Leader Generation

EP102: Building An Agentic Workforce: AI's Role In Modern Marketing

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.

EP101: Guardrails For Growth: Responsible AI In Business & Marketing

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.
 

EP100: Driving AI Transformation In Marketing In 2025

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.

EP99: CMO Insights: Brand Power In An Automated World

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.
 

EP98: The Mindset Era: Building Authentic Connections In Digital Marketing

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.

EP97: Creating AI Policies That Promote Innovation & Trust

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.
 

EP96: Blending AI & Human Expertise For Better Content Creation

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.

EP95: From Burnout To Breakthrough: Improving Business Processes With AI

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.

EP94: Tackling AI Adoption: Practical Strategies For Upskilling Teams

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.

EP93: Leadership Tips For A Multigenerational Workforce

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.