Leader Generation

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 shop...

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 actua...

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 ...

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 be...

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 ...

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 ...

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 wa...

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 the...

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 fa...

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...

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...

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 s...

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, harn...

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, personaliz...

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.

Liste...

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-stak...

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, streamlini...

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.

Y...

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 ...