Leader Generation

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Tal explains how to navigate a complex media landscape, optimize ad spend without relying on outdated methods like cookies, and gain real clarity on what’s working.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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].
 

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 [email protected].
 

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 [email protected].
 

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 [email protected].
 

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].
 
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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].
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 [email protected].