EP168: Why Cheap CPMs Are Dead & Outcomes Matter More Than Ever

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 [email protected].