AI In Marketing

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].
 

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 [email protected].

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 [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].
 

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].