generation host Tessa Burg talks with Alan Kipust, Mod Op’s Executive in Residence and a leader in product management, to discuss how AI is fundamentally reshaping what marketing teams can accomplish and how they should think about their work.
You’ll learn which AI applications actually move the needle, the power of a good hackathon and the skills every marketer needs to master. Wherever you are in your career, this episode will change how you approach your work tomorrow.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Alan Kipust:
Alan Kipust is a senior product management executive with a distinguished track record building and scaling digital, logistics, and customer-centric businesses for some of the world’s most recognizable brands. Over a fifteen-year career at Amazon, Uber, Chewy and Ford Motor Company, he has led transformative initiatives across e-commerce, mobility, customer operations, and subscription ecosystems. Most recently, as Senior Director of Product Management for Ford’s Digital Experience organization, Kipust oversaw the company’s subscription commerce and advanced Ford’s global data privacy and commitments. Prior to Ford, he served as Senior Director of Customer Experience at Chewy, driving enterprise-wide customer experience strategy, deploying proprietary CRM systems, and helping maintain the brand’s industry-leading satisfaction rating.
With deep expertise in scaled operations, platform design, and technology-driven transformation, Kipust has shaped the digital and operational backbone behind major global businesses. At Uber, he served as Global Head of Vehicle Product Management, directing the product and fleet strategy for a 60,000-vehicle program that supplied a significant share of global driver availability. Earlier in his career, he spent seven years at Amazon, where he launched Amazon Flex and built Amazon Logistics’ first integrated customer-and-driver support operation. A holder of multiple U.S. patents and an advisor to several high-growth companies, Kipust is known for his product vision, operational rigor, and ability to build high-performing teams in complex, rapidly evolving environments. He can be reached on LinkedIn or at Alan.Kipust@modop.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Five years ago, we started Leader Generation with a simple premise: clients learning from clients. This year proved why that matters.
In 2025, CEOs and their leadership teams stopped debating whether to adopt AI and began wrestling with harder questions: How do we bring our people along? How do we measure what matters instead of what's easy to measure? How do we maintain the relationships that built our business while transforming how we operate?
Excerpts from these ten conversations capture what worked. Not theory—actual results from CDOs, COOs, and VPs leading change at companies like Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, DoubleVerify, and Digital Remedy. The full episodes are linked in this post.
Stuart Goldstein explains why technology is the easy part, and people are where transformations actually stall. Alan Wizemann describes how his team measures success by the time freed up for employees to do valuable work, not headcount reduction. Anna Jankowska walks through preparing teams for scenarios they don't expect, because that's where you see who's ready to lead.
These aren't polished case studies. They're candid conversations about the messy reality of leading change when your board wants results, your team is exhausted, and the playbook keeps changing.
If you're heading into 2026 with aggressive goals and limited patience for more consultants telling you what you already know, these episodes cut through the noise. They're built for leaders who need to make decisions Monday morning, not attend another conference about the future of work.
Links to the full episodes from this top 10 list:
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10: https://tenloradio.com/e/ep129-building-your-army-of-ai-agents-what-marketers-need-to-know/ - Fabio Fiss, Aaron Grando, and Javier Lopez
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9: https://tenloradio.com/e/ep109-ai-data-marketing-how-to-manage-risks/ - Kevin Purvis
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8: https://tenloradio.com/e/ep116-future-of-performance-marketing-data-ai-personalization/ - Jeremy Haft
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7: https://tenloradio.com/e/ep126-how-scibids-ai-is-redefining-media-buying-at-doubleverify/ - Wadrille Leroy
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6: https://tenloradio.com/e/ep112-leading-through-change-the-human-side-of-marketing-leadership/ - Anna Jankowska
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5: https://tenloradio.com/e/ep108-ai-playground-microsoft-copilot-google-notebooklm/ - Alyssa Curci and Jonathan Murray
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4: https://tenloradio.com/e/ep140-leading-change-that-sticks-people-processes-platforms-with-stuart-goldstein/ - Stuart Goldstein
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3: https://tenloradio.com/e/ep143-time-to-value-innovation-that-puts-customers-first-with-alan-wizemann/ * Alan Wizemann
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2: https://tenloradio.com/e/ep119-leading-change-transforming-companies-with-alan-wizemann/ - Alan Wizemann
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1: https://tenloradio.com/e/ep121-say-hello-to-brand-agent-ai-that-speaks-your-brand-s-language/ - Aaron Grando
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
The search landscape has fundamentally shifted. 60% of Google searches now result in zero clicks. People are getting answers from AI without ever visiting websites.
If you've noticed declining organic traffic or wondered why your content isn't getting clicks despite good rankings, this episode reveals what's happening and what to do about it.
This compilation brings together five search and PR experts on how AI is changing buyer behavior and what actually works now. Jon Gillham from Originality.ai explains why citations, statistics, and quotes are essential for LLM visibility. Patty Parobek reframes the conversation with a surprising stat: Google grew by four ChatGPTs in 2024. Maurice White details the technical foundation that makes GEO work, while Chris Harihar explains why PR is now both top and bottom of the funnel. Gareth Cunningham ties it together with the reality that GEO only works when solid SEO fundamentals are in place.
The shift isn't about producing more content. It's about strategic placement, quality sourcing, and building topical authority that AI engines trust. From structured data to brand mentions, from Google Business profiles to cited content, this episode provides a roadmap for 2026 and beyond.
Featured Experts:
Jon Gillham - Founder of Originality.ai shares proven strategies for LLM visibility and avoiding AI content detection. Listen to the full episode
Patty Parobek - VP of AI and ML at Mod Op Transformation Breaks down the zero-click phenomenon and what it means for traffic strategies. Listen to the full episode
Maurice White, Senior SEO Strategist at Mod Op, details the technical foundation required before GEO optimization works. Listen to the full episode
Chris Harihar - EVP of PR at Mod Op explores how PR and SEO converge in the AI search era. Listen to the full episode
Gareth Cunningham - Director of Search Experience at Mod Op explains why GEO only works on top of solid SEO fundamentals. Listen to the full episode
This isn't about abandoning SEO. It's about evolving your strategy for how people actually research and buy today.
Is it possible to build community within AI? Can we challenge search engines to put humanity and the truth at the forefront of their outputs? According to Troy Snyder, astrology student turned entrepreneur, the answer is ... maybe.
In this episode, Tessa Burg and Troy examine the balance between technology and humanity. They discuss the challenges of having AI determine what is “true,” how brands can stay authentic and build trust in an increasingly automated world, and even how to view AI through an astrology lens.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Troy Snyder:
For more than three decades, Troy has operated at the frontier of digital innovation—helping to guide the evolution of streaming from early SD pipelines to HD, 4K, the first waves of VR, and early AI efforts—while studying the timeless frameworks that have shaped human understanding for thousands of years. Troy has led the creation of authentication systems, video CMS architectures, large-scale distribution networks and multiband rural wireless. He has also contributed to emerging AI-driven digital identity tools with Mebot.ai where “Human AI” and how we create true lifelike representations of self in the AI age is explored.
Beyond his work in digital innovation, Troy is committed to long-term social impact. He serves as founder and chairman for Wonderful Foundations, a charity that owns and supports 27 schools serving more than 15,000 kids. This effort reflects Troy’s belief that technology and infrastructure should exist in service of human potential. In addition to being a technologist, Troy is also a practicing Vedic astrologer whose work spans invention, executive leadership, creative production, fundraising and systems engineering, always with an eye toward the deeper patterns that connect technology, people and purpose.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
When an advertising behemoth announces major restructuring plans and impending layoffs, you tend to sit up and listen.
In our latest episode of Lead(er) Generation, Host Tessa Burg talks with Patty Parobek, Mod Op’s Senior Vice President of AI Transformation, to discuss the latest Omnicom news and what this means for marketers and marketing technologists.
No strangers to change, Tessa and Patty discuss the truths we must all face during difficult times, the opportunities that any change can bring and the skills that will win out in the end.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Patty Parobek:
As Senior Vice President of AI Transformation, Patty leads Mod Op’s AI practice group, spearheading initiatives to maximize the value and scalability of AI-enabled solutions. Patty collaborates with the executive team to revolutionize creative, advertising and marketing projects for clients, while ensuring responsible AI practices. She also oversees AI training programs, identifies high-value AI use cases and measures implementation impact, providing essential feedback to Mod Op’s AI Council for continuous improvement. Patty can be reached on LinkedIn or at Patty.Parobek@ModOp.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Every marketer has asked themselves the same question: Is AI coming for my job?
In this episode of Leader Generation, Host Tessa Burg and David Berkowitz, Founder of High Caliber AI and the AI Marketers Guild, explore how marketers can start viewing AI as a collaborative tool instead of a threat to their careers.
David talks about his latest work, The Non-Obvious Guide to Using AI for Marketing, and some of the unconventional ways companies are using AI to their advantage. He and Tessa delve into how AI can unlock opportunities that are unique to a company and brand, the role of AI results in reputation management and the value of experiential knowledge.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About David Berkowitz:
David Berkowitz is the Founder of High Caliber AI and AI Marketers Guild, and the author of The Non-Obvious Guide to Using AI for Marketing (Ideapress, 2025). A longtime marketing strategist, David has led marketing and innovation for companies including Mediaocean, Storyhunter, Sysomos, MRY (Publicis), and 360i (Dentsu). He has contributed 600+ columns to outlets like Advertising Age, MediaPost, and VentureBeat, and spoken at 400+ events worldwide. He helps marketers harness AI to work smarter, stay creative, and strengthen customer connections. You can reach him on LinkedIn or at aimarketersguild.com and highcaliberai.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
If you’ve been watching AI tools race into marketing and tech, but aren’t sure what’s hype and what’s actually useful, this episode is for you.
Mod Op’s Head of Technology in Calgary, Derek McBurney, unpacks how generative AI, code assistants and “vibe coding” are really changing the way digital experiences get built. He explains in plain language what AI code assistants actually do, when they genuinely speed teams up and when they quietly introduce bugs, tech debt or just plain slop.
You’ll hear concrete examples of using AI to handle tedious work—like transforming messy spreadsheets—so developers can spend more time on the creative, pixel-perfect experiences that matter most to customers. Derek also digs into how no-code and vibe-code tools are empowering marketers, designers and non-dev teammates to prototype real concepts quickly, without replacing the need for strong engineering fundamentals.
Throughout the conversation, Derek keeps coming back to two big themes: ambition and responsibility. He shares practical guidance for CMOs and marketing leaders on setting guardrails, protecting proprietary code, avoiding skill erosion and deciding when to build vs buy in an AI-driven world. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Derek McBurney:
Derek is the Head of Technology at Evans Hunt, focusing on delivering meaningful digital experiences and sharing his knowledge about building the web for humans. He’s been building websites ever since he first got online. At the age of 12, it was a fan site for the game Quake, with nothing more than a text editor to create some HTML. Now? Clients like Travel Alberta, Calgary Stampede, and Brookfield Residential, which compose builds using best-in-class technologies for performance, accessibility, and intuitive authoring to power beautiful and rich experiences.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Mid-market leaders are facing a once-in-a-generation opportunity with AI, and this episode shows how to capitalize on it.
John Powers, former CIO and Chief Transformation Officer at Deloitte and now Executive in Residence at Mod Op, shares practical ways to turn AI, data strategy and governance into real competitive advantage. He explains why smaller, more nimble companies can finally “punch above their weight,” how to spot the fastest wins and where custom, company-specific AI beats off-the-shelf tools.
You’ll hear how John partnered with Mod Op to stand up data leadership, why engineering the way you communicate makes AI dramatically more effective and how to rethink work so teams spend less time on administrative tasks and more time on growth.
If you’re done “checking the AI box” and ready to drive measurable outcomes, this conversation gives you a clear path forward. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About John Powers:
John is an accomplished senior advisor with decades of success driving transformation for global multi-nationals, now bringing that experience and expertise to Mod Op Strategic Consulting clients. As Deloitte’s Global Chief Transformation and Chief Information Officer he led enterprise-wide IT cloud migrations, modernized cybersecurity governance and implemented zero-trust principles to bolster resilience, while reducing cost, and improving service delivery. His experience in strategy, digital transformation, inorganic growth and organizational effectiveness is now dedicated to leveraging AI and Big Data to drive growth and profitability. John can be reached on LinkedIn or at John.Powers@ModOp.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
What happens when AI and people work side by side instead of in competition? In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with John Arnold, Head of Strategic CRM Advisory at Creatio. They discuss the company’s new global study on AI agents and no-code platforms, and what it reveals about the future of work.
John shares insights from more than 500 business and technology leaders who are redefining what it means to innovate. You’ll learn why AI is now a boardroom-level priority, how leading organizations are using it to grow—not replace—their teams and how no-code platforms are giving everyone, not just developers, the power to build solutions fast.
Whether you’re a marketer, salesperson or service leader, you’ll come away with a clear picture of how AI and no-code tools can help free up time, unlock creativity, and accelerate transformation without losing the human element.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About John Arnold:
John Arnold is the Head of Strategic CRM Advisory at Creatio, a global vendor of an agentic CRM and workflow automation platform with no-code and AI at its core. A recognized expert in CRM strategy and digital transformation, John brings enterprise-level experience helping global organizations turn emerging technology into a driver of measurable business outcomes.
Before joining Creatio, John held principal advisory and analyst roles at Adobe and Forrester, where he worked with executive teams to develop customer-centric technology strategies. At Creatio, he helps organizations shift from feature-led CRM systems to outcome-driven, AI-powered growth platforms that are agile, adaptive, and built around customer experiences.
John is currently leading the development of Creatio’s AI-first CRM maturity models and best practices to guide enterprises in defining, customizing, and scaling their transformation journeys. His mission is to help leaders reimagine agentic CRM and no-code composability as a competitive advantage.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Feeling buried under too many marketing tools and platforms? You’re not alone. In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with John Arnold of Creatio about how AI and no-code technology are cutting through the clutter to help marketers get things done.
John shares what he’s seeing in the real world—from his days at Forrester researching B2B growth strategies to now helping teams at Creatio build custom solutions without waiting on developers. Together, he and Tessa unpack how marketing and IT can finally work in sync, using AI to automate the busywork and free people up for strategy, creativity and innovation.
If you’ve ever wished your tech stack worked for you instead of the other way around, this conversation will change how you think about the future of marketing technology. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About John Arnold:
John Arnold is the Head of Strategic CRM Advisory at Creatio, a global vendor of an agentic CRM and workflow automation platform with no-code and AI at its core. A recognized expert in CRM strategy and digital transformation, John brings enterprise-level experience helping global organizations turn emerging technology into a driver of measurable business outcomes.
Before joining Creatio, John held principal advisory and analyst roles at Adobe and Forrester, where he worked with executive teams to develop customer-centric technology strategies. At Creatio, he helps organizations shift from feature-led CRM systems to outcome-driven, AI-powered growth platforms that are agile, adaptive, and built around customer experiences.
John is currently leading the development of Creatio’s AI-first CRM maturity models and best practices to guide enterprises in defining, customizing, and scaling their transformation journeys. His mission is to help leaders reimagine agentic CRM and no-code composability as a competitive advantage.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In this Leader Generation episode, CEO Gabe Lullo shares the playbook Alleyoop uses to turn “more pipeline” into real revenue.
You’ll hear how to fix unqualified pipeline syndrome by aligning on a clear ICP, catching buyers at the right time and using the BDR function as the bridge between marketing and sales. Gabe breaks down simple rules of engagement for MQL-SQL handoffs and the feedback loops that keep everyone moving in the same direction.
We also dig into what actually works right now: human-first outreach, SDRs who think like marketers and LinkedIn content that warms leads before a sales call ever happens. Gabe shows how empowering employee voices on social can fuel 40% of new business, while cutting recruiting spend and improving pipeline quality.
If you want practical ideas to get better leads, better teamwork, and better outcomes, this one’s for you. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Gabe Lullo:
Gabe Lullo is the CEO of Alleyoop, a sales development agency working with industry giants such as ZoomInfo, Salesloft, and Adobe. He has trained over 8,000 salespeople across diverse businesses and, during his tenure in Alleyoop, he has personally hired and managed more than 1,500 SDRs. With over two decades of experience in sales, marketing, and executive recruitment, his strategies have significantly driven Alleyoop’s growth and shaped its corporate culture. Beyond his career accomplishments, Gabe graduated from the Barney School of Business at the University of Hartford and his leadership ethos is rooted in cultivating environments that prioritize both professional development and individual success.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Marketing technology is evolving faster than most teams can keep up—but it doesn’t have to feel overwhelming.
In this Leader Generation episode, host Tessa Burg talks with Laura Stevenson, Mod Op’s new EVP of Data and Marketing Automation, about how to turn data chaos into clarity. Laura draws on over 20 years of experience leading at the intersection of data and technology to share how her team helps clients simplify systems, harness automation and stay ahead of the curve.
You’ll discover how to make your MarTech stack work harder for yo u, prioritize transformation without “boiling the ocean,” and build smarter, more connected customer experiences. This episode is packed with insights for marketing and business leaders ready to take control of their data, their technology—and their future.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Laura Stevenson:
Laura Stevenson brings over 25 years of advertising and marketing expertise, previously holding corporate roles at Verizon and collaborating with a diverse set of companies such as Nissan, BlueJeans by Verizon, Alkami, and SAP. Her primary focus revolves around helping clients with journey and ABM/ABX demand generation strategies, including adeptly mapping content to align with sales funnels and customer stages. She excels in leveraging the latest tools, technologies, and industry best practices, ensuring next-level marketing effectiveness. Laura is dedicated to “plugged-in partner” approach, empowering clients to deliver optimized customer experiences through end-to-end marketing services.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
What happens when a marketing agency invests $10 million in AI—not to replace people, but to empower them?
In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with Eric Bertrand, CEO of Mod Op, to reveal how the agency’s bold investment is reshaping the future of marketing. Together, they break down how AI is transforming the work behind the work—from automating repetitive tasks to unlocking new levels of creativity, personalization and speed to market.
Listeners will get a behind-the-scenes look at Mod Op’s people-first approach to AI and hear how it’s helping clients move faster, think smarter and deliver more value than ever before. Eric shares insights on what it really takes to integrate AI responsibly, build connected data systems and evolve teams into strategic powerhouses.
If you’re curious about the real-world impact of AI in marketing — beyond the headlines — this episode offers an inside look at how a forward-thinking agency is transforming both its own operations and its clients’ success. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Eric Bertrand:
C-level executive and entrepreneur having operated and managed Companies, including start-ups, growth stage and publicly traded Companies. PE/VC fund manager having invested over $400 million in 50+ companies over the past 20 years. Investments have been in multiple industries, with expertise in Media & Entertainment, Retail, Consumer Products, Business Services and Information Technology. Eric can be reached on LinkedIn or at Eric@ModOp.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Content marketing is changing fast, and so are the rules of visibility. Tessa Burg talks with Jon Gillham, Founder of Originality.ai, about how marketers can avoid the “AI slop” trap in today’s era of AI-generated content. Jon shares what he’s learned since launching the first commercially available AI detector—just three days before ChatGPT hit the market—and offers practical advice on balancing efficiency with authenticity.
Listeners will hear about using AI tools responsibly while still producing high-quality, original content that builds trust and stands out in search, LLMs and beyond. Jon also explains how marketers can increase their visibility with strategies like adding citations, original data and quotes.
Whether you’re worried about declining Google traffic, retention challenges or simply how to future-proof your content strategy, this episode delivers insights you can put into practice right away. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Jon Gillham:
Jon Gillham founded Originality.ai after selling a content marketing agency he had previously founded. Originality.ai launched in November 2022 to detect GPT-3-generated content (before ChatGPT had launched).
One of the earliest adopters of generative AI content for SEO purposes at scale through his agency, Jon understood the wave that was coming, which ChatGPT and GPT-4 have fully unleashed. Additionally, he believed that there was a need for a modern plagiarism checking solution. One that provided scan history, detection scores, shareable results, team access etc., what you would expect from a modern Plagiarism Checking solution.
The team now includes experienced Machine Learning Engineers, Researchers, Developers and Marketers, all on a mission to try and provide transparency on the true originality of any writing.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
AI isn’t just about writing emails faster; it’s about capturing and scaling the expert knowledge that actually wins deals.
In this conversation, Vivun’s Chief AI Officer Joseph Miller explains why most “just add a chatbot” projects stall, and how building a real-world model of your business (your terms, processes, and judgments) unlocks meaningful results. He breaks down the difference between low-stakes productivity and high-stakes outcomes—and what it takes to get from New York to San Francisco, not just Newark.
You’ll hear practical guidance for marketers, sales leaders, and operators: how to codify tribal knowledge, ground AI in your company’s definitions, and design iterative experiments that deliver time-to-value. If you’re tired of hype and want an honest blueprint for using AI to empower teams—not replace their judgment—this episode is for you.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Joseph Miller:
As the Chief AI Officer and co-founder of Vivun, Joseph Miller, PhD, leverages his expertise in AI/ML and causal inference to build complex agentic systems. He is nationally recognized for his work in AI labor disruption and algorithmic strategies, and has appeared on platforms such as Bloomberg and Nasdaq. Joseph also guest lectures on AI, entrepreneurship and quantitative finance.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Digital transformation isn’t just for tech companies—it’s reshaping even the most traditional industries.
In this episode of Leader Generation, Chief Digital Officer Alan Wizemann returns to share how Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits is redefining what it means to be a beverage distributor. From AI-powered recommendations to warehouse drones and robotics, Alan explains how technology is enhancing customer experiences, streamlining operations and creating new opportunities for employees.
Listeners will hear how Southern Glazer’s is prioritizing “time to value” by focusing on customer needs first, not just company revenue goals. Alan also talks about the importance of durable teams, piloting before scaling and building a culture where innovation enhances human relationships rather than replaces them.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Alan Wizemann:
Alan Wizemann is Chief Digital Officer for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer’s), the world’s pre-eminent distributor of beverage alcohol, and proud to be a multi-generational, family-owned Company. Wizemann leads the Company’s Digital Acceleration group, overseeing Southern Glazer’s digital transformation, and is responsible for enterprise-wide digital initiatives—including the industry-leading B2B eCommerce Proof® platform.
With decades of experience in digital product development, omni-channel experiences, technology, and entrepreneurship, Wizemann has been instrumental in shaping and transforming the digital landscape for some of the world's most well-known consumer companies. At Target Corporation, he launched and led key digital initiatives across Target.com, Target Mobile, and Cartwheel, which became an industry-leading mobile platform. Wizemann also held digital leadership roles driving transformation at Lululemon Athletica Inc., Goop, WebMD, Dollar Shave Club, quip, and most recently, Munchkin Inc. His visionary approach to product strategy, user-centric design and building agile teams at scale has consistently delivered results.
Wizemann is an engineer at heart who has delivered effective solutions in complex environments, and he is a proven entrepreneur who has built and scaled digital capabilities and fostered a culture of innovation.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Doing more with less in B2B? This episode shows you how—without burning out your team or your budget.
Tessa Burg talks with B2B leaders, Hannah Woodham and Jenelle Maddox, to map out what’s actually working as teams plan for 2026. They break down the wins from 2024–2025, including first-party data, smarter AI, and high-quality content. Then, share where to invest next so you can reach complex buying networks and still prove ROI.
You’ll hear practical ways to streamline work, personalize at scale, and boost brand visibility in LLMs—without chasing every shiny object. If you want clear steps to align marketing with business goals, improve performance metrics, and make your budget work harder, this conversation gives you the playbook.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Hannah Woodham:
With over 15 years of experience driving paid channel marketing strategy in a dynamic agency environment, Hannah focuses on leading teams that deliver performance-driven results. Throughout her career, she’s helped brands across B2B industries scale their reach, optimize their media investments, and achieve measurable growth through innovative paid strategies. Hannah has a passion for combining data, creativity and emerging technologies—including AI—to build campaigns that not only perform but transform. Hannah can be reached on LinkedIn or at Hannah.Woodham@ModOp.com.
About Jenelle Maddox:
Jenelle Maddox is Vice President of Client Success at Mod Op, with more than 15 years of experience leading teams and advising global enterprise clients. She brings executive leadership and marketing strategy expertise to help organizations navigate digital transformation and drive growth, leveraging data-driven marketing, customer experience strategies, and technology enablement to ensure alignment with business goals and measurable outcomes. Jenelle is recognized for developing and scaling both client and employee satisfaction by creating clarity from complexity as a servant leader and multiplier, driving cross-functional alignment to achieve collective success. Jenelle can be reached on LinkedIn or at Jenelle.Maddox@ModOp.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In the fast-changing world of search, generative AI is rewriting the rules—and your old SEO playbook won’t cut it.
In this episode of Leader Generation, guest host Patty Parobek teams up with Mod Op’s Gareth Cunningham and Maurice White to decode Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and the strategies that will keep your brand visible when AI-driven search takes the lead. Using the iconic “Periodic Table of SEO Elements” as their guide, they reveal what’s still relevant, what’s rising in importance and what you can skip in the AI era.
You’ll hear practical tips on how to structure your content so both search engines and AI tools can understand it, build brand authority that goes beyond backlinks and make sure your technical foundations are strong before adding GEO tactics. The conversation focuses on a balanced, long-term approach—starting with the changes that will have the biggest impact, avoiding overwhelm and combining SEO with PR, branding and other marketing efforts.
Whether you’re just starting to explore GEO or looking to refine your strategy, this episode delivers expert guidance on navigating the shift toward a semantic, AI-powered web. GEO isn’t a sprint, but a marathon. Making smart, sustainable moves today can keep your brand visible well into the future. Leader Generation is brought to you by Mod Op.
About Gareth Cunningham:
Gareth Cunningham stands at the intersection of creativity and analytics in his role as the Director of Search Experience at Mod Op. He leverages his experience in digital marketing to shape the online presence of national and international brands. Gareth consistently delivers strategies that increase organic traffic and improve search rankings for clients. His innovative approaches and dedication to measurable results have cemented his reputation as a dynamic leader in search engine optimization. Gareth can be reached on LinkedIn or at Gareth.Cunningham@ModOp.com.
About Maurice White:
Maurice White is a seasoned SEO Strategist at Mod Op, with more than a decade of experience in digital strategy, technical SEO, and product management. He focuses on developing search strategies that not only increase a website’s visibility in organic search results but also guide visitors through a thoughtfully–crafted user journey toward conversion. Maurice is actively exploring ways to leverage generative AI technologies to enhance website performance, user engagement and alignment with the evolving digital landscape. Maurice can be reached on LinkedIn or at Maurice.White@ModOp.com.
About Patty Parobek:
As Vice President of AI Transformation, Patty leads Mod Op’s AI practice group, spearheading initiatives to maximize the value and scalability of AI-enabled solutions. Patty collaborates with the executive team to revolutionize creative, advertising and marketing projects for clients, while ensuring responsible AI practices. She also oversees AI training programs, identifies high-value AI use cases and measures implementation impact, providing essential feedback to Mod Op’s AI Council for continuous improvement. Patty can be reached on LinkedIn or at Patty.Parobek@ModOp.com.
In a world where marketing agencies are racing to keep up with rapid change, how do you grow faster without losing your people, your culture, or your edge?
In this episode of Leader Generation, Mod Op’s new COO, Stuart Goldstein, joins Tessa Burg to share his playbook for scaling agencies. With years of experience leading firms through mergers, digital transformations, and process overhauls, Stuart reveals why the real challenge isn’t the technology or the tools—it’s bringing people along for the ride.
Listeners will get an inside look at why Mod Op is uniting specialized agencies under one platform, how to turn skeptics into champions, and the leadership moves that make change stick. From integrating AI across disciplines to avoiding the “shiny object” trap, he offers candid advice and relatable stories that apply to any leader facing transformation.
This conversation delivers practical ways to align people, processes, and platforms—to keep your team motivated and your clients happy. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Stuart Goldstein:
As an experienced operations leader with over 20 years of success, Stuart can captain any ship. From start-up to heavyweight, Stuart has helped agencies and organizations pave their path to greatness. His expertise has been instrumental in driving growth and fame for renowned clients such as Johnson & Johnson, Oreo, Coca-Cola, American Express, Novartis, Diageo, eBay, GlaxoSmithKline, Time Warner, and Marvel, among others. And somehow, he still finds a way to drop a joke and take life one day at a time as long as it fits the brief.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In this episode of Leader Generation, host Tessa Burg welcomes back Patty Parobek, Mod Op’s VP of AI and ML Transformation, for a candid conversation about how marketers can thrive in the age of “zero click.”
With Google increasingly providing AI-powered answers directly in search results, fewer people are clicking through to websites. For companies that have long depended on organic traffic, this shift raises an urgent question: What does success look like when clicks aren’t the main measure anymore?
Patty shares fresh insights inspired by Rand Fishkin’s work, breaking down why SEO isn’t dead but why marketers must rethink how they capture attention and build trust. She explains how to uncover where audiences are really being influenced, how to measure success beyond traffic and why investing in research and authenticity is more important than ever.
If you’ve been wondering how to compete when Google answers questions before people ever reach your site, this episode is a must-listen. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Patty Parobek:
As Vice President of AI Transformation, Patty leads Mod Op’s AI practice group, spearheading initiatives to maximize the value and scalability of AI-enabled solutions. Patty collaborates with the executive team to revolutionize creative, advertising and marketing projects for clients, while ensuring responsible AI practices. She also oversees AI training programs, identifies high-value AI use cases and measures implementation impact, providing essential feedback to Mod Op’s AI Council for continuous improvement. Patty can be reached on LinkedIn or at Patty.Parobek@ModOp.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
The flood of AI-generated content has made it harder than ever to know what’s real, and easier than ever to lose trust.
In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with Shouvik Paul, COO of Copyleaks, about how marketers can create and protect content while building trust. Shouvik shares experience scaling multiple SaaS companies to successful exits, and how those same principles—like recurring revenue and scalable systems—can help marketers build sustainable growth rather than chasing short-term wins.
Listeners will hear practical ways to use AI to speed up research, personalize marketing at scale and tap into customer data for new opportunities—all while avoiding the pitfalls of overreliance. Shouvik explains why keeping a human in the loop is critical, what happens when AI “hallucinates” and how legal and IP issues are evolving around AI-generated content.
This conversation delivers insight and actionable advice, providing a clearer picture of how to balance AI’s speed and scale with human creativity, originality and responsibility. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Shouvik Paul:
Shouvik Paul is the Chief Operating Officer of Copyleaks, an Inc. 5000-recognized company and leading AI-powered platform for text analysis, content authenticity, and generative AI governance. Trusted by enterprises, educational institutions, and governments worldwide, Copyleaks enables organizations to verify content originality, detect AI-generated and AI-influenced material, and stay compliant amid rapidly evolving AI technologies and regulations. With over 25 years of experience scaling and exiting SaaS companies across the EdTech and MediaTech sectors, Shouvik brings deep operational and go-to-market expertise. Shouvik is at the forefront of advancing responsible AI adoption, helping organizations navigate the complexities of content integrity, copyright protection, and regulatory compliance in an ever-evolving AI landscape.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
What if you could boost marketing performance, cut costs, and launch campaigns in minutes, not days?
In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with Martin Kristiseter about the real-world impact of AI on performance marketing. From automating tedious workflows to using data-driven insights for creative optimization, Martin shares how his team is using AI to deliver measurable outcomes while keeping transparency front and center.
Martin also opens up about his path to CEO and how his team is navigating rapid change without losing sight of people. He offers practical advice for leaders who want to integrate AI without the hype, create new roles (not just cut old ones), and build trust with clients in a tech-driven landscape.
If you’re looking to make smarter marketing decisions—and move faster while doing it—this conversation is packed with insights you can use right now. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Martin Kristiseter:
Martin Kristiseter is an accomplished entrepreneur and digital executive with 20 years of experience in digital media, ad technology, and programmatic solutions. He currently serves as the CEO of Digital Remedy, a Performance Media Company built for brands, agencies, and media companies. Krisitiseter previously launched the digital advertising business at Marketron that transformed a declining revenue management and radio traffic business (SaaS) into a growth company through Pitch — an omni-channel workflow, sales enablement, fulfillment, and reporting platform for media companies. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado, where he earned a BA and MBA in Finance.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Alex Seidita, Chief Information Officer at Aspida, and Tessa Burg talk about how organizations can successfully navigate technological transformation—especially in the age of AI.
With more than 35 years of IT leadership experience at organizations like Motorola, Citibank, Home Depot, MetLife, and now Aspida, Alex shares how major shifts like data warehousing, virtualization and cloud adoption have shaped his perspective. He explains why AI is just the latest in a long line of tech evolutions—and how businesses that focus on people, processes and purpose will adapt best.
Alex also digs into practical frameworks that have helped him lead through change, like agile methodology, product-aligned teams and shared accountability. If you’re wondering how to encourage innovation, overcome resistance to AI, or foster collaboration across silos, this episode delivers a ton of insight in a conversational, accessible way.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Alex Seidita:
Alex Seidita is Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Aspida. Alex is a seasoned IT professional with three decades of experience in leadership and implementation of IT systems. Prior to joining Aspida, Alex was SVP, CIO Latin America IT for MetLife. He has worked and led teams in multiple industries, including telecommunications (terrestrial, cellular & satellite), financial services, military avionics, retail, and insurance, and he has held leadership roles at such companies as Citibank, The Home Depot, and First Data. Alex has experience in creating an enterprise architecture team, and under his leadership, First Data was named a winner of the 2011 Enterprise Architecture Award, by InfoWorld and Forrester Research. Alex holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Florida Institute of Technology.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Wondering why your brand isn’t showing up in answer engines like Google AI Overviews, Perplexity AI, and ChatGPT—even though you’ve been investing in content and SEO?
Maurice White, who leads SEO at Mod Op, is back to explain the rise of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and why it’s changing the way we think about search. Maurice and Tessa Burg break down what GEO means, how it fits into your existing SEO strategy and the concrete steps you can take right now to make your brand more visible in AI-generated answers.
You’ll learn how to build helpful, high-quality content that AI engines recognize and reward, and how PR and brand mentions now play a key role in visibility. Maurice also shares free and paid tools you can use to measure your GEO progress—so you’re not just guessing, you’re growing.
Whether you're a marketer, content creator or brand leader, this episode offers smart insights and real takeaways to help your brand show up where it matters most.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
Contributor:
Maurice White, Senior SEO Strategist at Mod Op
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Tessa Burg and Aaron Grando break down one of the most talked-about topics in AI right now: context engineering. If you've been using AI tools and wondering why your outputs sometimes sound generic or miss the mark, this episode is for you.
Aaron explains how context engineering helps AI better understand what you want by feeding it the right information—from your brand voice to real-time data—before you even type your prompt. Aaron and Tessa also explore how context engineering plays a key role in reducing hallucinations, maintaining brand integrity, and building automated agents that can actually take meaningful action.
Listeners will take away clear, practical tips on how to make generative AI more accurate, creative, and tailored to specific goals so you can get more value out of your tools—without needing to be a tech expert
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Aaron Grando:
Aaron Grando, VP, Creative Innovation on Mod Op’s Innovation team, is a seasoned technologist with over 15 years of experience at creative agencies. With a background in strategy, design, engineering, and marketing, Aaron has worked extensively in industries like media, entertainment, gaming, food & beverage, fashion, and technology. At Mod Op, Aaron leads efforts to integrate AI into creative processes, creating tools that connect creatives and clients with insights, spark ideas, and enable new brand experiences. Projects include collaborations with companies like NBCUniversal, Bethesda Softworks, Under Armour, Planet Fitness, Dietz & Watson, and more, focusing on infusing creative strategies with innovative technology to create cutting-edge brand experiences. Aaron can be reached on LinkedIn or at Aaron.Grando@modop.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In this episode of Leader Generation, Creative Director Leu Solomon shares a real-world example of how AI helped her and the Mod Op team deliver a complex creative project under tight budget constraints—without sacrificing quality.
Leu walks us through the challenge: Creating a single hero image featuring up to nine custom building illustrations for a commercial real estate client. Traditional design would’ve required more time and money, but by incorporating Adobe Firefly into the process, the team created something visually stunning, on budget, and faster than ever before.
This isn’t just a story about using AI to speed things up—it’s about how curiosity, critical thinking and good design thinking elevate the work. Leu explains how she pitched AI as one of three creative directions, handled client hesitations with transparency and used her design skills to enhance, not replace, creative vision.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
Guest:
Leu Solomon, Creative Director at Mod Op
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Kate Long, VP of Marketing at Crunchbase, shares how her team is leading a bold transformation—from a product-led growth model to a sales-led, AI-powered strategy.
In this conversation, Kate breaks down how Crunchbase is leveraging predictive signals to deliver meaningful value earlier in the buyer journey, before prospects even know they’re in-market.
Kate also opens up about leading teams through change, upskilling marketers to become “horizontal AI orchestrators,” and why aligning with sales isn’t just smart—it’s essential.
You'll take away practical insights on how to adapt, stay human in a tech-heavy world and build sustainable "Big G Growth" in a rapidly evolving marketing landscape.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Kate Long:
Kate Long is the Vice President of Marketing at Crunchbase. She is passionate about driving sustainable, long-term growth by deeply understanding the customer and optimizing the full marketing ecosystem. Her expertise spans performance marketing, partner expansion, brand transformation and product-led growth, all aimed at creating lasting impact. As a marketing innovator, strategist and operator, Kate has built brands, defined new categories and sparked product enthusiasm across high-growth B2B and B2C SaaS companies, as well as within the Fortune 500. She believes true success is rooted in people and is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of marketing talent.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council, and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Retail media is evolving fast, but not always in the right direction. In this episode of Leader Generation, Drew Cashmore, Chief Strategy Officer at Vantage, joins Tessa Burg fresh from the Cannes Lions Festival to break down the biggest conversations shaping the future of retail and commerce media. Drew shares what he's seeing across the industry—the opportunities, the challenges and where marketers should focus their energy.
If you're working with retail media in any capacity, you'll benefit from Drew's candid insights into what's working, what's not and how to create real value through presence, simplicity and strategic alignment. From the power of in-store media to the fragmentation of first-party data systems, this episode brings clarity to a complex landscape.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Drew Cashmore:
Drew Cashmore is the Chief Strategy Officer at Vantage and a seasoned retail and retail media strategist. He has a background in building, commercializing and scaling intrapreneurial ventures within some of the world’s largest retailers. Drew was an original architect and former executive at Walmart Connect in both the U.S. and Canada, where he played a key role in scaling the business to over $2 billion. His contributions included insourcing the business, establishing brand and sales enablement practices, leading internal change management, and developing the in-store advertising strategy. He was also a founding member of Walmart’s eCommerce and digital marketing platforms, and previously served as the CMO of Firework, and is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Adaptive Retail Group.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg chats with Matt Bretz and Gary Goodman, two seasoned veterans in the games and entertainment space.
With decades of experience, Matt and Gary share their journeys from working in Hollywood and gaming to leading creative teams at Mod Op. They discuss the evolution of the industry, the importance of data and AI, and how both play a role in crafting emotionally resonant marketing strategies.
If you're interested in understanding the power of combining creativity with technology to connect with audiences, this conversation offers valuable insights into how AI and data are reshaping marketing in gaming and entertainment.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
Contributors:
Matt Bretz, EVP of Creative Innovation at Mod Op
Gary Goodman, EVP of Creative Innovation at Mod Op
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
If you’ve ever wondered how to go beyond ChatGPT and actually connect AI to real-world systems and workflows, this conversation is for you.
Tessa Burg gathers with three Mod Op experts—Fabio Fiss, Aaron Grando and Javier López—to break down key technologies like MCP (Model Context Protocol) and A2A (Agent-to-Agent). The team explains how they work, and shares examples of how they’re already being used in creative and powerful ways.
More than just a technical discussion, this episode tackles the bigger picture—how AI will (and won’t) replace human jobs, how it can serve as a teammate and how it’s enabling people at all levels to do more, faster.
Whether you’re building websites, leading creative teams or optimizing business operations, you’ll walk away with practical insights, relatable analogies and renewed clarity on where to start integrating AI meaningfully into your workflow.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
Contributors:
Fabio Fiss, VP of Technology at Mod Op
Aaron Grando, VP of Creative Innovation at Mod Op
Javier López, Senior Software Engineer at Mod Op
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
The way people search for information is changing fast. In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg is joined by Maurice White and Chris Harihar for a discussion about Generative Engine Optimization (GEO).
They explore how search behavior is evolving with the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, and what that means for brands aiming to show up in these new discovery environments. Maurice and Chris break down the parallels between GEO and traditional SEO, why marketers need to rethink their content strategy, and how PR now plays a crucial role in driving visibility in results powered by large language models (LLMs).
This episode offers real-world tips, fresh thinking and a bit of reassurance for those feeling overwhelmed by the shift. Whether you're in SEO, content, PR or digital strategy, you'll walk away with clear insights and actionable ideas to stay ahead.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
Mod Op Contributors:
Chris Harihar, EVP of PR at Mod Op
Maurice White, Senior SEO Strategist at Mod Op
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Aaron Grando guest hosts on this episode of the Leader Generation Podcast, where we explore the fast-growing world of "vibe coding" with Joe DiGiovanna, VP of Technology, and Fabio Fiss, head of the DX team at Mod Op.
If you’ve heard the term “vibe coding” floating around but aren’t quite sure what it means—or how it applies to real-world development work—this is the conversation you need to hear. Aaron, Joe, and Fabio break down how AI-powered coding tools are transforming developer workflows, empowering non-coders to create, and reshaping how teams build prototypes and scale projects.
From Cursor to Claude and beyond, they share hands-on experience and stories from inside Mod Op. Whether you’re a seasoned dev, a tech leader or just curious about how AI is changing the game, this episode is a great primer on what vibe coding is—and where it's headed.
Leader Generation is brought to you by Mod Op.
Contributors:
Joe DiGiovanna, VP of Engineering at Mod Op
Fabio Fiss, VP of Technology at Mod Op
About Guest Host Aaron Grando:
Aaron Grando, VP, Creative Innovation on Mod Op's Innovation team, is a seasoned technologist with over 15 years of experience at creative agencies. With a background in strategy, design, engineering, and marketing, Aaron has worked extensively in industries like media, entertainment, gaming, food & beverage, fashion, and technology. At Mod Op, Aaron leads efforts to integrate AI into creative processes, creating tools that connect creatives and clients with insights, spark ideas, and enable new brand experiences. Projects include collaborations with companies like NBCUniversal, Bethesda Softworks, Under Armour, Planet Fitness, Dietz & Watson, and more, focusing on infusing creative strategies with innovative technology to create cutting-edge brand experiences.
What if you could stretch your media budget without spending more? In this episode of Leader Generation, host Tessa Burg talks with Wandrille Leroy, the brains behind the Scibids AI at DoubleVerify, about how marketers can get more value from their ad spend using smarter, customizable automation.
Wandrille explains how Scibids helps marketers take control of their media-buying strategy, align spending with their specific goals and achieve better outcomes across platforms like DV360, The Trade Desk, Meta and more. You’ll hear how Scibids fits into a landscape filled with walled gardens, bot fraud and limited visibility—and how it offers a way forward by boosting transparency and performance.
Whether you're a seasoned media buyer or just trying to make your budget work harder, Wandrille shares insights that can help you measure what matters and make sure every impression counts.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Wandrille Leroy:
Wandrille Leroy leads revenue for DoubleVerify’s Scibids AI, where he plays a central role in advancing the adoption of AI-powered optimization solutions across the digital advertising ecosystem. As a trained engineer, he brings nearly a decade of experience in programmatic media, with a strong focus on delivering greater customization and control to marketers. His career has centered on bridging technical innovation with strategic outcomes, helping brands and agencies navigate an increasingly complex and automated landscape. Since joining Scibids in its very early stages, Wandrille has been instrumental in shaping the company’s vision and driving its global growth through impactful, scalable technology partnerships.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
What happens when an old-school creative jumps headfirst into AI? In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with Sergio Cardona for an eye-opening look at how technology is changing the creative process.
Sergio shares his journey from traditional design roots to becoming a leader in AI-driven creativity, showing how curiosity and adaptability can open new doors for any creative professional. You’ll hear how tools like Midjourney and ChatGPT help Sergio move faster, break through creative blocks, and tell richer, more engaging stories.
But this conversation goes beyond tools—it’s about mindset. Whether you’re a designer, marketer, or just AI-curious, you’ll walk away with fresh insights on how to partner with technology without losing the human spark that makes great work stand out. Give it a listen—you’ll be inspired to rethink what’s possible.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Sergio Cardona:
Lead AI Designer at Mod Op, Sergio Cardona is a multidisciplinary designer with a focus on packaging design, 3D packaging CGI, modeling and creative technology. He moved to the U.S. at 17 and studied Packaging Design at FIT. Since starting his career in 2007, he’s grown his skills by blending traditional design with new tools and technologies. He’s now expanding into AI design, bringing intelligent systems into his workflow while staying true to strong design fundamentals. By combining classic design, motion and 3D packaging CGI with the power of AI, Sergio creates work that’s both creative and scalable. He’s known for balancing sharp visual instincts with a systems-driven mindset—treating design as both a craft and a collaboration between human creativity and technology.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Explore how AI can automate quality assurance and testing for marketers and content teams.
QA experts Giselle Castro and Carlos Obaldia share how they compared two leading AI tools, Katalon and BrowserStack. Together, they discuss how these platforms help teams test faster, cover more ground and free up valuable time for creative and strategic work.
Listeners will get a firsthand look at how Mod Op’s QA team approached the comparison, the real challenges they tackled (like reducing manual testing and overcoming change resistance) and the measurable improvements they achieved.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
Contributors:
Giselle Castro, Quality Assurance & Authoring (QAA)
Carlos Obaldia, Senior Quality Assurance & Compliance Assurance (QA & CA)
Guest Host Patty Parobek:
As Vice President of AI Transformation, Patty leads Mod Op’s AI practice group, spearheading initiatives to maximize the value and scalability of AI-enabled solutions. Patty collaborates with the executive team to revolutionize creative, advertising and marketing projects for clients, while ensuring responsible AI practices. She also oversees AI training programs, identifies high-value AI use cases and measures implementation impact, providing essential feedback to Mod Op’s AI Council for continuous improvement. Patty can be reached on LinkedIn or at Patty.Parobek@ModOp.com.
What if data wasn’t just something you measured, but a powerful spark for your most creative marketing ideas? In this episode, Tessa Burg talks with Boobesh Ramadurai to explore how artificial intelligence is changing the game for marketers—especially when it comes to blending data, creativity, and speed.
With over two decades of experience working with Fortune 500 companies, Boobesh shares real-world stories, helpful trends, and smart strategies to help you move faster, work smarter, and create content that truly connects. You’ll hear how brands are using AI to understand their audiences on a deeper level, make real-time campaign decisions, and even rethink what “good content” really means.
Grab your headphones—this one’s packed with insight and inspiration you don’t want to miss. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Boobesh Ramadurai:
Boobesh Ramadurai comes with two decades of extensive hands-on experience in analytics, digital marketing, and data visualization. He specializes in building high-performing customer-facing teams that drive revenue growth and ensure customer success.
At LatentView Analytics, Boobesh acts as a strategic consulting partner for chief marketing officers (CMOs), helping organizations accelerate their AI-driven marketing maturity. With expertise in building AI-first marketing data solutions for Fortune 500 clients across various industries, Boobesh focuses on developing internal capabilities in marketing analytics and LLM operations.
He manages a large global analytics team comprising high-performing talent in data engineering, data analytics, and data science. Boobesh has a proven track record in establishing multiple onsite and offshore teams by implementing industry-standard best practices and guidelines for effective collaboration. He is currently heading the Centre of Excellence for Marketing Analytics for LatentView Analytics.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
What if the biggest impact of AI isn’t replacing jobs, but quickly raising the bar for everyone? In this episode of Leader Generation, host Tessa Burg talks with serial entrepreneur and Corpora.ai CEO Mel Morris about AI in business and marketing.
Mel brings decades of experience building and scaling tech companies—from his humble beginnings in data collection to leading King Digital, the force behind Candy Crush. He’s now pioneering a new kind of AI-powered research engine—and he’s got a lot to say about where we’re heading next.
Mel gets into the practical realities of AI: how it's shifting the competitive landscape, how it can (and should) be used to save time, and why understanding your unique value is more important than ever. He offers a refreshing perspective on how AI is helping lower-skilled individuals rise up and what that means for marketing teams trying to stand out in a sea of sameness.
Whether you’re just starting to explore AI or already knee-deep, this episode will challenge your assumptions and help you think more strategically about your tech stack and your value.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Mel Morris:
Mel Morris is a visionary entrepreneur and the CEO and co-founder of Corpora.ai, a groundbreaking AI-driven research platform transforming how we harness research. Known as the former chairman of King Digital Entertainment, creators of the global hit Candy Crush Saga, Mel has a proven track record of driving innovation and building market-leading companies. With a deep passion for technology and its potential to transform industries, Mel now focuses on advancing AI to optimize research and decision-making. His leadership and forward-thinking approach continue to shape the future of technology and business.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international
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 enhances internal efficiencies—such as content writing, data summarization and brainstorming ideas—but also transforms how brands connect with their audiences. From personalized emails to AI-enhanced search and content recommendations, Aaron shows how AI goes beyond just being a productivity tool; it becomes a creative partner.
Whether you're leading marketing for a brand or working at an agency, this episode showcases the potential when innovation and brand integrity come together.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Aaron Grando:
Aaron Grando, VP, Creative Innovation on Mod Op's Innovation team, is a seasoned technologist with over 15 years of experience at creative agencies. With a background in strategy, design, engineering, and marketing, Aaron has worked extensively in industries like media, entertainment, gaming, food & beverage, fashion, and technology. At Mod Op, Aaron leads efforts to integrate AI into creative processes, creating tools that connect creatives and clients with insights, spark ideas, and enable new brand experiences. Projects include collaborations with companies like NBCUniversal, Bethesda Softworks, Under Armour, Planet Fitness, Dietz & Watson, and more, focusing on infusing creative strategies with innovative technology to create cutting-edge brand experiences.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
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 balancing human-driven innovation with data-backed decisions offer practical strategies for leaders navigating today’s fast-evolving tech landscape.
Listen in as Elli explains how Media.net is revolutionizing ad tech by bridging the gap between publishers and advertisers, using search intent data to deliver more efficient and personalized targeting.
From overcoming resistance to change to fostering diverse thinking and leveraging AI for better collaboration, this episode is packed with actionable insights for anyone looking to lead through innovation.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Elli Dimitroulakos:
Elli is an award winning, visionary and Global Ads Monetization and emerging technologies expert having held senior leadership positions in Podcasting, TV, Publishing and Ad Tech. She has a proven track record of driving multi-year product strategies that accelerate rapid revenue growth strategies and shape business direction.
Elli has Extensive experience in Product Innovation, Media monetization, programmatic and data GTM strategies & Business Development. Passionate about mentoring and guiding individuals and helping underrepresented content creators maximize advertising opportunities and an advocate for human rights, equality and fair and equitable business practices.
Throughout her career, Elli has received a number of awards for her contributions to ad tech and is a frequent speaker and contributor on Forbes, Adexchanger, Cannes, SXSW and more.
Elli is also a member of Chief, supporting female executive leaders and a member of the Hellenic Initiative, a non profit dedicated to the entrepreneurial development of Greece.
Elli has lived in two countries and three different cities and has a thirst for adventure and immersing herself into various cultures. She has atv’ed in a Mexican jungle, zip lined through trees, rafted in a Class 3, free falled into a waterfall and bungee jumped into a pool. Skydiving is next on her bucket list.
Elli lives between the East Coast and Greece where her family resides. An avid reader, music fanatic and podcast addict, she’s often listening to Ad Week’s Great minds, NY Mag’s Pivot, Brene Brown’s Dare to lead, On Purpose by Jay Shetty, or attending live music events.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
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.
Alan walks us through the challenges of leading change, the importance of transparency and why fostering innovation from within can lead to breakthrough success. He also discusses how AI is reshaping sales and marketing—and why it’s not about replacing people, but empowering them.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Alan Wizemann:
Alan Wizemann is Chief Digital Officer for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer’s), the world’s pre-eminent distributor of beverage alcohol, and proud to be a multi-generational, family-owned Company. Wizemann leads the Company’s Digital Acceleration group, overseeing Southern Glazer’s digital transformation, and is responsible for enterprise-wide digital initiatives—including the industry-leading B2B eCommerce Proof® platform.
With decades of experience in digital product development, omni-channel experiences, technology, and entrepreneurship, Wizemann has been instrumental in shaping and transforming the digital landscape for some of the world's most well-known consumer companies. At Target Corporation, he launched and led key digital initiatives across Target.com, Target Mobile, and Cartwheel, which became an industry-leading mobile platform. Wizemann also held digital leadership roles driving transformation at Lululemon Athletica Inc., Goop, WebMD, Dollar Shave Club, quip, and most recently, Munchkin Inc. His visionary approach to product strategy, user-centric design and building agile teams at scale has consistently delivered results.
Wizemann is an engineer at heart who has delivered effective solutions in complex environments, and he is a proven entrepreneur who has built and scaled digital capabilities and fostered a culture of innovation.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
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 creator, or someone looking to streamline video production, this episode provides valuable takeaways on how Descript can help you save time, automate tedious editing tasks and improve your workflow.
Leader Generation brought to you by Mod Op.
Contributors:
Patty Parobek, VP of AI Transformation at Mod Op
Cheryl Boehm, Director of Copywriting at Mod Op
Guest Host, Cheryl Boehm:
Cheryl Boehm is a digital content writer with 25+ years of marketing experience, primarily in B2B. She strives to deliver the best online experiences to customers and prospects that, ultimately, lead to company growth for clients. She stubbornly insists there’s no single messaging approach that’s right for everyone. Period. So, in her role as Director of Copywriting at Mod Op, Cheryl pushes to personalize content strategy with an individual “cheat code” that empowers each client to reach their end game fastest.
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 demand for in-person connection and the evolving role of data in measuring success.
Don’t miss this conversation about marketing, events and where the industry is headed. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Liz Holden:
Liz Holden is the EVP of Mod Op’s Experiential and Events business unit, leading the development and production of the agency’s experiential services. She collaborates with leaders and cross-functional teams to create innovative, integrated marketing solutions that drive client success. As a Mod Op leader, Liz contributes to the agency’s continued growth as one of the fastest-growing independent marketing agencies in the U.S., harnessing technology, innovation and human creativity to fuel growth.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
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, proving the value of every marketing dollar spent.
He also dives into the role of AI in creative personalization, the deprecation of third-party cookies, and how brands can future-proof their strategies.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Jeremy Haft:
Jeremy Haft serves as Chief Revenue Officer at Digital Remedy and is a proven strategic, revenue and team leader with over 20 years of experience scaling revenue in the competitive ad tech landscape. Before joining the team in October 2022, Haft served as CRO at Channel Factory, where he reorganized the revenue team for sustainable growth and increased the sales team by 3X to drive predictable and more accountable revenue. Prior to that, he served in a decade of leadership positions, including SVP of Sales at Amobee and VP of North America Sales at Viant/Adelphic. At both organizations, Haft successfully built platforms and business solutions from infancy to drive their desired corporate goals.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
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 challenges and what the future holds for digital wallets and customer engagement.
Tune in for a candid conversation on where retail media is headed next, along with John’s take on how to make every media dollar count while creating a seamless shopping experience.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About John Gomez:
John Gomez is a seasoned executive with a track record of leadership at world-class brands. Currently leading RPM Labs, he brings deep expertise in operations, marketing and strategic growth. Prior to this role, John served as President and CEO of KKR-owned Cardenas Markets, where he spearheaded the effort to build the largest Hispanic grocery chain in the U.S. His leadership journey also includes roles as EVP of Operations, Marketing and Merchandising at Trader Joe’s, as well as Chief Operating Officer at Argo Tea.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
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 improved reasoning and cost efficiency—as well as serious security and privacy concerns. Should marketers and business leaders start using it? What risks come with its data storage policies? And how does this model shape the future of AI adoption?
Tune in to hear expert opinions, real-world testing insights, and key takeaways to help you make informed AI decisions. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
Contributors:
Tessa Burg, CTO at Mod Op
Aaron Grando, VP of Creative Innovation at Mod Op
Patty Parobek, VP of AI Transformation at Mod Op
Sasha Dookhoo, VP of PR at Mod Op
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
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 complex media landscape, optimize ad spend without relying on outdated methods like cookies, and gain real clarity on what’s working. He also breaks down how AI-powered solutions can unify campaign strategies across platforms, eliminate inefficiencies, and make marketing smarter—not just automated.
Everyone from CMOs to marketing strategists will hear fresh ideas on how to make data-driven decisions without getting lost in the noise. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Tal Jacobson:
Tal Jacobson has been a leader and executive in the ad-tech industry for more than two decades. Prior to his appointment as Perion's CEO in 2023, Tal served as General Manager of CodeFuel, Perion's Search Advertising unit, since 2018. During his tenure, he turned CodeFuel into a significant driver of Perion's market share and valuation. He also cemented a strategic relationship with Microsoft, for which the company won the Microsoft Advertising Global Supply Partner Award. Prior positions included: Chief Revenue Officer of SimilarWeb, VP of Business at McCann Erickson, CEO at Watchitoo and Director of Business Development at AOL.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
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 shares her expertise on building strong, trusting relationships in business, reducing noise in decision-making and creating an environment where people feel safe to grow and innovate. She also offers insights into managing fear, embracing failure as a learning tool and fostering an adaptive mindset in uncertain times.
This is a great episode for those looking for real-world leadership strategies that balance emotional intelligence with high performance.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Anna Jankowska:
Anna is the EVP of Global Partnerships at RTB House and Adlook, and the author of the ebook The Power of Personal: Unlocking Your Authentic Self to Build Business Relationships and Achieve Success. It is a collection of her articles, offering insights on overcoming self-doubt, embracing personal limits, and building trust in uncertain times. Rooted in real experiences, this ebook encourages professionals to leverage their unique stories to form meaningful connections and navigate their careers with authenticity.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
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 ever struggled with staying present in meetings while jotting down key takeaways, or looking for ways to boost efficiency in Microsoft apps like Word, Excel and Outlook.
Ian and Jose provide honest insights into Microsoft Copilot’s strengths, how it compares to other AI tools, and whether it’s worth integrating into your workflow. Tune in to discover if Microsoft Copilot could be worth the investment.
Leader Generation is brought to you by Mod Op.
Contributors:
Ian Pescod, Technical Project Manager at Mod Op
Jose Franceschi, Technical Project Manager at Mod Op
Guest Host, Patty Parobek:
As Vice President of AI Transformation, Patty leads Mod Op’s AI practice group, spearheading initiatives to maximize the value and scalability of AI-enabled solutions. Patty collaborates with the executive team to revolutionize creative, advertising and marketing projects for clients, while ensuring responsible AI practices. She also oversees AI training programs, identifies high-value AI use cases and measures implementation impact, providing essential feedback to Mod Op’s AI Council for continuous improvement. Patty can be reached on LinkedIn or at Patty.Parobek@ModOp.com.
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 potential.
Aaron Grando, VP of Creative Innovation at Mod Op, shares his hands-on experience with Cursor. Aaron explains how this powerful app streamlines workflows, enhances context, and even integrates non-coding tasks like notes and project insights.
Curious about how AI can make your team more productive and creative? This episode shares relatable examples to help you get started.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
Contributor Aaron Grando:
Aaron Grando, VP, Creative Innovation on Mod Op's Innovation team, is a seasoned technologist with over 15 years of experience at creative agencies. With a background in strategy, design, engineering, and marketing, Aaron has worked extensively in industries like media, entertainment, gaming, food & beverage, fashion, and technology. At Mod Op, Aaron leads efforts to integrate AI into creative processes, creating tools that connect creatives and clients with insights, spark ideas, and enable new brand experiences. Projects include collaborations with companies like NBCUniversal, Bethesda Softworks, Under Armour, Planet Fitness, Dietz & Watson, and more, focusing on infusing creative strategies with innovative technology to create cutting-edge brand experiences.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
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 gain valuable insights into safeguarding their marketing strategies, building cross-departmental collaboration, and using insurance as a safety net for emerging risks.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Kevin Purvis:
Kevin Purvis is the Managing Partner of Cothrom Risk & Insurance Services, an insurance brokerage focused on innovation businesses such as technology, med-tech, life sciences and advanced manufacturing. An 18-year insurance veteran, he is a Chartered Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and prior Chair of TechAssure (techassure.org). He, his wife, and four kids live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and are all avid mountain bikers.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council, and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
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 to improve workflows, manage data, and empower teams. They share their firsthand experiences with Microsoft Copilot and Google NotebookLM, highlighting how these applications can save time and enhance productivity.
Tune in for real-life use cases, practical tips, and expert opinions that can help you make decisions about AI adoption in your workplace.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
Contributors:
Alyssa Curci, Senior Vice President of Customer Delivery at Mod Op
Jonathan Murray, Chief Strategy Officer at Mod Op
Host:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
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 are becoming critical components of a media mix. Plus, discover how AI-driven tools can unlock new opportunities to reach diverse, fragmented audiences with messages tailored to location, time and behavior.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Paul Kelly:
Paul Kelly is the CEO of A Million Ads (AMA). AMA is the leader in Dynamic Creative for audio, delivering customized, data-driven, dynamic ads on the world's largest audio platforms. Using any combination of contextual and audience-level data, AMA dynamically serves the most relevant and actionable ad to each listener.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
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 their new Mod Engine platform is creating a connected ecosystem for innovation. Listeners will learn how AI agents are reshaping roles, fostering creativity, and providing scalable solutions for marketers and clients alike.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. For an executive guide to growth and transformation, check out our book Getting Digital Done, now available on Amazon.
About Cheryl Boehm:
Cheryl Boehm is a digital content writer with 25+ years of marketing experience, primarily in B2B. She strives to deliver the best online experiences to customers and prospects that, ultimately, lead to company growth for clients. She stubbornly insists there’s no single messaging approach that’s right for everyone. Period. So, in her role as Director of Copywriting at Mod Op, Cheryl pushes to personalize content strategy with an individual “cheat code” that empowers each client to reach their end game fastest.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
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," a fast-track approach to testing AI tools.
This episode is packed with actionable insights and real-world examples to help you confidently navigate the world of AI.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. For an executive guide to growth and transformation, check out our book Getting Digital Done, now available on Amazon.
About Patty Parobek:
As Vice President of AI Transformation, Patty leads Mod Op’s AI practice group, spearheading initiatives to maximize the value and scalability of AI-enabled solutions. Patty collaborates with the executive team to revolutionize creative, advertising and marketing projects for clients, while ensuring responsible AI practices. She also oversees AI training programs, identifies high-value AI use cases and measures implementation impact, providing essential feedback to Mod Op’s AI Council for continuous improvement. Patty can be reached on LinkedIn or at Patty.Parobek@ModOp.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
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 innovation. Listeners will learn how to address the tension between early adopters and skeptics, assess the impact of AI tools on marketing processes and implement policies that protect clients and brands.
Whether you're just beginning your AI journey or looking to refine your approach, this episode is packed with actionable insights to help you harness AI responsibly and effectively.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. For an executive guide to growth and transformation, check out our book Getting Digital Done, now available on Amazon.
About Patty Parobek:
As Vice President of AI Transformation, Patty leads Mod Op’s AI practice group, spearheading initiatives to maximize the value and scalability of AI-enabled solutions. Patty collaborates with the executive team to revolutionize creative, advertising and marketing projects for clients, while ensuring responsible AI practices. She also oversees AI training programs, identifies high-value AI use cases and measures implementation impact, providing essential feedback to Mod Op’s AI Council for continuous improvement. Patty can be reached on LinkedIn or at Patty.Parobek@ModOp.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
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-edge topics like artificial intelligence and its transformative impact on businesses.
The episode also introduces the exciting launch of the AI Playground, a new initiative designed to demystify AI tools and applications. Through candid conversations, Cheryl and Tessa explore the benefits of testing AI in controlled environments, the importance of responsible use and how this initiative empowers clients and teams to work smarter.
Whether you're new to the series or a long-time listener, this episode delivers practical takeaways, a fresh perspective on innovation and a behind-the-scenes look at how Leader Generation continues to grow.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. For an executive guide to growth and transformation, check out our book Getting Digital Done, now available on Amazon.
About Cheryl Boehm:
Cheryl Boehm is a digital content writer with 25+ years of marketing experience, primarily in B2B. She strives to deliver the best online experiences to customers and prospects that, ultimately, lead to company growth for clients. She stubbornly insists there’s no single messaging approach that’s right for everyone. Period. So, in her role as Director of Copywriting at Mod Op, Cheryl pushes to personalize content strategy with an individual “cheat code” that empowers each client to reach their end game fastest.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
How can AI improve your team’s productivity and creativity? In this episode of the Leader Generation podcast, host Tessa Burg welcomes Colleen Malloy, CMO of Brunswick Companies.
Together, they explore how AI agents are reshaping the future of marketing and empowering teams to work smarter. Colleen shares her journey of building an agentic workforce, where AI agents streamline tasks, boost productivity and unlock new levels of creativity.
Listeners will gain practical ways to introduce AI into their organization, overcome fears of new technology and maximize AI's potential in marketing. It’s perfect for leaders ready to innovate and increase their teams' performance.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. For an executive guide to growth and transformation, check out our book Getting Digital Done, now available on Amazon.
About Colleen Malloy:
Colleen Malloy is the Chief Marketing Officer at Brunswick Companies, where she leads AI adoption initiatives and drives strategic growth through data-driven marketing. With more than 20 years of experience in technology optimization, SEO, content marketing and brand strategy, Colleen has a proven track record of using innovative tools to create impactful strategies. Prior to Brunswick Companies, Colleen held leadership roles at Fathom, StackSource and Design Milk Co., where she was known for championing high-performing teams and optimizing marketing tech stacks.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Responsible AI use isn’t just an option—it’s a necessity. In this episode of Leader Generation, Monica Richter, Mod Op’s strategic advisor and former Chief Data Officer, talks about how a strong AI policy helps protect brands, builds client trust and encourages innovation.
Monica uses real-world insights to explain why responsible AI matters, how to define ethical standards for your organization and the steps every leader should take to ensure AI is used wisely.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. For an executive guide to growth and transformation, check out our book Getting Digital Done, now available on Amazon.
About Monica Richter:
Monica Richter is an Executive in Residence at Mod Op Strategic Consulting, a corporate and nonprofit Board Advisor, Trustee and transformation consultant. With over 25 years of leadership experience, she now specializes in advising on strategy, business pivots, data-driven growth, analytical excellence, and innovation via technology and collaboration. She thrives on change, learning and inclusive leadership.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Curious about how AI will shape the future of marketing? In this milestone 100th episode of the Leader Generation podcast, Eric Bertrand and Tessa Burg take a look at what’s next for AI-driven marketing.
Eric shares his vision for harnessing AI to boost efficiency, elevate creativity and deliver real value to clients. From streamlining repetitive tasks to using data for smarter decision-making, Eric talks about how marketers can adapt to rapidly changing technology.
Whether you're considering AI adoption or already working on it, Eric shares ideas on how to maximize ROI and add AI into existing workflows. His outlook on the role of data, client-focused innovation and self-governance is great for marketers looking to drive AI transformation.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. For an executive guide to growth and transformation, check out our book Getting Digital Done, now available on Amazon.
About Eric Bertrand:
Eric Bertrand is the CEO of Mod Op, with experience in operating and managing start-ups, growth-stage businesses and publicly traded companies. Prior to Mod Op, Eric was a venture capital fund manager, where he invested $400 million in 60+ companies for over 25 years. He has served on over 30 boards, including several non-profit organizations, and brings industry expertise in media and entertainment, retail, consumer products, business services and information technology. Get in touch with Eric at eric@modop.com or follow him on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
What does it take for a brand to stand out in a world dominated by automation and AI? Tessa Burg finds out from Jeni Gardner, a seasoned marketing and media executive.
With over 30 years of experience working with major global brands, Jeni shares how established companies can leverage their legacy strengths while adopting the agility of challenger brands. She explains why, even in a data-driven age, creativity and authenticity remain essential for building strong, lasting connections with customers. Jeni also discusses how brands can harness new technologies to elevate the customer experience, streamline operations and stay relevant in a fast-changing market.
Whether you're a CMO, marketer or simply curious about the future of branding, check out this episode to learn how to keep your brand story consistent while adapting to the latest technological trends.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. For an executive guide to growth and transformation, check out our book Getting Digital Done, now available on Amazon.
About Jeni Gardner:
Jeni Gardner is an Executive Leader in Marketing and Media. She has extensive experience fostering strategic media partnerships and spearheading innovation in both traditional and digital media campaigns. Additionally, she is passionate about advancing the industry in key areas, specifically digital accountability and measurement. To learn more, connect with Jeni on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
What if the key to future-proofing your digital marketing strategy lies in human connection?
In this episode, Phil Schraeder, CEO of GumGum, talks about a contextual-first approach to marketing. He shares how this AI-powered strategy allows brands to connect with consumers by focusing on their real-time experiences rather than relying on personal data.
Phil explains how understanding a consumer's environment helps brands deliver ads that resonate more authentically. He introduces the idea of the "mindset era," where technology helps marketers match the right message with the right moment, driving stronger engagement.
Listeners will also hear about the challenges of modern marketing, including the need for immediate results and the limitations of identity-based targeting. Phil offers insights into how brands can stay relevant by anticipating cultural moments and building meaningful, lasting connections.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. For an executive guide to growth and transformation, check out our book Getting Digital Done, now available on Amazon.
About Phil Schraeder:
Phil Schraeder is an executive and recognized thought leader in digital advertising and contextual technologies…who loves fashion and EDM music. As Chief Executive Officer of GumGum, the leading contextual intelligence company, Phil Schraeder believes that we don’t need to know who people are in order to deliver relevant, engaging and effective digital advertising. As the CEO, he is responsible for GumGum’s success in leading the industry in privacy-first, contextual intelligence technologies based on a consumer’s mindset, and not their personal data. Phil is passionate about making advertising experiences better for consumers by ushering the industry into mindset-first, privacy-forward solutions in an exciting and fast-moving digital ecosystem. Be sure to follow Phil on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
How can businesses use AI while maintaining trust?
In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg and Patty Parobek talk about developing AI policies that strike a balance between innovation and responsibility. They discuss how companies can move beyond inconsistent AI adoption and fully integrate AI solutions to enhance efficiency, creativity and growth. Patty also explains how setting clear policies and governance can actually accelerate AI adoption rather than hold it back.
This episode offers practical steps for marketers working through AI challenges to help them build policies that promote responsibility, inspire trust and encourage innovative use of AI across teams and customer interactions.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Patty Parobek:
As Vice President of AI Transformation, Patty leads Mod Op’s AI practice group, spearheading initiatives to maximize the value and scalability of AI-enabled solutions. Patty collaborates with the executive team to revolutionize creative, advertising and marketing projects for clients, while ensuring responsible AI practices. She also oversees AI training programs, identifies high-value AI use cases and measures implementation impact, providing essential feedback to Mod Op’s AI Council for continuous improvement. Patty can be reached on LinkedIn or at Patty.Parobek@ModOp.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
How can businesses use the power of AI while keeping their human expertise front and center? In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg chats with Shaheen Samavati to explore how AI is changing global content creation.
Shaheen shares her experiences with integrating AI tools—like ChatGPT and custom GPTs—into workflows without sacrificing creativity or cultural relevance. Whether you’re curious about using AI to enhance your content or balancing automation and human touch, this episode is for you.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. For an executive guide to growth and transformation, check out our book Getting Digital Done.
About Shaheen Samavati:
Shaheen Samavati is the Co-Founder and CEO of VeraContent, an agency that manages localized content marketing channels for international brands across key European markets. After starting her career as a journalist in the US, she moved to Spain in 2010, where she completed an MBA at IE Business School, worked in corporate communication, and formed part of the founding team of real estate startup Spotahome before launching VeraContent in 2016. Today, she oversees a talented team that creates and localizes content for blogs, social media pages, and other marketing channels in Europe and beyond. Get in touch at shaheen@veracontent.com or LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council, and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
How can your business take advantage of AI through operational change? In this episode, Tessa Burg talks with Alane Boyd, co-founder of Workday Ninja, to explore this topic.
Alane shares why COOs and CTOs are often at the forefront of AI adoption and how marketers can tap into those efforts to improve efficiency and scale their results. They also discuss practical steps for overcoming common challenges in AI integration, from reducing burnout to boosting employee retention.
Curious about how to make AI work for your team and improve processes? This conversation offers realistic takeaways and real-world examples to inspire you to rethink how technology fits into your business strategy.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Alane Boyd:
Alane Boyd is a serial entrepreneur, passionate leader and a high-growth founder. She’s a visionary who believes in impact-driven, result-oriented leadership. Her skillsets focus on operations, sales, marketing and technical skills. Alane likes to use her time to guide and mentor others, whether in her company or other founders, to grow and scale their abilities. Be sure to follow Alane on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In this episode, Tessa Burg talks with Stefan Tornquist about how AI is changing knowledge work and the future of skill development.
Discover how AI is reshaping marketing by automating routine tasks, freeing up professionals for more strategic, creative work. Stefan shares insights from Econsultancy’s research on AI’s growing role in professional services, drawing comparisons between today's AI disruption and the early days of the internet. They also discuss how emotional intelligence and targeted training can help teams embrace AI, adapt and thrive.
Tune in for ideas on how you can boost your team's skills and productivity with AI. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Stefan Tornquist:
Stefan Tornquist is SVP of Learning and Research at Econsultancy, where he focuses on learning experience and curriculum development. He manages a team of subject matter experts, designers and experience creators that turns best practice research into dynamic learning content. He has also authored courses on a variety of topics, including customer experience strategy, AI in decision-making and developing a powerful mindset. Be sure to follow Stefan on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Ever wondered how to get Baby Boomers, Gen Xers, Millennials and Gen Z to collaborate effectively? In the latest episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg chats with Kathryn Landis about the unique challenges and opportunities of multiple generations working side by side.
Kathryn explains how understanding and empathy can help bridge generational gaps, creating a more inclusive and productive workplace. She shares practical tips for marketing and business leaders on adapting their management styles to create a workplace culture that accommodates diverse working styles and enhances communication across all age groups.
For those in leadership roles, this conversation offers ideas on creating environments where all generations can thrive, innovate and drive business success. Don't miss this opportunity to learn how to build a stronger, more dynamic team!
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Kathryn Landis:
Kathryn is the Founder and CEO of Kathryn Landis Consulting, a global executive and team coaching firm dedicated to helping leaders empower and inspire teams, and become the best version of themselves in work and life. Her insights and strategies have gained recognition in prestigious publications such as the Harvard Business Review, Forbes, and Fast Company, further establishing her reputation as a highly sought-after expert in her field. Follow her on LinkedIn and subscribe to her newsletter: Your Future, Your Work.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In this episode, Tessa Burg talks with long-time friend and AI transformation expert Patty Parobek about the intersection of AI and marketing.
Patty draws from her rich marketing strategy and change management background to explore the critical role of aligning AI initiatives with a solid organizational vision. She highlights the power of collaboration, adaptability and positivity in driving successful change and shares valuable insights on the future of AI in marketing. Patty also emphasizes the importance of personalized training and thoughtful implementation to harness AI's potential.
The episode wraps up with a powerful call to action for leaders to define their “North Star” to guide effective and meaningful transformation. Tune in for inspiration on your own journey to AI and change management.
To learn more and be a leading change agent in your organization, register for MAICON 2024 with coupon code MODOP100, plus meet up with Tessa and members of the Mod Op team. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Patty Parobek:
Patty Parobek, Vice President of Artificial Intelligence Transformation at Mod Op, leads the agency's AI practice group. She spearheads initiatives to maximize the value and scalability of AI-enabled solutions. Patty collaborates with the executive team to revolutionize creative, advertising and marketing projects for clients, while ensuring responsible AI practices. She also oversees AI training programs, identifies high-value AI use cases and measures implementation impact, providing essential feedback to Mod Op’s AI Council for continuous improvement. Patty can be reached on LinkedIn or at Patty.Parobek@ModOp.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Discover how AI can transform your marketing strategies. Liza Adams, one of Pavilion's 50 CMOs to Watch in 2024, joins Tessa Burg to share how AI enhances strategic value and deepens market insights.
They highlight the shift from broad to targeted marketing strategies, emphasizing the importance of data quality and ethical AI usage. Liza stresses the need for quality data and education to use AI effectively.
Listen now to hear how to harness AI for personalized, human-centric campaigns that build trust and drive sustainable profitability.
Use coupon code ModOp100 to register for MAICON 2024 and hear Liza speak in person, plus meet up with Tessa and members of the Mod Op team.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Liza Adams:
As an AI Advisor and Fractional CMO with GrowthPath Partners, Liza Adams guides companies through their AI journey and accelerates responsible AI adoption. She is a recognized AI thought leader, prolific writer and public speaker with more than a decade of AI experience that began with machine learning and predictive analytics, then steadily evolved. Liza was recognized as a person to follow in AI at G2's 2023 Reach event and one of the 50 CMOs to watch in 2024 by Pavilion. Well-known publications like Forbes and Marketing Profs cover her work and insights. To learn more, follow Liza on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Tessa Burg welcomes Alani Kuye back to discuss more detail about artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). In this conversation, Tessa and Alani discuss how AI and ML reshape industries and the dramatic shift from Web3 to AI funding.
Discover the importance of foundational business practices and learn about the critical role of big data, neural networks and human expertise in guiding AI development. Understand the significance of collaboration, user experience and simplification in successfully scaling technology.
Get an expert take on the future of agencies and the impact of AI on various professions on Leader Generation—hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Alani Kuye:
Alani Kuye is the Chief Growth Officer at Mande Network. He’s a seasoned technology executive with over 20 years of experience scaling platforms, building technology ecosystems, startup acceleration and investing. Alani is passionate about leveraging blockchain technology, decentralized platforms and artificial intelligence to create decentralized global ecosystems that empower people and businesses. He's also published multiple papers on blockchain governance frameworks. Connect with Alani on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Join Tessa Burg as she talks with technology investor and advisor Alani Kuye.
On this episode of the Leader Generation Podcast, Tessa and Alani explore the strategic significance of the current technology wave. They focus on the evolution from Web2 to Web3 and the importance of decentralized infrastructure.
Alani emphasizes the importance of bridging old and new technologies for a seamless transition in the tech industry. They also discuss the critical role of data privacy, the hype around AI and ML, and the need for quality over quantity in innovation.
Alani ends by offering valuable advice to startups on simplifying processes and providing an alternative to competing directly with giants.
Listen now to learn more about navigating today's tech landscape and the future of digital innovation. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Alani Kuye:
Alani Kuye is the Chief Growth Officer at Mande Network. He’s a seasoned technology executive with over 20 years of experience scaling platforms, building technology ecosystems, startup acceleration and investing. Anani is passionate about leveraging blockchain technology, decentralized platforms and artificial intelligence to create decentralized global ecosystems that empower people and businesses. He's also published multiple papers on blockchain governance frameworks. Connect with Alani on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Join us for this episode of Leader Generation, where Tessa Burg talks with Simon Severino, CEO of Strategy Sprints. With over 20 years of experience, Simon has perfected the art of go-to-market strategies, primarily catering to Fortune 500 companies.
In this conversation, Simon shares insightful strategies for creating a culture of opportunity within organizations, stressing the importance of being buyer-centric in today's fast-paced market. Simon also discusses the integration of AI and machine learning tools to streamline processes and enhance decision-making.
Whether you want to revamp your sales approach or transform your company culture, this episode offers valuable ideas to drive business growth. Tune in for valuable insights that can redefine how your business competes and thrives in the digital world.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Simone Severino:
Simon Severino is the Founder of Strategy Sprints. He’s created 2B+ in additional sales for his clients over the last 20+ years. As an advisor who became CEO, he had to learn the importance of working ON the business more than IN it. Now, he shares his proven templates with high-ticket entrepreneurs. They reclaim 14 hours per week using the Strategy Sprints™ Method and enjoy soaring sales—author of “Strategy Sprints,” podcast host, TEDx speaker and Forbes contributor. Follow Simon on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg, and Matz Lukmani continue their conversation about Google Performance Max and its benefits for marketers.
Matz assures listeners that Performance Max isn't just for businesses with short sales cycles; it's also adaptable for longer cycles. He emphasizes the need to map out the entire lead-to-conversion journey for effective tracking.
Throughout the discussion, Matz shares practical tips for boosting lead conversion rates. But it's not all technical talk. Tessa and Matz also explore strategies for campaign optimization, including ways to prevent ad fatigue and protect brand reputation.
Matz wraps up the episode by suggesting additional resources and training to help listeners learn more about capturing leads with Performance Max.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Matz Lukmani:
Matz Lukmani (EMEA Product Lead, Google Performance Max), based in London (UK), has been with Google for more than nine years, working on products like Google Analytics 360, Google Ads, Search Ads 360 and Firebase Analytics. He currently leads Performance Max Campaigns and Attribution offerings within Google Ads, Search Ads 360 and Google Analytics in EMEA. He has worked over 15 years in the USA in various leadership roles at SAP, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Toys R Us, MediaCom, Triad Retail Media and PwC, to name a few. He offers analytics consulting services in web analytics, predictive analytics and advanced marketing AI across a wide range of industries. Be sure to follow Matz on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Join us this week as we welcome back Matz Lukmani to discuss optimizing your ad campaigns with Google’s extensive media inventory for improved lead quality and conversion rates.
Matz, a product lead for Google Performance Max, shares compelling success stories from companies who’ve seen notable enhancements in lead qualification and ROI after upgrading their campaigns. He stresses the need for robust measurement and patience to fully leverage PMax.
Tune in to learn how to refine your lead generation tactics and achieve remarkable results with Google Performance Max. Plus, don’t miss your chance to get a virtual front-row seat at Google Marketing Live on Tuesday, May 21, 2024, to discover the latest Google Ads innovations and see how Google AI can boost your business. Register now!
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Matz Lukmani:
Matz Lukmani (EMEA Product Lead, Google Performance Max), based in London (UK), has been with Google for more than nine years, working on products like Google Analytics 360, Google Ads, Search Ads 360 and Firebase Analytics. He currently leads Performance Max Campaigns and Attribution offerings within Google Ads, Search Ads 360 and Google Analytics in EMEA. He has worked over 15 years in the USA in various leadership roles at SAP, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Toys R Us, MediaCom, Triad Retail Media and PwC, to name a few. He offers analytics consulting services in web analytics, predictive analytics and advanced marketing AI across a wide range of industries. Be sure to follow Matz on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Topics In This Episode:
- Advantages of Google Performance Max
- Client success stories
- Technical advancements
- Measurement and upgrades
- Digital transformation
- Value-based bidding
- Campaign optimization
- Quality control and security
Will Cady, Reddit’s Global Brand Ambassador, joins us to discuss the relationship between anxiety and creativity.
He shares practical advice on transforming anxious feelings into creative fuel and highlights the importance of managing emotions to enhance creativity. We also explore how artificial intelligence is changing the creative workforce and why Will believes AI is best used to complement, not replace, human creativity.
Tune in to learn how to turn your deepest anxieties into artistic expression and navigate the evolving world of creative professions.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Will Cady:
Will Cady has walked a path from zen monasteries and touring rock bands into his current role as the Global Brand Ambassador at Reddit, where he also serves as the company’s weekly meditation guide and tarot reader. On his path, Will studied deeply with virtuoso musicians, mystical healers and boundary-breaking entrepreneurs to develop a uniquely potent practice for cultivating creative vision. This practice is at the core of how he builds, leads and advises teams of creators today. Be sure to follow Will on LinkedIn, Instagram and X. Plus, check out his book, Which Way Is North: A Creative Compass for Makers, Marketers, and Mystics, available on Amazon.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Evan Shapiro shares how big tech companies are redrawing the boundaries of the media sector. This episode covers today's seismic shifts, from the rise and impact of tech giants to the strategic use of data in marketing.
The episode explores how brands must adjust to changing consumer behaviors, highlighting the essential shift from reach to meaningful engagement. They discuss using first-party data and machine learning to craft personalized messages that hit home. Plus, insist on measuring marketing success through actual sales, not just exposure.
With a wealth of knowledge on impact over impressions and investing in data-driven decision-making, this is an episode that marketers, media professionals, and tech leaders won't want to miss.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Evan Shapiro:
Many know Evan Shapiro as the official, unofficial cartographer of the Media Universe. Using a very specific point of view, Shapiro has mapped the tech and entertainment ecosystem, and, through his essays on the Media War & Peace Newsletter, he helps chart Media's future.
Shapiro is also an Emmy and Peabody Award winning producer of many funny things, including Portlandia, This Film Is Not Yet Rated, Please Like Me, Comedy Bang Bang, Brick City, and Harmonquest.
He is also a professor at NYU and Fordham schools of business, as well as the co-host of the Cancel Culture Podcast. Shapiro uses his insights to power his change agency, ESHAP, which offers partners and consumers media insight as a service. Be sure to follow Evan on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Discover key strategies for navigating the post-cookie marketing landscape on this episode of the Leader Generation podcast.
Host Tessa Burg and veteran strategist Shannon Sullivan discuss the implications of cookie deprecation. With over two decades of expertise, Shannon clarifies the shift towards first-party data and how marketers can turn these changes into opportunities for deeper customer engagement.
This episode is perfect for professionals looking to refine their digital marketing tactics with actionable advice for today’s privacy-centric online world.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Shannon Sullivan:
Shannon Sullivan is a go-to leader for engaging audiences online. As the Executive Vice President of Audience Strategy at Mod Op, she has a knack for developing the best marketing strategies for the digital world. She uses her extensive knowledge and expertise to help businesses—big and small—get noticed. From global tech companies to smaller up-and-comers, Shannon helps businesses successfully connect with people and grow their online presence.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Get ready for some real talk about marketing in the age of automation. Mark Simon joins Tessa Burg on our latest episode of the Leader Generation podcast.
They get into why strong leadership and a straightforward plan matter more than ever in digital transformation. They break down how clear communication and getting everyone on the same page are key to making automation work for your business.
In this episode, you’ll hear why it’s smart to get your data house in order before bringing AI into the mix and why running fast into automation without a plan can lead you to more mess than success.
This episode is filled with practical advice for marketers who want to use AI and automation strategically to grow their businesses successfully.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Mark Simon:
Mark Simon is the Vice President of Strategy at Celigo. He’s spent more than 20 years in technology roles such as software developer CTO, consultant and EVP of Services & Technology. Mark has with clients across several industries. His experience includes designing and developing automated processes for tasks like handing sales orders, managing subscriptions and provisioning.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Step into the future of branding with Steve Red and Tessa Burg. They unravel how your company can forge deeper connections with your audience through authentic storytelling. Discover the secrets to transforming data points into compelling stories that do more than sell—they create authentic brand experiences.
Creativity and analytics come together as we discuss how to harness AI and ML not just to streamline operations but to infuse marketing with insights that drive growth and resonate on a human level. Learn how to make data your ally in the creative process, and shape campaigns that speak directly to the hearts and minds of your ideal customers.
You’ll hear ideas on how to combine AI with the human touch to tell stories that are as data-driven as they are emotionally charged. Join us to redefine what branding means in the age of technology, and discover a new era of customer engagement.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Steve Red:
Steve is the Co-Chief Creative Officer at Mod Op. The founder of Red Tettemer O'Connell + Partners, recently acquired by Mod Op, Steve touches virtually everything that goes out of the agency door from a creative and strategic perspective. He believes people are smart and advertising should be too, and that the only real martini is made with gin. Someday … long after
his teenagers aren’t teenagers anymore, he’ll settle down and start painting again, which is what his dad says he should have done all along. Steve can be reached at Steve.Red@ModOp.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has
held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In this episode, Len Gilbert and Tessa Burg discuss the human side of digital transformation. They highlight the importance of using technology to improve customer experience.
Len opens up with a personal story about his father's recent health emergency and how it shed light on the positive impact of technology in healthcare. He introduces us to the 'hospital at home' program, which not only helped his father recover faster but also illustrates the potential of tech-driven care. This story isn't just interesting; it offers a practical guide for any industry looking to succeed with digital transformation.
As the conversation shifts from Len’s story to broader business strategies, the focus remains on customer experience as the key to getting digital transformation right. Marketing leaders will find this episode rich with practical tips on choosing the right technology to meet customer needs.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Len Gilbert:
Len Gilbert is the EVP and Head of Strategic Consulting at Mod Op. With more than 25 years of experience, he helps companies strategically use data and technology to innovate, grow, launch new products, stay competitive, and future-proof their businesses against the risks of digital disruption. Len can be reached at len.gilbert@modop.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Gareth Cunningham joins Tessa Burg on the Leader Generation podcast to challenge the notion that SEO is dead due to AI advancements.
Gareth, a search expert, argues that the integration of AI into SEO is not entirely new. Google already uses AI and machine learning to optimize search results, detect spam and match content with search intent. He views AI as an enhancement to SEO rather than its replacement.
Here are a few topics Gareth and Tessa cover in this episode:
- Impact of Generative AI on SEO
- Evolution of search strategies
- Shifts in SEO practices
- UX/UI integration with SEO
- Semantic web and authority
- Future directions in search technology
- Role of Google in shaping search trends
Don't miss this exchange. It promises forward-thinking ideas about search and optimization that you can apply to your own digital marketing.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Gareth Cunningham:
Gareth stands at the intersection of creativity and analytics in his role as the Director of SEO at Mod Op. He leverages his experience in digital marketing to shape the online presence of national and international brands. Gareth consistently delivers strategies that increase organic traffic and improve search rankings for clients. His innovative approaches and dedication to measurable results have cemented his reputation as a dynamic leader in search engine optimization. Gareth can be reached at gareth.cunningham@modop.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Grab your earbuds and settle in for a conversation with Sharon Toerek, an expert in intellectual property and marketing law. She talks about legal and compliance issues with emerging technologies, with a special focus on generative AI.
Host Tessa Burg joins Sharon to discuss how AI is reshaping the services agencies can offer. Together, they explore how to set up the right policies, use AI responsibly, and have transparent conversations with clients to manage risks.
While legal topics might not usually grab your attention, Sharon makes them interesting while delivering important information for anyone in the marketing field. Visit the AI + Your Agency Resource Center for helpful downloads from Legal+Creative.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Sharon Toerek:
Sharon Toerek is the Owner & Founder of Legal+Creative | Toerek Law. She’s an intellectual property and marketing law attorney who devotes her legal practice to clients in the advertising, marketing, and creative services industries. Sharon helps clients protect, enforce, and monetize their creative assets and manage the legal implications of their marketing and advertising work. Sharon also writes and lectures frequently on the legal issues marketers face every day, such as intellectual property protection, social media marketing compliance, and more.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Integrating generative AI into marketing workflows is a move only a select few forward-thinking leaders are making. We’re excited to collaborate with the Test. Learn. Grow. podcast to feature discussions with two such trailblazers—Tessa Burg, host of Leader Generation and CTO at Mod Op, and Patrick Patterson, CEO at Level.
These leaders are at the forefront, not just employing generative AI but also setting the standard for its application. They join the podcast to share their excitement, expert tips, bold opinions, and the valuable lessons they've learned along the way.
Listen to a conversation filled with actionable advice for anyone looking to elevate their organization's AI journey. This episode was originally published by the Test. Learn. Grow. podcast, hosted by Dale Riether and sponsored by Level.
About Patrick Patterson:
From the outset of his career, Patterson applied his background in computer science and math to the challenge of reaching and engaging audiences (and carefully measuring every result). In his tenure as president & CEO of Level Agency, Patrick Patterson oversaw its transformation from a pioneering, fast-growing higher education shop into the performance-marketing powerhouse it is today. Under his leadership, the agency's revenue grew 30% or more annually; its profit margin increased 4X; its marketing spend now tops $50M annually, and its capabilities have broadened to offer more complementary services for more industries.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In this episode, Tessa Burg and Derick Schaefer discuss the rapid evolution of AI in marketing. You’ll get an inside look at the challenges companies face when they blindly adopt AI—emphasizing the need for a solid AI strategy backed by clear business metrics.
The conversation goes deeper, covering organizational culture shifts, the pivotal role of change management, and how employees can become the catalyst for innovation. They also spotlight the importance of establishing a baseline to properly measure AI effectiveness and contribution to growth.
Whether you're a marketing leader, tech enthusiast, or a curious mind, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to enhance your understanding and approach to AI, machine learning, and business strategy.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Derick Schaefer:
Derick Schaefer is the Senior Vice President of Technology at Mod Op Strategic Consulting. He focuses on using technology and processes to develop customer-focused business strategies. Previously, he was the Chief Technology Officer at Trintech Inc. and held VP roles at Digital Insight and NCR. Derick founded a successful startup named Synthesis and also spent more than ten years working at Microsoft.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In our latest podcast episode, we celebrated a milestone: the first anniversary of Chat GPT's launch. Alon Yamin from Copyleaks joined Tessa Burg to discuss the impact of generative AI on marketing and technology.
We tackled some big issues: the excitement and skepticism around AI, the need for governance, plus the challenges of data security and privacy. We also got into AI accuracy and the risks of "AI hallucination," where AI-generated information may not always be correct. We also chatted about the Biden administration's recent executive order on AI, aiming for a safer future.
AI isn’t a fleeting trend; it’s here to stay. That’s why we must stay ahead of the game to manage its risks and potential. Tune in to join the conversation.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Alon Yamin:
Alon is the CEO and Co-Founder of Copyleaks a cloud platform focused on AI-powered text analysis to identify potential plagiarism, uncover AI-generated content, ensure responsible generative AI adoption, verify authenticity and ownership and empower error-free writing. Prior to Copyleaks, Alon worked as a software developer for Unit 8200 - Israeli Intelligence Corps, where they worked on different intelligence projects mainly for the Air Force.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa is the Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op and Host of the Leader Generation podcast. She has led both technology and marketing teams for 15+ years. Tessa initiated and now leads Mod Op's AI/ML Pilot Team, AI Council and Innovation Pipeline. She started her career in IT and development before following her love for data and strategy into digital marketing. Tessa has held roles on both the consulting and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen, and many more. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Join Tessa Burg and Tom Madrilejos as they share their enthusiasm for AI on this episode of the Leader Generation podcast. Tune in for an interesting discussion about the potential of AI and machine learning and their impact on marketing and communications.
Explore the landscape of AI adoption, ranging from novices to experts. Gain insights into the common concerns plaguing colleagues and clients, including plagiarism, data leaks, IP issues, and AI's sustainability in content marketing and SEO.
Uncover key pillars of successful AI integration in marketing: transparency, communication, and risk management. Discover how to drive innovation within your organization by establishing an AI Council complete with cross-functional teams.
Don't miss this engaging conversation that sheds light on the future of marketing with AI. Stay tuned for upcoming episodes covering AI, marketing channels, measurement, risk management, and more.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
Related episodes:
https://tenloradio.com/e/how-to-drive-business-growth-with-an-ai-council/
https://tenloradio.com/e/unscripted-bonus-episode-on-ai-machine-learning/
About Tom Madrilejos:
Tom Madrilejos is an accomplished Associate Director of Audience Strategy with a proven track record of driving digital marketing success. With a wealth of experience, he leads alongside client teams in developing cutting-edge digital marketing and go-to-market strategies. Tom specializes in harnessing the power of AI and machine learning to optimize marketing campaigns, enhance customer engagement and achieve superior results. His passion for innovation and commitment to delivering exceptional value make him a vital asset in digital marketing.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is the Chief Technology Officer and Host of the Leader Generation podcast at Mod Op. She’s been leading data-driven marketing and technology teams for 15+ years on both the agency and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa has deep skills in data and tech architecture, software product development and management, digital transformation and strategy. As CTO, she oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging and securing the right platforms and data to deliver valuable and measurable results across physical, digital and virtual experiences. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In this episode of the Leader Generation podcast, Tessa Burg talks with Lilith Bat-Leah about the pivotal role of data science in marketing and various industries.
They discuss the growing significance of data science and machine learning, emphasizing the importance of data quality, domain expertise, and innovation in data-centric AI applications. Lilith also shares practical advice for embracing change and the belief that AI and ML solutions don’t need to be perfect to provide value in marketing.
Expect valuable insights from Lilith's expertise, including useful guidance for marketers looking to effectively leverage AI and ML.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.
About Lilith Bat-Leah:
Lilith Bat-Leah, Vice President of Data Services at Mod Op, is responsible for strategic consulting on use cases for data analytics, data science and machine learning. She has more than 11 years of experience managing, delivering and consulting on the identification, preservation, collection, processing, review, analysis and production of digital data. Lilith also has experience in research and development of machine learning software. She specializes in the application of statistics, analytics, machine learning and data science to natural language and other unstructured data. She is passionate about making impossible things possible and is driven by curiosity.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is the Chief Technology Officer and Host of the Leader Generation podcast at Mod Op. She’s been leading data-driven marketing and technology teams for 15+ years on both the agency and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa has deep skills in data and tech architecture, software product development and management, digital transformation and strategy. As CTO, she oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging and securing the right platforms and data to deliver valuable and measurable results across physical, digital and virtual experiences. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Welcome to another exciting episode of Leader Generation. Chris Harihar joins us for a fascinating discussion about AI—especially ChatGPT—and how it's shaking things up in the field of public relations.
Get ready to hear about the various AI applications in public relations, from press release writing to pitch support. Plus, stick around for some insights on data security, the art of experimentation and the potential of AI tools to reshape the PR and communications industry.
We’ll talk all about embracing higher-impact, value-driven endeavors that promise stellar results for clients. So, buckle up for this episode, packed with ideas to help you stay on the cutting edge of PR innovation.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. To provide feedback and ask marketing questions for future episodes, message Tessa on LinkedIn.
About Chris Harihar:
Chris Harihar is the EVP of Public Relations at Mod Op (formerly Crenshaw Communications).
With deep expertise in business and tech media relations, Chris counsels clients at a high level while maintaining hands-on involvement in media relations and content strategy. He has developed and run highly successful programs for leading B2B and tech brands, from Verizon Media/Yahoo and DoubleVerify to Signal AI, IDG (now Foundry) and WeTransfer. Chris can be reached on LinkedIn or at Chris.Harihar@ModOp.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is the Chief Technology Officer and Host of the Leader Generation podcast at Mod Op. She’s been leading data-driven marketing and technology teams for 15+ years on both the agency and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa has deep skills in data and tech architecture, software product development and management, digital transformation and strategy. As CTO, she oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging and securing the right platforms and data to deliver valuable and measurable results across physical, digital and virtual experiences. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
Ever wondered how top companies maintain the edge in today's rapidly advancing technological landscape? Enter the AI Council.
In this episode, Tessa Burg emphasizes how having a well-orchestrated AI Council is not just a strategic move, but a game-changer for businesses. By harnessing the power of diverse expertise and aligning it with the innovations in AI and machine learning, companies can unlock unprecedented growth opportunities.
Dive into this podcast to discover how the right structure and focus of an AI Council can become your secret weapon to drive business growth.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. To provide feedback and ask marketing questions for future episodes, message Tessa on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is the Chief Technology Officer and Host of the Leader Generation podcast at Mod Op. She’s been leading data-driven marketing and technology teams for 15+ years on both the agency and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa has deep skills in data and tech architecture, software product development and management, digital transformation and strategy. As CTO, she oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging and securing the right platforms and data to deliver valuable and measurable results across physical, digital and virtual experiences. Tessa can be reached on LinkedIn or at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg interviews Jonathan Murray, Mod Op's Chief Strategy Officer. Jonathan shares insights from his extensive background on the role of CEOs in the age of artificial intelligence and digital transformation. Their conversation covers several topics, such as:
- CEO's role in technology adoption and business transformation
- Embracing AI and machine learning in the business landscape
- Leadership in the digital age
- Setting clear objectives and accountability in change initiatives
- The importance of mission and vision in motivating employees
Don't miss out on this essential discussion for business leaders. Listen now for tips to better navigate the evolving technology landscape.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. To provide feedback and ask marketing questions for future episodes, message Tessa on LinkedIn.
About Jonathan Murray:
Jonathan Murray is the Chief Strategy Officer at Mod Op and has 25 years of experience in digital transformation. He’s passionate about helping forward-looking executives turn strategy into results by enabling organizations to thrive in a digital world through empowered cultures and modern operating models. Jonathan can be reached at Jonathan.Murray@ModOp.com.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is the Chief Technology Officer and Host of the Leader Generation podcast at Mod Op. She’s been leading data-driven marketing and technology teams for 15+ years on both the agency and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa has deep skills in data and tech architecture, software product development and management, digital transformation and strategy. As CTO, she oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging and securing the right platforms and data to deliver valuable and measurable results across physical, digital and virtual experiences. Tessa can be reached at Tessa.Burg@ModOp.com.
In this episode, we dive into the evolving landscape of technology. The discussion centers on the value of expertise and the important role marketers continue to play in an age dominated by artificial intelligence and machine learning.
You'll gain insights into the unique qualities that humans bring to the table, setting them apart from the algorithms and data-driven systems. Discover who is poised to thrive in this AI-infused world as we explore the traits and strategies that will help individuals leverage their expertise to effectively stand out.
AI isn't a magical switch that can be flipped on; it requires humans to unlock its full potential. Tune in to learn how to navigate this exciting era where expertise and AI become a powerful combination.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. For feedback and marketing questions for future episodes, message Tessa on LinkedIn.
About David C. Baker:
David C. Baker is an Advisor, Author and Speaker. He owned a marketing communications firm for six years. He then started a management consulting firm and became the leading authority on positioning, reinventing and selling firms in the creative and digital space.
David is the author of five books, three of which focus on the central elements of the business of expertise: positioning, financial management and leadership. He also speaks regularly on more than 70 topics relevant to entrepreneurial expertise and appears as a guest on podcasts every month.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is the Chief Technology Officer and Host of the Leader Generation podcast at Mod Op. She’s been leading data-driven marketing and technology teams for 15+ years on both the agency and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa has deep skills in data and tech architecture, software product development and management, digital transformation and strategy. As CTO, she oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging and securing the right platforms and data to deliver valuable and measurable results across physical, digital and virtual experiences.
As artificial intelligence shapes a swiftly changing landscape, marketers are grappling with uncertainties about their future roles. However, amidst this evolution, today's marketers offer unique value that AI—like ChatGPT—can't replicate.
Join Tessa Burg for this episode as she highlights the exclusive data that businesses have that sets them apart. Learn how marketers can harness this data to excel through personalization, prediction and pattern identification, gaining a competitive edge that’s uniquely human.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. For feedback and marketing questions for future episodes, message Tessa on LinkedIn.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is the Chief Technology Officer and Host of the Leader Generation podcast at Mod Op. She’s been leading data-driven marketing and technology teams for 15+ years on both the agency and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa has deep skills in data and tech architecture, software product development and management, digital transformation, and strategy. As CTO, she oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging and securing the right platforms and data to deliver valuable and measurable results across physical, digital and virtual experiences.
In this episode, Tessa Burg from Mod Op explores the future impact of generative AI on SEO and how it could potentially decrease unbranded website traffic. With Google's development of Search Generated Experience (SGE), businesses need to prepare strategies to offset traffic loss from non-branded keywords.
Tessa discusses the importance of building brand and community, creating non-commoditized content and capturing customer behavior data to optimize offerings and increase conversion rates. Stay ahead of the game and find out how to navigate the evolving SEO landscape in this informative discussion.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is the Chief Technology Officer and Host of the Leader Generation podcast at Mod Op. She’s been leading data-driven marketing and technology teams for 15+ years on both the agency and client sides of the business for domestic and international brands, including American Greetings, Amazon, Nestlé, Anlene, Moen and many more. Tessa has deep skills in data and tech architecture, software product development and management, digital transformation and strategy. As CTO, she oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging and securing the right platforms and data to deliver valuable and measurable results across physical, digital and virtual experiences.
Welcome back to the Leader Generation podcast. In this episode, we dive deeper into Google Performance Max with returning guest, Matz Lukmani. If you're a marketer who isn't seeing the expected results from Performance Max, we’ll cover some tips to help you turn the tide. We’ll discuss how to continue optimizing and improving performance once your campaign is up and running. Plus, Matz will share new features and enhancements on the horizon—and so much more.
Stay tuned for more exciting episodes where we'll continue to explore the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing and uncover strategies to generate exceptional results. This episode of the Leader Generation Podcast is hosted by Tessa Burg, Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op.
About Murtaza (Matz) Lukmani: Matz Lukmani is the EMEA Product Lead, Performance Max & Attribution at Google. Based in London, UK, Matz has been with Google for 7+ years working on products like Google Analytics 360, Google Ads, Search Ads 360 and Firebase Analytics. He currently leads Performance Max Campaigns and Attribution offerings within Google Ads, Search Ads 360 and Google Analytics in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa).
About Tessa Burg: Tessa Burg is Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op after the acquisition of Tenlo in 2022. In her previous role as Vice President of Technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, Tessa oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment and experiences.
Are you ready to take your ad performance to the next level? In this episode of the Leader Generation podcast, we explore Google Performance Max and how it can supercharge your advertising efforts using the power of artificial intelligence.
Google expert Matz Lukmani will give an overview of this cutting-edge solution that can help you optimize your ad campaigns like never before. If you’re wondering if Google Performance Max is right for you, we’ll discuss how businesses of different sizes and industries can use it to deliver exceptional results tailored to specific needs. Matz will also address rumors about Google using extra ad spend on low-performing placements. Plus, the incremental lift that Google Performance Max can bring to your marketing efforts.
In this episode, we only scratched the surface of what Google Performance Max can do for your business. Join us for [Part 2], where we'll dive deeper into the features and implementation strategies that will help you harness the power of this AI-driven technology.
To discover more on the topic of AI, join Tessa at the Marketing AI Conference (MAICON). She’ll join the panel discussion, “Unlocking the Power of AI for Agencies.” Use the code LEADERGEN100 when registering at maicon.ai to receive $100 off.
This episode of the Leader Generation Podcast is hosted by Tessa Burg, Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op.
About Murtaza (Matz) Lukmani:
Matz Lukmani is the EMEA Product Lead, Performance Max & Attribution at Google. Based in London, UK, Matz has been with Google for 7+ years, working on products like Google Analytics 360, Google Ads, Search Ads 360, and Firebase Analytics. He leads Performance Max Campaigns and Attribution offerings within Google Ads, Search Ads 360 and Google Analytics in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, Africa).
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op after the acquisition of Tenlo in 2022. In her previous role as Vice President of Technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, Tessa oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment, and experiences.
Get ready to talk more about the world of AI and machine learning in marketing. We discuss the role marketing leadership plays in championing this technology and driving its adoption. We'll also explore how marketers can embrace AI tools to amplify their skills, unleash their creativity tackle complex problems and align efforts with the overarching business vision. Join us to hear more about how marketing leaders can become the driving force tor igniting change fueling growth.
To dive deeper into the topic of AI, join Tessa at the Marketing AI Conference (MAICON). She’ll be joining the panel discussion, “Unlocking the Power of AI for Agencies.” Use the code LEADERGEN100 when you register to receive $100 off.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op after the acquisition of Tenlo in 2022. In her previous role as Vice President of Technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, Tessa oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment and experiences.
In this episode, we delve into the fascinating realm of Web3 marketing. We explore the immense potential that Web3 holds for marketers while addressing the skepticism surrounding it.
Web3 goes beyond technology; it’s become a cultural representation and a powerful tool for connecting with Gen Z. We examine how Gen Z actively embraces and utilizes Web3, and discuss strategies for effectively engaging them through this platform.
Join us as we uncover the latest trends in Web3 marketing and share compelling examples of successful brand adoptions. Get ready to explore the intersection of technology, culture and marketing in the realm of Web3.
This episode of the Leader Generation Podcast is hosted by Tessa Burg, Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op.
About Jonathan Verk:
Jonathan has been building companies and brands in entertainment, advertising, tech and media for over 25 years. He was named the Executive Vice President of Web3 and Business Innovation at Mod Op following the acquisition of CreativeDepartment in 2023. After the sale of an early AI ‘telehealth for divorce’ app in 2021, he launched CreativeDepartmint to help fortune 500 companies navigate and leverage Web3. CreativeDepartmint helped clients such as WarnerBrothers, CBS, Fox/Blockchain Creative Labs, Boston Pizza, drive over $10M in revenue launching NFTs, metaverse activations and Blockchain games.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op after the acquisition of Tenlo in 2022. In her previous role as Vice President of Technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, Tessa oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment and experiences.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing the way we approach marketing. In this episode, Tessa Burg explores the impact of this technology on marketers and provides insights on how to adapt to this new landscape.
As businesses increasingly turn to AI to optimize their operations, marketers must learn to leverage this technology to stay ahead of the curve. In this episode, Tessa Burg shares practical tips on how leaders can use AI to manage and operate marketing agencies as well as how to balance its use with human creativity.
To dive deeper into the topic of AI, join Tessa at the Marketing AI Conference (MIACON). She’ll be joining the panel discussion, “Unlocking the Power of AI for Agencies.” Use the code LEADERGEN100 when you register to receive $100 off.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op after its acquisition of Tenlo in 2022. In her previous role as Vice President of Technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, Tessa oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment and experiences.
Join us as we explore Gen Z marketing with Elizabeth Carter, the President and Chief Operations Officer of the healthy, high-protein snack brand Chomps. We dive into many interesting topics related to Gen Z marketing, including:
- Getting to know Gen Z consumers
- Understanding what’s important to them
- Connecting with Gen Z consumers
- Building a Gen Z audience
- Breaking through a crowded messaging landscape
- Storytelling and content development for Gen Z c
- Validating what messaging is right
- Creating great experiences throughout the buyer journey
- Competing against iconic brands
If you want to capture Gen Z's loyalty and succeed in the next generation of buyers, then this episode is a must-listen. This episode of the Leader Generation Podcast is hosted by Tessa Burg, Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op.
About Elizabeth Carter:
Elizabeth Carter is the President and Chief Operations Officer at Chomps. With a wealth of experience in the consumer-packaged goods industry, she specializes in food and beverage, as well as dietary supplements. As a results-oriented leader, Elizabeth excels at implementing both short-term and long-term strategies, setting goals, developing policies and procedures, improving team communication, and supporting the organization's mission, vision, and purpose. She has worked with well-known brands such as Humm Kombucha, 5-hour ENERGY, Petite Pot, and Perfect Snacks.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op after its acquisition of Tenlo in 2022. In her previous role as Vice President of Technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, Tessa oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment and experiences.
On this episode of the Leader Generation podcast, we explore the metaverse and its potential as a marketing platform.
Our guest, Limore Shur, shares valuable insights on creating customer-centric brand experiences and highlights examples of successful brands in this space. We discuss the latest trends and opportunities for brands in the metaverse, as well as the costs associated with creating high-quality experiences. Additionally, we examine the role of influencer brands and experience creators in shaping the future of marketing in this virtual world.
Tune in to learn how your brand can unlock the marketing power of the metaverse and win in the next dimension.
This episode of the Leader Generation Podcast is hosted by Tessa Burg, Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op.
About Limore Shur:
Limore Shur is a Creative Partner who provides marketing consulting services. He’s worked with Fortune 500 CEOs, executive committees, and business paragons, providing his unique perspective on the potential of a business/product and out-of-the-box solutions. Limore has also envisioned significant advertising campaigns, directed commercials, and developed brand strategies and roadmaps, making him a truly innovative, creative mind.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is the Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op after its acquisition of Tenlo in 2022. In her previous role as Vice President of Technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, Tessa oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment, and experiences.
On this episode of Leader Generation, host Tessa Burg and co-host Mat Segal are joined by Lauren Rothwell, the Co-Founder, and CEO of Blaze—a web3 customer engagement platform.
The three of them discuss how Discord, a popular communication platform originally designed for gamers, can be leveraged by B2C and B2B marketers to build brand communities and engagement.
Whether you're new to Discord or already using it for your brand, this episode offers valuable insights and actionable advice for marketers looking to build strong online communities.
About Lauren Rothwell:
Lauren Rothwell is the Co-Founder and CEO of Blaze, a community growth tool It seamlessly centralizes data from key platforms like Discord and Twitter. This helps make community management and marketing easier. Plus, helps companies understand their users better, so they can create personalized experiences.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op after its acquisition of Tenlo in 2022. In her previous role as Vice President of Technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, Tessa oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment, and experiences.
About Mat Segal:
Mat Segal is a Digital Producer at Mod Op. He’s a seasoned communicator and planner with a decade of experience bringing digital concepts and campaigns to market. With a specialty in digital strategy and production, he’s fluent in all aspects of digital marketing, from creative and launches to tracking and trafficking.
Welcome to this bonus episode of the Leader Generation podcast. We’re bringing you an unfiltered conversation about one of the most high-trending topics in marketing today—AI and machine learning. Sometimes, the most interesting conversations happen before or after a planned podcast interview. This is one of them.
We had the pleasure of talking with Lauren Rothwell, Co-Founder and CEO of Blaze, to discuss the impact of AI and machine learning on the marketing landscape. From data collection and analysis to natural language processing and image generation, these technologies are transforming the way we approach marketing.
We're excited to share our insights and perspectives with you. So, grab a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy this unscripted chat about the future of marketing.
About Lauren Rothwell:
Lauren Rothwell is the Co-Founder and CEO of Blaze, a community growth tool It seamlessly centralizes data from key platforms like Discord and Twitter. This helps make community management and marketing easier. Plus, helps companies understand their users better, so they can create personalized experiences.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op after its acquisition of Tenlo in 2022. In her previous role as Vice President of Technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, Tessa oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment, and experiences.
About Cheryl Boehm:
Cheryl Boehm is Co-Host of the Leader Generation podcast Director of Copywriting at Mod Op. She’s a digital content writer who strives to deliver the best online experiences to customers and prospects that, ultimately, lead to company growth for clients. Cheryl pushes to personalize content strategy with an individual “cheat code” that empowers each client to reach their end game fastest.
About Mat Segal:
Mat Segal is a Digital Producer at Mod Op. He’s a seasoned communicator and planner with a decade of experience bringing digital concepts and campaigns to market. With a specialty in digital strategy and production, he’s fluent in all aspects of digital marketing, from creative and launch to tracking and trafficking.
In this episode, we explore how a strong online presence for CPG brands is more important than ever. Lucie Repshire and Jenn Day join us from Colgate-Palmolive, Europe for an in-depth discussion on topics, including:
- Shifts in the CPG buying process and the impact on digital and e-commerce
- The evolution of online search
- How to distinguish between short- and long-term consumer behavior trends
- Changes in go-to-market strategies
- The evolution of marketing data use
- How content creation can improve the consumer experience online
- Consumer search intent and how it shapes content strategies
As consumer behaviors continue to evolve, it’s important to rethink the role of your website for your CPG brand. We hope you found the insights shared by our experts valuable and informative. Until next time!
This episode of the Leader Generation Podcast is hosted by Tessa Burg, Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op.
About Jenn Day:
Jenn Day is the Senior Search & Engagement Lead at Colgate-Palmolive, Europe. She designs people-centric, multi-channel strategies to drive awareness of and engagement with ColPal brands across Europe. As a key member of the European Division, Jenn works closely with regional and global teams to ensure all product and equity marketing activities maximize storytelling and drive conversion in the social and digital space.
About Lucie Repshire:
Lucie Repshire is the Senior eCommerce Manager at Colgate-Palmolive, Europe. She’s a digital marketer experienced in driving and managing ecommerce and digital expertise across multiple regions in large international and start-up companies. Highly organized and motivated by a challenge, Lucie finds creative ways for new technologies to build business results.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op after its acquisition of Tenlo in 2022. In her previous role as Vice President of Technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, Tessa oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment and experiences.
In this episode, Justin Vogel and Tessa Burg provide a comprehensive overview of Web3 technology and its impact on the marketing industry.
They start by defining Web3 and explaining the difference between Web2 and Web3. They then delve into how marketers can use Web3 to connect with more customers and create new experiences for them. You’ll also hear tips for getting started with Web3. This includes how to use low-visibility experiences to test the technology.
Justin and Tessa also cover topics such as marketing attribution for Web3, the data that can be gathered with this technology, and the importance of privacy in the decentralized world. They end with insights into untapped opportunities for marketers and brands. Plus, offer recommendations for where to learn more about Web3.
Overall, this episode is a must-listen for marketers looking to stay ahead of the curve in the rapidly evolving world of decentralized technology.
About Justin Vogel:
Justin Vogel is the Co-founder of Safary, a community-first company rebuilding the marketing stack in Web3 starting with attribution. Web3 teams use the Safary platform to understand their customer acquisition cost (CAC), channel return on investment (ROI) and customer lifetime value (LTV). The community consists of the top web3 growth leaders who exchange insights and work together to reverse-engineer Web3 growth tactics seen in the wild.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op after its acquisition of Tenlo in 2022. In her previous role as Vice President of Technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, Tessa oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment and experiences.
In this episode, we explore the ways in which artificial intelligence is revolutionizing the creative side of marketing. From AI-generated content to automated creative optimization, we delve into the latest technologies and strategies for harnessing AI's power to enhance your creative campaigns' effectiveness. Join us as we speak with industry expert Michael Francello, and discover how you can leverage AI to take your marketing to the next level.
This episode of the Leader Generation Podcast is hosted by Tessa Burg, Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op, and co-hosted by Ray Singer, Executive Vice President of Technology at Mod Op.
About Michael Francello:
Michael Francello is Director of Innovation at Shutterstock, a leading global content and creative platform. He spends his time collaborating both internally and externally to understand how Shutterstock.AI-powered tools and applications can help clients navigate an uncertain future and ultimately create with confidence.
About Ray Singer:
Ray Singer is the Executive Vice President of Technology at Mod Op. Throughout his career in marketing and technology, Ray has demonstrated experience in user experience, web design, rapid prototyping, and site architecture. Day-to-day, Ray oversees a cross-disciplinary global business unit of 40 team members. Disciples include design, user experience, development, technical project management, and quality assurance.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op after its acquisition of Tenlo in 2022. In her previous role as Vice President of Technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, Tessa oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment and experiences.
Discord offers an excellent opportunity for companies to build a strong community of followers. How can brands engage with their customers on this social platform?
Digital Producer Mat Segal and Product Strategist Tom Madrilejos from Mod Op share some tips on how brands can maximize the potential of Discord. Listen to this episode to hear about the following topics and more:
- What is Discord
- How do people use it
- What drives Discord’s popularity
- Community management on Discord
- How brands can add value on the platform
- Identifying and engaging “super users”
- The role of Discord among niche social platforms
- Key takeaways for brands evaluating Discord
This episode of the Leader Generation Podcast is hosted by Tessa Burg, Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op after its acquisition of Tenlo in 2022. In her previous role as Vice President of Technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, Tessa oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment and experiences.
Customer retention is a critical component of any business. If you lose too many customers, you won’t be able to survive. This can be caused by various factors, including poor service, flawed product design, and unyielding customer demands.
If you want to ensure customer retention in the future, it’s important to have a customer retention strategy in place. This plan should include clear goals, targets, and measurable metrics to track progress. Hear three tips in less than six minutes to help you improve customer retention rates in 2023 and beyond.
This episode of the Leader Generation Podcast is hosted by Tessa Burg, Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op after its acquisition of Tenlo in 2022. As Vice President of Technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, Tessa oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment, and experiences
All the ups and downs have made the last few years a wild ride for marketers. What impact do these challenges have on brands? And what’s next for 2023?
Lisa Colantuono joins Tessa Burg on the Leader Generation podcast. During their conversation, they hit on a wide spectrum of topics, including:
- What’s keeping CMOs up at night
- Agency/client relationships
- Brand vs. Demand
- Personalization
- Where to spend marketing budget in 2023
- And more
This episode of the Leader Generation Podcast is hosted by Tessa Burg, Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op.
About Lisa Colantuono:
Lisa Colantuono is the President of AAR Partners. She’s been immersed in advertising and marketing for more than two decades. Since June 2001, Lisa has worked directly with a myriad of marketers on agency reviews and has counseled numerous clients on finding the best communications partners for their needs. Caught in a unique position between clients who want a clean, smooth review process and agencies who want every possible advantage, Lisa is adept at remaining unruffled and gets the job done in a fair and positive manner for everyone involved. She not only believes in “enduring partnerships that matter,” but also is enthusiastic about creating them.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op after its acquisition of Tenlo in 2022. In her previous role as Vice President of Technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, Tessa oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment and experiences.
Employer branding is essential in today’s competitive job market. It not only creates a positive impression of your organization but also helps attract top talent. On this episode of Leader Generation, experienced brand marketing professional Whitney Cornuke answers questions such as:
- How important is employer branding in recruiting?
- What are the benefits of employer branding?
- How does it differ from other forms of marketing?
Employers who invest time and resources into their employer brand will likely see higher levels of employee retention and productivity. Listen now to hear ideas and get inspired.
This episode of the Leader Generation Podcast is hosted by Tessa Burg, Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op.
About Whitney Cornuke:
Whitney Cornuke is the Senior Vice President of Marketing at TalentLaunch. She has fifteen years of experience in driving businesses through strong P&L management, financial analysis, product innovation and go-to-market strategy, brand strategy and multi-media communications, team leadership and people development, and retail strategy and partnership. Whiney is also passionate about coaching and developing talent to build high-performing teams.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op after its acquisition of Tenlo in 2022. In her previous role as Vice President of Technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, Tessa oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment and experiences.
Matz Lukmani, Product Lead at Google, joins us once again on the Leader Generation podcast. In Part 2, Matz focuses on Performance Max a new goal-based campaign type that allows marketers to access all of their Google Ads inventory from a single campaign. Powered by machine learning, Performance Max helps marketers drive performance based on specified conversion goals. In Part 1, he answered common questions from marketers about Google Analytics 4. Tune in to hear how these tools can help marketers improve overall measurement, strategy, and performance.
This episode of the Leader Generation Podcast is hosted by Tessa Burg, Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op.
About Murtaza (Matz) Lukmani:
Matz Lukmani (EMEA Product Lead, Performance Max & Attribution) based in London (UK) has been with google for +7 years working on products like Google Analytics 360, Google Ads, Search Ads 360, and Firebase Analytics. He currently leads Performance Max Campaigns and Attribution offerings within Google Ads, Search Ads 360, and Google Analytics in EMEA.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is the Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op, a full-service marketing communications agency focused on using the right methods to help clients capitalize on their opportunities. Originally part of Tenlo, Tessa became part of the Mod Op team in 2022 after Mod Op’s acquisition of the company.
In her previous role as vice president of technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. In her role as CTO, she oversees Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment, and experiences.
Measure Better With Google Analytics 4 & Perform Better With Google Performance Max On July 1, 2023, Google Universal Analytics (UA) will stop processing new website data. That’s due to the introduction of Google Analytics 4 (GA4), a next-generation analytics tool powered by machine learning.
What do marketers need to know about GA4? How does it track data differently? What role does it play in the martech stack? What is Google Performance Max? What’s common between Google Analytics 4 and Performance Max?
Matz Lukmani, Product Lead at Google, answers questions about GA4 and Performance Max. He also shares how these tools can help marketers improve overall measurement, strategy, and performance.
In Part 1, Matz focuses more on GA4. Listen to Part 2 to hear all about Performance Max.
This episode of the Leader Generation Podcast is hosted by Tessa Burg, Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op.
About Murtaza (Matz) Lukmani:
Matz Lukmani (EMEA Product Lead, Performance Max & Attribution) based in London (UK) has been with google for +7 years working on products like Google Analytics 360, Google Ads, Search Ads 360, and Firebase Analytics. He currently leads Performance Max Campaigns and Attribution offerings within Google Ads, Search Ads 360, and Google Analytics in EMEA.
In July of 2023, GA4 will replace Universal Analytics. The shift to has left marketers with more questions than answers. Plus, plenty of misconceptions.
In under six minutes, Tessa Burg quickly hits on five common myths about GA4. She then delivers the truths as well as some tips on how to make the most of the new GA4 platform.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Host of the Leader Generation podcast and Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op, a full-service marketing communications agency focused on using the right methods to help clients capitalize on their opportunities. Originally part of Tenlo, Tessa became part of the Mod Op team in 2022 after Mod Op’s acquisition of the company.
In her previous role as vice president of technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. Moving into her role as CTO, she’ll oversee Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment and experiences.
Most of today’s marketing performance is measured by MQLs. A marketing-qualified lead is a prospect that the marketing team determines is worthy of being passed along to the sales team.
The challenge? Salespeople in the B2B space typically look for best-fit accounts versus individual prospects. Therefore, marketing and sales aren’t on the same page.
Jon Miller, Chief Marketing Officer at Demandbase, discusses marketing and sales alignment. Using data to access purchase intent. Switching to MQAs (marketing qualified accounts) as a performance metric, and so much more.
Listen to this episode of the Leader Generation Podcast hosted by Tessa Burg, Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op.
About Jon Miller:
Jon is a marketing entrepreneur and thought leader. He is currently the Chief Marketing Officer at Demandbase, the leading account-based marketing platform. Previously, Jon was the CEO and founder of Engagio (acquired by Demandbase) and was co-founder at Marketo (Nasdaq:MKTO), a leader in marketing automation.
Jon is a frequent speaker at conferences including Dreamforce, MarketingProfs B2B, Marketing Operations Executive Summit, OMS, and the Marketing Nation Summit. He is also the author of numerous e-books, including Complete and Clear Guide to Account-Based Marketing and the Definitive Guide to Marketing Automation.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op, a full-service marketing communications agency focused on using the right methods to help clients capitalize on their opportunities. Originally part of Tenlo, Tessa became part of the Mod Op team in 2022 after Mod Op’s acquisition of the company.
In her previous role as vice president of technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. Moving into her role as CTO, she’ll oversee Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment and experiences.
Data drives B2B marketing. But many marketers question how upcoming changes will shape the future of digital marketing.
What’s happening with cookies? How will the migration to Google Analytics 4 (GA4) impact marketing? Is there new legislation around customer data?
Tim Hayden, CEO of Brain+Trust, talks about data unification. He also discusses trends in data strategy and what B2B marketers should focus on now and in 2023.
This episode of the Leader Generation Podcast is hosted by Tessa Burg, Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op.
About Tim Hayden:
Tim Hayden is the founder and CEO of Brain+Trust, a strategic consultancy that empowers brands to grow revenue by leveraging their primary data. Before Brain+Trust, he headed marketing at Zignal Labs, a real-time media intelligence platform used by Facebook, Google, Uber, IBM, and others to identify influencers and for reputation management. Hayden is also former head of the Mobile program at Edelman Digital in North America. He has served as a catalyst for transformational change within some of the world’s leading brands, including Dell Technologies, Bacardi USA, McDonald's, Shell Oil, Hilton Worldwide, Kraft Foods, and Walmart.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Chief Technology Officer at Mod Op, a full-service marketing communications agency focused on using the right methods to help clients capitalize on their opportunities. Originally part of Tenlo, Tessa became part of the Mod Op team in 2022 after Mod Op acquired the company. In her previous role as vice president of technology, she helped clients execute engaging, multi-platform experiences and products to bring their brands to life. Moving into her role as CTO, she’ll oversee Mod Op’s technology stack to ensure the agency is leveraging the right platforms to deliver valuable and measurable marketing communications, entertainment, and experiences.
As B2B marketers, it’s important to understand what businesses in service and trade industries need from us. What marketing support could help operators, contractors, dealers, brokers and owners better sell our products?
Mark Wilson—Marketing Manager at Fire & Ice Heating and Air Conditioning—shares his insights. He talks about the importance of products with brand equity, support that fuels his company’s marketing efforts, local activations from manufacturers, and more.
About our guest, Mark Wilson:
Mark Wilson is the Marketing Manager at FIRE & ICE Heating and Air Conditioning. He’s a marketing communications professional with 12+ years of experience in the field. Mark has a wide array of project experience in team management, inbound marketing, lead generation and more. This experience is complemented by a robust technical skillset. Mark enjoys utilizing his skills to maximize the potential of those he works for and supervises.
About our host, Tessa Burg, CTO, Modop
Tessa Burg is Chief Technology Officer at ModOp. She’s been leading data-driven marketing and technology teams for 15+ years. Tessa has deep skills in many areas, including digital marketing, user experience, technology strategy and application architecture.
Tessa believes in taking a tech-agnostic approach to marketing development. It maximizes a client’s existing technology investment. Plus, empowers clients to easily use, manage, measure and scale their platforms on their own.
In-person sales and marketing events are a great way to connect with potential customers and build relationships. They also provide a unique opportunity to meet new contacts, network with other professionals and create community.
But what does it take to build a tight-knit community? And how do you drive traffic to in-person events post-pandemic?
Tessa Burg catches up with Cathy McPhillips during MAICON (Marketing AI Conference). Cathy discusses what it’s like to host an in-person event in 2022 as well as lessons she learned along the way.
About Cathy McPhillips:
Cathy McPhillips is the Chief Growth Officer at the Marketing Artificial Intelligence Institute, overseeing product growth, marketing, sales and customer experience.
McPhillips was VP of Marketing at the Content Marketing Institute and their flagship event, Content Marketing World, for almost a decade. She owned her own strategic marketing consultancy focusing on nonprofit and service sector marketing and media and was media supervisor at Wyse Advertising in Cleveland. She was part of Ohio University’s Jerry L. Sloan Visiting Professionals in Public Relations program, and regularly guest lectures at area colleges and universities.
McPhillips was named a Folio: Top Women in Media, a MarTechExec 50 Women You Need to Know in Martech, and currently sits on Ohio University’s College of Business Marketing Advisory Board.
US inflation skyrocketed to a 40-year high. Today’s consumers face price hikes on everything from clothing to groceries—and all the categories in between.
Can well-known brands maintain customer loyalty? Can they prevent buyers from trading down and purchasing products based on price?
Kevin Krekeler and Tessa Burg discuss the importance of brand loyalty and how marketers can cultivate it to build customer retention. Hear all about it on this episode of Lead(er) Generation.
About Kevin Krekeler:
Kevin Krekeler is the Director of Client Engagement at Mod Op. In his role, Kevin connects the agency with new clients. Plus, develops strategies to help existing clients connect with their customers.
With his broad experience in B2B and consumer markets, Kevin understands the business challenges that clients face. He also provides the expertise to help them achieve the results they expect.
Account-based marketing is one of the most effective ways for B2B companies to reach decision-makers of right-fit accounts.
In our live ABM Panel Discussion, marketing and sales leaders explained why account-based marketing is so beneficial for B2B.
On this episode, we continue the conversation and dive into ABM execution. Katie St. Peter answers questions about resources, technology, tools, marketing channels, measurement, and more.
Follow along for tips on how to kickstart your ABM strategy.
About Katie St. Peter:
Katie St. Peter is a marketing professional with specialties in account-based marketing, digital transformation, demand generation, sales enablement, SEO/SEM, experiential marketing, content writing, website design, and PPC.
She’s currently the Digital Campaigns Manager at the threat intelligence company, Cybersixgill. Previous employers include Rockwell Automation, where Katie gained her passion for account-based marketing. Plus, Nordson Corporation, where Katie introduced account-based marketing programs to drive revenue.
Marketing and sales are both important parts of any business. However, if they don't work together, then there is no way to succeed. How do you show the value of marketing to sales, especially in B2B industries like manufacturing?
Long-time manufacturing marketer, Monica Gasbarre, talks about how to align marketing to organizational sales goals. Plus, how to build strong relationships on a foundation of communication and collaboration so marketing and sales act as one team.
Listen to this episode to learn how to bridge the gap.
About Monica Gasbarre:
An experienced marketing leader, Monica is the Director of Marketing & Sales Operations at Spartronics. She has a strong reputation for developing strategic marketing plans that she oversees from initiation to final execution. Monica supports and achieves corporate objectives by successfully managing programs dedicated to customer retention, lead generation, demand generation and sales enablement.
When it comes to B2B sales and marketing, account-based marketing (ABM) is a hot topic. That’s because a buying group is typically made up of 6-10 people who must collaborate to make final enterprise decisions.
How can you use ABM to target the decision-makers on specific accounts? Can you leverage digital marketing tools for ABM? Does AMB increase the quality or quantity of leads?
In this episode, we interview ABM leader, Ryan Elmiger. He answers common questions, shares his knowledge, and talks about the relationship between ABM and lead generation.
About Ryan Elmiger:
Ryan Elmiger has 20+ years of marketing experience in B2B and B2C. He is Account-Based Marketing (ABM) Certified by ITSMA and currently holds the position of ABM Government Cluster Lead at ServiceNow.
Ryan works alongside the sales team to develop ABM strategies for high-value accounts. He ensures all marketing activities target the right account stakeholders. Plus, drives the strategy for hyper-personalized content that speaks to specific account needs and imperatives.
The restaurant industry has been hit the hardest during the pandemic. According to the National Restaurant Association, 110,000+ food and beverage establishments in the U.S. temporarily or permanently closed for business.
How did local restaurants stay afloat? What creative pivots did they embrace? Were the changes temporary or here to stay?
If you’re a marketer or salesperson in the restaurant industry, you need to know how independent operators tick. Listen to this conversation with the co-owner of a local Vietnamese restaurant to better understand the needs and challenges independents face.
About Chris Nguyen
Chris Nguyen is the co-owner of Superior Pho Vietnamese Restaurant. Under his leadership, the small, ethnic, mom-and-pop restaurant has become a local household name. In fact, Superior Pho has received accolades and recognition from national media outlets such as Food Network Magazine, The Travel Channel, Esquire Magazine, Buzzfeed and more.
Chris is dedicated to serving under-resourced and underrepresented communities. He’s used his position at Superior Pho to employ and empower a variety of underrepresented people from various communities and teach leadership through service.
Independent restaurant owners face many challenges that are unique to those of large chains. If you work in sales or marketing for the food service industry, you must understand these differences to successfully communicate with Independents.
The best way to learn? Hear the struggles and needs of restaurant owners first-hand. Listen to industry veteran, Laurie Torres, share the ups and downs of restaurant ownership on this episode of the Lead(er) Generation podcast.
About Laurie Torres:
Laurie Torres is the Owner of Mallorca, a fine-dining experience in Cleveland, Ohio. She manages the operational and strategic vision of the restaurant, which has been serving Spanish and Portuguese cuisine for 20+ years.
Laurie is instrumental in identifying emerging trends in the food industry. She serves as the President of Cleveland Independents. Plus, she’s won multiple industry accolades, including the 2021 Rising Star Award by the Ohio Restaurant Association.
Independent restaurants offer unique dining experiences, such as farm-to-table meals or craft cocktails. But they also face unique challenges that are far different than those of large restaurant chains.
Offering solutions to the difficulties that independents face, may mean the difference between a win or loss for both sales and marketers in the food service industry.
What are the biggest challenges of independent restaurant operators? How has the pandemic changed their business? How can suppliers, sales and marketers deliver better support?
Hear the answers to these questions—and more—from Jess Edmonds, Catering Director & Partner at Spice Hospitality Group, on this episode of Lead(er) Generation.
About Jess Edmonds:
Jess Edmonds is the Catering Director & Partner at Spice Hospitality Group. She has nearly two decades of experience in the food and beverage industry. Jess honed her service talents in high-traffic Cleveland hot spots before joining Spice Catering Co. in 2008.
In 2015 she moved into the Catering Director role and manages an incredible team of Event Planners that create exceptional dining experiences all over town. Jess also lends her hand to general operations of The Spice Companies, planning the annual Plated Landscape Calendar and fostering business relationships throughout Cleveland, OH.
Market research helps marketers gain insights into consumer behavior, attitudes, opinions, and preferences.
But how important is it in B2B lead generation and marketing communication? Can market research help you develop more effective strategies and campaigns?
Explore this topic with expert market researcher, Lauren Schmidt from the full-service marketing research and consulting company NSRC.
About Lauren Schmidt:
Lauren Schmidt is the Senior Director of Client Services & Strategy at NSRC. She has 20+ years of quantitative research experience with clients in a wide range of industries. While Lauren has an extensive skill set, she’s most passionate about B2B and Voice of Customer (VoC) research as well as driving ROI. Lauren’s philosophy is that market research is a necessity—not a luxury.
Are you struggling to get leads? Are you looking for ways to improve your sales funnel? If yes, then you should definitely join us to explore the role of marketing technology in lead generation.
Marketing technology has become a crucial part of every company’s strategy. From CRM software and email marketing platforms to analytics and automation tools, technology plays a vital role in improving the efficiency and performance of your marketing campaigns.
Technical demand generation marketer and returning guest, Hana Jacover, joins Tessa Burg on this episode of Lead(er) Generation. She answers questions and provides tips on how marketers can leverage the power of marketing technology to generate leads.
About Hana Jacover:
Hana Jacover is the Chief Hype Officer at Hype House Consulting & Coaching. She is a technical demand generation marketer with a proven track record of strategies and programs that accelerate revenue.
Hana has deep experience in the optimization of high-performance tactics and marketing automation technologies that build and measure the pipeline. She also has a thorough understanding of marketing strategy as well as data, attribution and execution.
Salespeople have long been considered the face of a company. They sell products or services, negotiate deals and close the sale. In recent years, however, companies have begun replacing salespeople with marketers.
Today, marketing is often seen as the primary way to generate leads and increase sales. As a result, companies are investing heavily in marketing departments. And they’re also hiring more marketers than ever before.
How did this trend begin? What are the pros and cons? Is marketing really becoming the new sales? Join us as we explore a topic that’s continuing to change modern marketing.
About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is Chief Technology Officer at Tenlo. She’s been leading data-driven marketing and technology teams for 15+ years. Tessa has deep skills in many areas, including digital marketing, user experience, technology strategy and application architecture.
Tessa believes in taking a tech-agnostic approach to marketing development. It maximizes a client’s existing technology investment. Plus, empowers clients to easily use, manage, measure and scale their platforms on their own.
Episode Description:
Marketing is a science. And now, thanks to advances in cognitive science, marketers can harness the power of human psychology to influence consumer behavior.
What is cognitive marketing? What are its benefits? How does it differ from other types of marketing?
Learn all this and more during an interview with Sandeep Dayal, seasoned marketing and strategy leader. He shares how cognitive science can be applied to branding and marketing. Plus, how we can use cognitive marketing to develop strategies that are more likely to succeed.
About Sandeep Dayal:
Sandeep Dayal is regarded as one of the leading minds in Marketing Strategy. He is the author of "Branding Between the Ears - Using Cognitive Science to Build Lasting Customer Connections." He’s also co-authored articles in Marketing Management, McKinsey Quarterly and Strategy & Business.
In addition to writing, Sandeep serves as the Managing Director and EVP at Cerenti Marketing Group, LLC. and heads the firm's Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Practice. He serves as a counselor to C-suite executives and board members at Fortune 500 companies. Plus, he’s on the board of directors for the Albums of Heritage Foundation and iKONVERSE, and is a keynote speaker.
Leadership is a critical skill for anyone working in marketing today. If you don't have strong leadership skills, you won't be able to manage your team effectively. And if you aren't managing your team well, you won't be successful at growing your business.
Female marketers, however, face many unique obstacles when trying to achieve success in their careers. From equal treatment and advocating on their own behalf to building alliances and trusting their own voices.
Despite these challenges, women continue to push forward. Improve your marketing leadership skills by learning from other leaders like Hana Jacover. A coach who excels at leadership and team development, Hana shares some tips on how to overcome obstacles and ultimately become a better leader in marketing.
About Hana Jacover:
Hana Jacover is a technical demand generation marketer with a proven track record of strategies and programs that accelerate revenue. As the Chief Hype Officer at Hype House Consulting, Hana builds business hype through strategy, demand gen, marketing ops, leadership development and coaching. Hana is also on the board of Women in Revenue—committed to elevating and encouraging future female leaders in the workplace—and on the marketing committee of Black Marketers Association of America (BMAA).
Personal branding is a powerful tool for marketers and salespeople to attract business. The challenge is that it takes time and effort to build a strong digital presence.
Explore how you can identify and create your own authentic digital brand with Madeline Fetterly.
She’ll share tips on how to harness your passion and expertise. Plus, how to leverage your online presence to gain a steady stream of new leads and drive business development.
About Madeline Fetterly:
Madeline Fetterly is a partnership builder, creative storyteller, strategic thinker, and champion for women's leadership. As the CEO and Founder of Be The Brand, Madeline partners with individuals to amplify their thought leadership and build purposeful and powerful online brands. She believes we each have a voice and a story to tell, and it’s up to us to choose how we use it. In addition to her expertise in strategic counsel, Madeline is passionate about good, strong leadership; being mission obsessed and creating people-focused work environments.
Content plays an important role in generating, nurturing, and converting leads. However, many marketers struggle with creating messaging that resonates with people and drives results.
Join us as we explore language personalization using artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions. And rest assured, you don’t need to be a data scientist or have vast automation expertise to learn and gain actionable ideas from this episode.
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About Amy Heidersbach:
Amy Heidersbach is Chief Marketing Officer for Persado, where she oversees global marketing efforts. The daughter of an advertising executive, Amy is a lifelong marketer. She’s made a career out of leading transformational B2B and B2C marketing and brand initiatives. With a commitment to “full-stack, integrated marketing,” Amy has a 20+ year track record of success building authentic brands, launching innovative products, creating categories, and scaling businesses in a variety of industries.
Artificial intelligence is here now, and here to stay. Marketers can use AI to automate hundreds of repetitive tasks that occur throughout the customer journey. The challenge: where to start?
This episode is your jumping-off point. You’ll learn the benefits of using AI in your marketing. Plus, how to use AI to generate leads and shorten the sales cycle for better business results.
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About Paul Roetzer:
Paul Roetzer is founder and CEO of PR 20/20 and Marketing AI Institute; author of Marketing Artificial Intelligence (BenBella, 2022), The Marketing Performance Blueprint (Wiley, 2014), and The Marketing Agency Blueprint (Wiley, 2012); and creator of the Marketing AI Conference (MAICON). A graduate of Ohio University’s E.W. Scripps School of Journalism, Roetzer has consulted for hundreds of organizations, from startups to Fortune 500 companies.
The CPG industry is rapidly changing. Retailers are faced with ongoing challenges, from changing shopper behaviors and labor shortages to supply chain disruptions and beyond.
In his conversation with Tessa Burg, guest Will Salcido shares how we can “win” in the evolving CPG landscape by combining data with storytelling. Hear about what data is important to retail buyers, common stories that sell, how to align with retail strategies and more on this episode of Lead(er) Generation.
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About Will Salcido:
Will Salcido is the CEO, Co-Founder and Chairman of Bedrock Analytics Corp—a venture-funded SaaS company focused on the CPG vertical. Will has a demonstrated history of working in the software and consumer product goods industry. His experience includes business planning, board governance, marketing, sales, category management and venture capital funding.
Your prospects may be looking for a solution to a problem that your company can solve. But they’re not contacting your salespeople for help. They’re searching for answers, reading content and comparing options online.
Mike Farrell joins us to talk about intent data—buying signals that show which prospects are actively looking for potential solutions. Hear how you can use intent data to reach higher-quality leads earlier in the buyer journey. Plus, provide the most relevant content to address their pain points and guide their decision-making process.
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About Mike Farrell:
Mike Farrell has 30+ years of sales, marketing and business leadership experience, and is currently the CEO of Green Leads. The company provides B2B technology clients—from startup to enterprise—with meetings, lead generation, and content syndication.
Mike has an incredible track record of building companies, growing pipelines and, ultimately, driving revenue. He has extensive experience selling into B2B and public sector markets, building sales development organizations as well as developing channel partnerships.
Before the pandemic, B2B customer engagement typically happened in person during sales calls, meetings, trade shows, demos, and more. With the shift to virtual communication, B2B companies must think about how to engage with customers and improve their experience online.
In this episode, we’ll hear about the importance of communities from Mark Donnigan, an expert in marketing for startups. We’ll talk about how to apply those principles to enterprise businesses to connect your customers with each other and with your B2B brand. Discover the trickle-down effects of customer community, from better customer experience, satisfaction, and loyalty to drive business growth.
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About Mark Donnigan:
Mark Donnigan is the CMO at Growth Stage Marketing. He designs and executes marketing programs and go-to-market strategies that build markets and establish disruptive innovation companies as a category king. With 20 years of experience as a transformative and strategic B2B marketing and business leader, Mark understands what’s required to succeed in today’s winner-takes-all market.
How have customer expectations evolved in the food and grocery industry? What role do digital and e-commerce play in the selection and purchase process? We’ll explore these questions and more with Jay Scherger, the Director of Ecommerce Accelerator at Kroger. After this episode, you’ll have a better understanding of how we—as B2C, B2C, B2C2B and B2B digital marketers—can make shopping an easier and more enjoyable experience for customers.
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About Jay Scherger:
Jay Scherger is the Director of Ecommerce Accelerator at Kroger. He leads a digital and technology team that’s dedicated to rapidly designing, developing and launching integrated and stand-alone e-commerce concepts. new customer and commercial concepts. Jay has spent 15+ years developing data-driven vision and strategy for a wide range of retail and consumer packaged goods. His experience includes leading innovation at companies such as 84.51˚, McKinsey & Company, dunnhumby and more.
As sophisticated B2B digital marketers, we’re tracking, measuring, and making more data-driven decisions than ever before. So how are we doing? Most of us have a reporting dashboard (or several) to visualize KPIs. But are you receiving actionable data?
Dave Hurt, CEO, and Co-Founder of the Verb Data experience platform, helps us better understand how to get more out of our reporting dashboards. Learn more about what makes a good dashboard and how to receive actionable insights that make the biggest impact on B2B business.
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About Dave Hurt:
Dave Hurt is the CEO & Co-Founder of Verb Data. He met CTO & Co-Founder Oleg Fridman at ONOSYS Online Ordering, a SaaS platform for major restaurant chains. After ONOSYS was acquired, Dave and Oleg started a software development and design agency. They built dozens of dashboards for clients’ SaaS platforms before their agency was acquired by a leading customer.
Through these experiences, Dave became keenly aware of the frustrations that teams juggle when building and maintaining customer-facing dashboards and just how valuable they are for sales and customer experience. Today, Dave’s mission is to offer a developer-first data experience platform that is easy to install and maintain.
In this episode, we explore the impact that IoT and AI-powered solutions have on manufacturing and industrial businesses. Learn how B2B marketers can introduce new revenue streams, get closer to their customers and deliver self-directed experiences that delight and retain customers.
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About Eric Ehlers:
Eric Ehlers is the Director of Manufacturing/Industrial Solutions at ServiceNow. He has 15+ years of experience leading global outreach, strategic marketing, optimization, and creative development strategies.
Eric is driven by his passion for B2B, digital marketing, and technology. His career includes a solid record of capturing audiences, delivering significant revenue growth in highly competitive global markets and developing extensive marketing operations for high-tech industries.
B2B companies tend to separate “brand” and “digital” and two independent functions. Our guest, Kip Botirius, has deep experience in both brand development and digital marketing for consumer and commercial businesses. Today, we’ll explore the role of a strong B2B brand and the impact it has on creating effective digital marketing experiences that generate leads and convert them into customers.
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About Kip Botirius:
Kip Botirius is the CEO of Tenlo. With more than 20 years of experience in digital marketing and account service, Kip leads a diverse team built to develop successful marketing and brand-building strategies for clients.
Kip also plays a critical role in business growth and development. He works closely with clients to solve their specific challenges using strategic digital marketing practices. He values client relationships, and works to build and nurture lasting friendships through client-agency communication.
B2B marketing and sales once revolved solely around relationships. Today’s modern buyer journey is increasingly digital. Download The B2B Revolution to discover how to apply B2C tactics to B2B to enhance your digital marketing strategy.
People, process, data and technology all play critical roles in B2B lead generation. But how well is your managing and optimizing performance in these areas?
Dan Lukens explains how a Marketing Operations Manager adds value to an organization by keeping these functions focused on marketing and sales strategy. Plus, adapting them to changing conditions so your marketing is most effective.
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About Dan Lukens:
Dan Lukens is the Marketing Operations Manager at Discovery Education. He draws from 10+ years of digital marketing experience as well as working closely with sales leaders and platforms.
In his role, Dan bridges the gap between marketing and sales. He’s in charge of putting the right people, processes data, and technology in place. When balanced, they vastly improve the performance of both the marketing and sales teams. It also allows them to become the collaborative revenue-generating engine they’re meant to be.
2020 made all of us B2B marketers and leaders more dependent on eCommerce and doing business online. As B2B continues its evolution—looking more and more like B2C—there are some important standards we need to be aware of regarding accessibility. Guest Ryan Boog helps us better understand ADA Compliance, and explore the value of accessible websites and apps.
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About Ryan Boog:
Ryan Boog is the owner of Minnesota-based Happy Dog. The digital agency creates custom web apps, mobile apps, and software to help businesses make sense of their data. For more than 10 years, his established business has worked with renowned companies like Xcel Energy and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Ryan has been featured in Forbes and other industry publications.
The eventual death of third-party cookies and the impact on lead generation has been a hot topic in our industry for quite some time. But now the end is here.
Digital Marketers are already seeing disruptions in campaigns running on third-party websites and social media properties. Not to mention, in the data we’re accustomed to receiving from Google.
So what’s next? How do we deliver quality targeting, experience, leads and results back to clients and leadership? Our guest Tony Mastri will cover that all—and more—in this episode.
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About Tony Mastri:
Tony Mastri is an experienced Digital Strategist & Tech Lead at Tenlo. He has a proven background in content strategy, technical SEO and performance marketing. With natural curiosity and a strong drive for continuous improvement, Tony leverages data to make informed decisions that drive client growth.
B2B companies have 42%-82% customer churn. As our world begins to return to “normal,” we can take tactics used to sustain customers during the worst of the pandemic and leverage them for growth.
The cancelation of live in-person events—including trade shows, sales demos, and conferences—spurred a new era of live-streaming. This episode explores how B2B companies can use that technology to build client relationships that are stronger than ever before.
Brian Lee, from live-streaming platform BoxCast, joins us to discuss how B2B companies can build community and retain clients through live video experiences.
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About Brian Lee:
Brian has 10+ years of experience in the SaaS industry. As the VP of Sales & Customer Success at BoxCast, Brian leads the teams responsible for all aspects of user acquisition, expansion, retention, and customer support.
Over the past 4 years, Brian has seen the BoxCast user base more than double and the staff triple thanks to two acquisitions and $20M funding in late 2020.
In the past year, Brian helped implement product-led growth and digital marketing strategies. This enabled BoxCast to create a more efficient sales pipeline while maintaining successful onboarding and retention metrics during rapid growth.
From thought leadership to engagement, there are many benefits of content marketing. But does the value justify the cost of creation and distribution for your B2B company?
Tessa Burg shares how to measure your content’s contribution to lead generation. What metrics and KPIs you should look at. Technology and tools that can help you gather data. And most importantly, how to use the data to prove the value of your content marketing.
Measuring content’s worth in B2B is definitely more challenging than B2C or ecommerce. But it’s possible. Listen to learn how.
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About Tessa Burg:
Tessa Burg is the VP of UX and Technology Strategy at Tenlo. She has 20+ years of digital marketing experience.
Tessa combines her marketing and technical skills with software product management experience and agile principles. She identifies target audience needs as well as where and how they find information to make buying decisions. Tessa guides how to best execute on-page, off-page and technical SEO. This generates high-quality website traffic that converts into ecommerce purchases and sales-ready leads.
Tessa is the regular host of the “Lead(er) Generation” podcast series. Plus, she’s published numerous articles and white papers. Read her article The Intersection of Content Strategy & SEO to learn how to increase your marketing team’s value with SEO-optimized content.
Early in 2021, our quest is to provide sales teams with new opportunities to meaningfully engage with prospects and customers. Is hosting your own live virtual event the best way to do that?
Our guest, Fred Andersky, will share how his company transformed traditional in-person demos into virtual events. The remote experiences attracted two years-worth of attendees and engaged both customers and prospects through live, interactive demonstrations.
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About Fred Andersky:
Fred Andersky is the Director of Demos, Sales & Service Training (DSST) at Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC. He’s a visionary leader with diverse hands-on experience in all facets of marketing.
Fred is a regular presenter, comfortable with all levels of management and media in global business settings. He’s a test and demonstration driver with an Ohio Class A Commercial Driver’s License, delivering technology demos and training sessions across North America.
Fred has also published numerous articles and white papers. Plus, he’s a regular contributor to the “Truck Talk with Bendix” podcast series.
B2B businesses must be more agile and adaptable than ever. Read Digital Self-Service: Priority #1 in 2021 to learn how to embrace a new way of doing business.
Early in 2021, our quest is to provide sales teams with new opportunities to meaningfully engage with prospects and customers. Is hosting your own live virtual event the best way to do that?
Scott Brinker is back with Tessa and talks more about the tech emerging right inside our existing marketing technology stacks. Learn how it empowers marketers to start testing data and putting it to work in new ways. Plus, hear how you can use martech to generate leads, bring joy to prospects, and fuel B2B growth in 2021.
In our last episode of the Lead(er) Generation, guest Scott Brinker got us all excited about the future of the augmented marketer. In this episode he'll cover where to start and how to unlock our marketing leadership superpowers in 2021. Bonus you'll learn: What’s the secret to generate leads and align our sales and marketing teams?
Download 5 Data Exchanges Between Sales & Marketing To Increase Win Rates for our step-by-step process we use with clients to start and scale end-to-end lead generation programs.
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About Scott Brinker:
Scott Brinker is fascinated by the intersection of technology platforms and ecosystems as well as marketing strategy and operations. He has extensive experience and holds several titles in these areas.
First, Scott serves as the VP of Platform Ecosystem at HubSpot. In this role, he helps grow and nurture the community of technology partners building on the HubSpot platform. Since 2008, he’s also run the Chief Marketing Technologist blog (chiefmartec.com), which has more than 50,000 readers. One of his well-known projects is a map of the Marketing Technology Landscape.
In 2014, Scott launched the MarTech Conference. As the event's Program Chair, he brings together a community of senior marketing operations and technology professionals.
Scott also wrote the best-selling book "Hacking Marketing," published by Wiley in 2016. Plus, he’s a frequent keynote speaker at conferences around the world on topics of marketing technology and agile marketing.
If 2020 felt like drinking from a firehose, then this episode is the zen you need to recenter on your purpose as a marketer. Guest Scott Brinker joins us to discuss how B2B marketing leaders can evaluate and select the best tech to complement existing CRM, CMS and marketing automation systems to elevate their brain space out of execution.
We’ll need marketers’ experience and passion for data in 2021 to think creatively and strategically about how we connect, engage, and with prospective customers and generate business value in 2021—a year that is sure to see more economic, technology, and competitive landscape changes.
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- Learn about the evolution of the martech landscape and what the trends behind it tell us about 2021 and beyond
- Learn where you can find the most effective apps and technologies for automating tasks within your CRM, CMS and other core marketing technology
- Hear the benefits of “no code” platforms and how they’re giving marketers more control while “playing nice” with IT teams
- Get some actionable tips on which digital transformation projects to prioritize in 2021 to help your team scale and take advantage of new opportunities
About Scott Brinker:
Scott Brinker is fascinated by the intersection of technology platforms and ecosystems as well as marketing strategy and operations. He has extensive experience and holds several titles in these areas.
First, Scott serves as the VP of Platform Ecosystem at HubSpot. In this role, he helps grow and nurture the community of technology partners building on the HubSpot platform.
Since 2008, he’s also run the Chief Marketing Technologist blog (chiefmartec.com), which has more than 50,000 readers. One of his well-known projects is a map of the Marketing Technology Landscape.
In 2014, Scott launched the MarTech Conference. As the event's Program Chair, he brings together a community of senior marketing operations and technology professionals.
Scott also wrote the best-selling book "Hacking Marketing," published by Wiley in 2016. Plus, he’s a frequent keynote speaker at conferences around the world on topics of marketing technology and agile marketing.
Lead generation is one of the most critical components of B2B growth. Historically, B2B marketers have captured leads at trade shows for their customer relationship management (CRM) systems.
Due to the pandemic, in-person trade shows are no longer a lead generation option. That’s why many B2B marketers have begun to explore virtual trade shows and events—with mixed results.
Guest Nicole Mahoney is a marketing expert in travel and tourism, one of the industries hit hardest by the pandemic. Nicole shares how she’s had to think creatively about lead generation, and answers the question “Is it worth it to sponsor a virtual trade show?”
Nicole Fidler is a Digital Marketing Specialist at Hyland Software, which sells enterprise software around the world. In this episode, Nicole shares how she takes winning user experience and digital marketing tactics and customizes them for different markets. Hear what works, what’s changing and the trends that impact how today’s digital marketers promote products and services globally.
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About Nicole Fidler: Nicole has nearly 10 years of B2B marketing experience, with a focus on international markets. As a Digital Marketing Specialist at Hyland Software, Nicole evaluates a company’s digital marketing against competitors and industry benchmarks. She also uses analytics tools to identify trends and opportunities for website optimization. Nicole supports the business in digital campaign planning and execution for verticals and regions across the digital mix. She has been involved with major platform migrations as well as rebranding, translation, and website optimization projects.
As B2B marketers, lead generation is always our top priority. We want to get in front of the right people with high-value information that engages prospects and motivates them to learn more about our brand and services.
We have quite a few effective digital marketing tools at our disposal—SEO, paid search, content marketing, email, programmatic display, and ABM campaigns—to name a few. Plus, the advanced targeting you can do on LinkedIn and Facebook has made social media marketing another really effective tool in the B2B marketer toolbox.
Organic social media, however, is typically used for branding. It’s a way that many B2B companies show off their culture, values, partnerships, people and hiring opportunities. But maybe B2B marketers have been selling organic social short.
How can organic social media improve lead generation for B2B companies? Listen to this episode, featuring guest speaker Brittany Mayti, to find out.
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About Brittany Mayti:
Brittany Mayti is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. She knew she wanted to be an actress from a very young age. However, her mother insisted that she complete her post-secondary education prior to making the big move to "Hollywood".
In the midst of acting classes and workshops, Brittany obtained her MBA with a concentration in Marketing. She’s also learned the business from behind the camera as a Production Assistant, Production Coordinator, Production Manager, and Co-Producer.
Today, Brittany utilizes her educational experience to market herself as a social media influencer and content creator. Although the performer isn’t keen on the term, she believes “branding yourself” is a necessary evil in the entertainment industry. Brittany also owns a consulting business that helps brands grow their online presence.
Personalizing the customer experience has been a growing trend for both B2C and B2B businesses.
In fact, 80% of consumers say they’re more likely to do business with brands that provide personalized service. While 67% of B2B buyers want the ability to research, compare products, place orders, and access their order history on their own versus contacting a salesperson.
The global pandemic in 2020 has isolated most shoppers and professionals at home. This has quickly escalated the personalization trend, especially when it comes to the online digital experience.
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In this episode, we explore the intersection of B2C consumers and B2B decision-makers. We share the most critical areas to personalize in the digital customer experience to build brand equity that translates to sustainable growth.
About Tessa's Guest:
Fae Harris specializes in bringing high-performance beauty products—that inspire consumer love and loyalty—to life. Over the past 15 years, she has launched innovative hair care products with beauty industry players such as L’Oréal, Kao Brands, and Conair Professional Products.
Today, Fae is the CEO and founder of Outtasight Enterprises. Her business mantra is based on the quote “It's beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart.”. This philosophy centers on the premise that true brand loyalty stems from speaking to the heart of the consumer.
Guest speaker, Vinessa Lullo, has more than 15 years of marketing and product development experience. Her team prides itself on customizing products and services to meet the demands of customers. However, a recent merger and the COVID-19 outbreak drastically changed their business. Vinessa shares how her company became extremely nimble and changed processes to customize products, marketing, and sales to meet new customer needs and safety requirements.
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About Tessa's guest:
As the Marketing Director for MC Group | Icon, Vinessa manages and executes multi-platform marketing campaigns for Fortune 100 to 500 companies in three divisions: Signage, Maintenance, and Construction. Vinessa is best known for strategically launching comprehensive marketing programs, internal and external branding, streamlining processes, rejuvenating company cultures, and implementing cost-saving measures to increase revenue.
Paul Pirozzola has been a sales and marketing leader in the B2B manufacturing space for more than 20 years. Traditional routes to market have been disrupted by digital media, e-commerce, and the pandemic. Today’s sales teams and marketers are looking for more effective and efficient ways to collaborate. In this episode, Paul talks about three key elements that marketers can share with the sales team to generate higher quality leads and increase win rates. Be ready to take notes, they are big, attainable, and highly effective.
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About Tessa's guest:
Paul provides general management and strategic guidance for the NSRC team. He is a seasoned commercial veteran of B2B and has held many sales and marketing leadership roles, most recently as the VP of Marketing for Bettcher Industries. Paul brings a consultative approach and practical “client-side” knowledge to the team. He holds an MBA from Indiana University and a BS in Chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh.
During this episode, Matt McBride will share how physical distancing and shelter in place orders have impacted strategic partnership and innovation management in bioscience. What is the effect on product teams? What trends and activities can we track to prioritize our own product initiatives? And what does this ultimately mean for collaboration and go-to-market strategies?
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About Tessa's Guest:
As the VP of Strategic Partnerships at BioEnterprise, Matt McBride oversees the continued development, promotion, and execution of the Global Center for Health Innovation and its mission of promoting healthcare innovation and growing the biomedical sector in Northeast Ohio. Prior to joining BioEnterprise, Matt spent seven years with Cleveland Clinic Innovations (CCI), translating medical breakthroughs into patient-benefiting products for the commercial market. As the Director of Inventor Services, Matt established and implemented a process that was used to evaluate early-stage technologies and usher them toward a commercial outcome. Matt received a B.S. in political science with a focus on engineering, math, and science from the United States Naval Academy and an M.B.A. from Case Western Reserve University.
RapidTesting.ai on Tenlo Radio is brought to you by Tenlo. Tenlo is a pipeline marketing agency that focuses on quickly identifying and converting high-value leads. Visit Tenlo.com to learn how you can use digital marketing to get more out of your trade shows, website, and sales support programs.
The Coronavirus has disrupted businesses worldwide. Sales leader, David Kreiger, shares what he believes sales teams should focus on as they shift to remote work. Hear his ideas on how to best support clients, protect business and maintain personal health during the COVID-19 crisis.
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ABOUT DAVID KREIGER: David Kreiger is the Founder and President of SalesRoads, a business-to-business appointment setting, lead generation, and SDR outsourcing company. Under David’s leadership, SalesRoads has grown significantly and consulted some of the largest, fastest-growing companies to help accelerate their sales through proactive prospecting. SalesRoads has also been a 100% remote work-from-home organization for the past 13 years.
David is considered a leading authority on building highly effective remote work environments and was named one of The Most Influential Leaders in Sales & Lead Management by the SLMA. He’s also been featured in Fortune Magazine, Wharton Magazine, The Christian Science Monitor and CNN/Money Magazine.
How does the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame persuade people to add a trip to Cleveland, Ohio, to their bucket list of must-have experiences? In this episode, guest Ellie Ovsenik tells you how.
Hear how the Rock Hall uses data and digital marketing to engage music enthusiasts and increase visits to the museum.
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About Ellie Ovsenik:
As the Director of Digital Marketing and Advertising at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame museum and nonprofit, Ellie combines her storytelling background with the museum’s mission statement – to engage, teach and inspire through the power of rock & roll. Exploring new ways to bring the Rock Hall closer to fans, Ellie helped launch and produce the museum’s first-ever Induction Ceremony red carpet live stream show as well as the 2020 Fan Vote partnership with Google. She continues to create new content and engagement-driven opportunities with artist and entertainment partnerships.
RapidTesting.ai on Tenlo Radio is brought to you by Tenlo. Tenlo is a pipeline marketing agency that focuses on quickly identifying and converting high-value leads. Visit Tenlo.com to learn how you can use digital marketing to get more out of your trade shows, website, and sales support programs.
Learn the do's - and some don'ts - of launching a new product. Brandon Cornuke has been an inventor, retail buyer, corporate innovation leader and now shares his expertise with start-up founders. In this episode, you'll learn what you need and what to avoid as you seek to validate new products before market launch.
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About Brandon Cornuke:
Brandon Cornuke has dedicated his career to helping innovators turn their ideas into growing businesses. He is a speaker, writer, educator, and entrepreneur. He has co-founded a consumer products company, consulted with hundreds of startups, and led innovation efforts inside global organizations like Target, American Greetings, and Hitachi. Brandon is the Vice President of Startup Services at MAGNET, Northeast Ohio’s premier non-profit provider of manufacturing expertise, and teaches as an Adjunct Professor of Design and Innovation at Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management. He received his MBA from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management and lives with his wife and daughters in Shaker Heights, Ohio.
In today’s episode, we’ll learn the “whys” and “hows” of rapid testing. Today’s guest, Tom Madrilejos, has been executing Rapid Testing at Tenlo for the past year across a variety of marketing tactics. Marketers will hear examples of how to launch a new product or test a new marketing tactic and get rich customer insights and predictable results without overspending.
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About Tessa's Guest:
Tom’s vast knowledge of creative immersive technology and UX/UI guides his creative thinking. His knowledge-hungry attitude drives him to apply the most advanced ideas and solutions to creative strategies. Currently, Tom is a staple of the Planning & Strategy team for Tenlo Marketing. Using his past experience in UX, Tom is able to combine creative and strategy to create unique solutions to client’s marketing challenges.
Our inaugural episode was streamed live, Thursday, 12/12 at 12 pm PT. Tessa's guest is Linda Owens, Digital & Ecommerce Marketing Manager at Nestlé Professional.
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About Linda Owens:
Linda is experienced in global digital and eCommerce marketing and has a passion to drive change and deliver results. She has worked across many different industries, building b2b and b2c digital strategies, and teams to engage with customers and increase sales. Her expertise is in managing projects ranging from content development, search, SEO, SEM, paid media, email marketing automation, website development, social media strategies, CRM systems, eCommerce campaigns, retention programs, and new technology implementation. Linda has been with Nestle Professional as the Digital and eCommerce Marketing Manager where she oversees all digital marketing strategies for Nestle Professional Food & Beverage.
Our host: Tessa Burg is vice president of user experience and technology strategy at Tenlo, a pipeline marketing company that focuses on engaging high-value prospects with relevant buyer experiences that get results. Tessa has been leading data-driven marketing and technology product teams for 15 years and has successfully executed the Rapid Testing process across hundreds of experiments, new product launches, and omni-channel campaigns.
Our show: Rapid Testing is a process that generates customer insights and revenue forecasts from small, iterative tests. In weeks (rather than months), marketers learn which messages, channels, and experiences work and can quickly pause underperforming tactics and scale successful ones. The show will discuss how Rapid Testing is used to test new marketing channels, create accurate revenue forecasts, validate new products, build attribution models, and align sales and marketing teams more effectively.