Host: Tessa Burg

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.
Listeners will hear about using AI tools responsibly while still producing high-quality, original content that builds trust and stands out in search, LLMs and beyond. Jon also explains how marketers can increase their visibility with strategies like adding citations, original data and quotes. 
Whether you’re worried about declining Google traffic, retention challenges or simply how to future-proof your content strategy, this episode delivers insights you can put into practice right away. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. 
About Jon Gillham:
Jon Gillham founded Originality.ai after selling a content marketing agency he had previously founded. Originality.ai launched in November 2022 to detect GPT-3-generated content (before ChatGPT had launched).
One of the earliest adopters of generative AI content for SEO purposes at scale through his agency, Jon understood the wave that was coming, which ChatGPT and GPT-4 have fully unleashed. Additionally, he believed that there was a need for a modern plagiarism checking solution. One that provided scan history, detection scores, shareable results, team access etc., what you would expect from a modern Plagiarism Checking solution.
The team now includes experienced Machine Learning Engineers, Researchers, Developers and Marketers, all on a mission to try and provide transparency on the true originality of any writing.  
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].

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-stakes outcomes—and what it takes to get from New York to San Francisco, not just Newark.
You’ll hear practical guidance for marketers, sales leaders, and operators: how to codify tribal knowledge, ground AI in your company’s definitions, and design iterative experiments that deliver time-to-value. If you’re tired of hype and want an honest blueprint for using AI to empower teams—not replace their judgment—this episode is for you.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. 
About Joseph Miller:
As the Chief AI Officer and co-founder of Vivun, Joseph Miller, PhD, leverages his expertise in AI/ML and causal inference to build complex agentic systems. He is nationally recognized for his work in AI labor disruption and algorithmic strategies, and has appeared on platforms such as Bloomberg and Nasdaq. Joseph also guest lectures on AI, entrepreneurship and quantitative finance.
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].

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, streamlining operations and creating new opportunities for employees.
Listeners will hear how Southern Glazer’s is prioritizing “time to value” by focusing on customer needs first, not just company revenue goals. Alan also talks about the importance of durable teams, piloting before scaling and building a culture where innovation enhances human relationships rather than replaces them. 
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. 
About Alan Wizemann:
Alan Wizemann is Chief Digital Officer for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits (Southern Glazer’s), the world’s pre-eminent distributor of beverage alcohol, and proud to be a multi-generational, family-owned Company. Wizemann leads the Company’s Digital Acceleration group, overseeing Southern Glazer’s digital transformation, and is responsible for enterprise-wide digital initiatives—including the industry-leading B2B eCommerce Proof® platform. 
With decades of experience in digital product development, omni-channel experiences, technology, and entrepreneurship, Wizemann has been instrumental in shaping and transforming the digital landscape for some of the world's most well-known consumer companies. At Target Corporation, he launched and led key digital initiatives across Target.com, Target Mobile, and Cartwheel, which became an industry-leading mobile platform. Wizemann also held digital leadership roles driving transformation at Lululemon Athletica Inc., Goop, WebMD, Dollar Shave Club, quip, and most recently, Munchkin Inc. His visionary approach to product strategy, user-centric design and building agile teams at scale has consistently delivered results.  
Wizemann is an engineer at heart who has delivered effective solutions in complex environments, and he is a proven entrepreneur who has built and scaled digital capabilities and fostered a culture of innovation. 
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].
 

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.
You’ll hear practical ways to streamline work, personalize at scale, and boost brand visibility in LLMs—without chasing every shiny object. If you want clear steps to align marketing with business goals, improve performance metrics, and make your budget work harder, this conversation gives you the playbook. 
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. 
About Hannah Woodham:
With over 15 years of experience driving paid channel marketing strategy in a dynamic agency environment, Hannah focuses on leading teams that deliver performance-driven results. Throughout her career, she’s helped brands across B2B industries scale their reach, optimize their media investments, and achieve measurable growth through innovative paid strategies. Hannah has a passion for combining data, creativity and emerging technologies—including AI—to build campaigns that not only perform but transform. Hannah can be reached on LinkedIn or at [email protected]. 
About Jenelle Maddox:
Jenelle Maddox is Vice President of Client Success at Mod Op, with more than 15 years of experience leading teams and advising global enterprise clients. She brings executive leadership and marketing strategy expertise to help organizations navigate digital transformation and drive growth, leveraging data-driven marketing, customer experience strategies, and technology enablement to ensure alignment with business goals and measurable outcomes. Jenelle is recognized for developing and scaling both client and employee satisfaction by creating clarity from complexity as a servant leader and multiplier, driving cross-functional alignment to achieve collective success. Jenelle 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 a world where marketing agencies are racing to keep up with rapid change, how do you grow faster without losing your people, your culture, or your edge?
In this episode of Leader Generation, Mod Op’s new COO, Stuart Goldstein, joins Tessa Burg to share his playbook for scaling agencies. With years of experience leading firms through mergers, digital transformations, and process overhauls, Stuart reveals why the real challenge isn’t the technology or the tools—it’s bringing people along for the ride.
Listeners will get an inside look at why Mod Op is uniting specialized agencies under one platform, how to turn skeptics into champions, and the leadership moves that make change stick. From integrating AI across disciplines to avoiding the “shiny object” trap, he offers candid advice and relatable stories that apply to any leader facing transformation.
This conversation delivers practical ways to align people, processes, and platforms—to keep your team motivated and your clients happy. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. 
About Stuart Goldstein:
As an experienced operations leader with over 20 years of success, Stuart can captain any ship. From start-up to heavyweight, Stuart has helped agencies and organizations pave their path to greatness. His expertise has been instrumental in driving growth and fame for renowned clients such as Johnson & Johnson, Oreo, Coca-Cola, American Express, Novartis, Diageo, eBay, GlaxoSmithKline, Time Warner, and Marvel, among others. And somehow, he still finds a way to drop a joke and take life one day at a time as long as it fits the brief.
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 Tessa Burg welcomes back Patty Parobek, Mod Op’s VP of AI and ML Transformation, for a candid conversation about how marketers can thrive in the age of “zero click.” 
With Google increasingly providing AI-powered answers directly in search results, fewer people are clicking through to websites. For companies that have long depended on organic traffic, this shift raises an urgent question: What does success look like when clicks aren’t the main measure anymore?
Patty shares fresh insights inspired by Rand Fishkin’s work, breaking down why SEO isn’t dead but why marketers must rethink how they capture attention and build trust. She explains how to uncover where audiences are really being influenced, how to measure success beyond traffic and why investing in research and authenticity is more important than ever.
If you’ve been wondering how to compete when Google answers questions before people ever reach your site, this episode is a must-listen. 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 [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].
 

The flood of AI-generated content has made it harder than ever to know what’s real, and easier than ever to lose trust. 
In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with Shouvik Paul, COO of Copyleaks, about how marketers can create and protect content while building trust. Shouvik shares experience scaling multiple SaaS companies to successful exits, and how those same principles—like recurring revenue and scalable systems—can help marketers build sustainable growth rather than chasing short-term wins.
Listeners will hear practical ways to use AI to speed up research, personalize marketing at scale and tap into customer data for new opportunities—all while avoiding the pitfalls of overreliance. Shouvik explains why keeping a human in the loop is critical, what happens when AI “hallucinates” and how legal and IP issues are evolving around AI-generated content.
This conversation delivers insight and actionable advice, providing a clearer picture of how to balance AI’s speed and scale with human creativity, originality and responsibility. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. 
About Shouvik Paul:
Shouvik Paul is the Chief Operating Officer of Copyleaks, an Inc. 5000-recognized company and leading AI-powered platform for text analysis, content authenticity, and generative AI governance. Trusted by enterprises, educational institutions, and governments worldwide, Copyleaks enables organizations to verify content originality, detect AI-generated and AI-influenced material, and stay compliant amid rapidly evolving AI technologies and regulations. With over 25 years of experience scaling and exiting SaaS companies across the EdTech and MediaTech sectors, Shouvik brings deep operational and go-to-market expertise. Shouvik is at the forefront of advancing responsible AI adoption, helping organizations navigate the complexities of content integrity, copyright protection, and regulatory compliance in an ever-evolving AI landscape.
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 you could boost marketing performance, cut costs, and launch campaigns in minutes, not days? 
In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with Martin Kristiseter about the real-world impact of AI on performance marketing. From automating tedious workflows to using data-driven insights for creative optimization, Martin shares how his team is using AI to deliver measurable outcomes while keeping transparency front and center.
Martin also opens up about his path to CEO and how his team is navigating rapid change without losing sight of people. He offers practical advice for leaders who want to integrate AI without the hype, create new roles (not just cut old ones), and build trust with clients in a tech-driven landscape. 
If you’re looking to make smarter marketing decisions—and move faster while doing it—this conversation is packed with insights you can use right now. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. 
 
About Martin Kristiseter:
Martin Kristiseter is an accomplished entrepreneur and digital executive with 20 years of experience in digital media, ad technology, and programmatic solutions. He currently serves as the CEO of Digital Remedy, a Performance Media Company built for brands, agencies, and media companies. Krisitiseter previously launched the digital advertising business at Marketron that transformed a declining revenue management and radio traffic business (SaaS) into a growth company through Pitch — an omni-channel workflow, sales enablement, fulfillment, and reporting platform for media companies. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado, where he earned a BA and MBA in Finance.
 
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].

Alex Seidita, Chief Information Officer at Aspida, and Tessa Burg talk about how organizations can successfully navigate technological transformation—especially in the age of AI. 
With more than 35 years of IT leadership experience at organizations like Motorola, Citibank, Home Depot, MetLife, and now Aspida, Alex shares how major shifts like data warehousing, virtualization and cloud adoption have shaped his perspective. He explains why AI is just the latest in a long line of tech evolutions—and how businesses that focus on people, processes and purpose will adapt best.
Alex also digs into practical frameworks that have helped him lead through change, like agile methodology, product-aligned teams and shared accountability. If you’re wondering how to encourage innovation, overcome resistance to AI, or foster collaboration across silos, this episode delivers a ton of insight in a conversational, accessible way. 
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. 
About Alex Seidita:
Alex Seidita is Chief Information Officer (CIO) of Aspida. Alex is a seasoned IT professional with three decades of experience in leadership and implementation of IT systems. Prior to joining Aspida, Alex was SVP, CIO Latin America IT for MetLife. He has worked and led teams in multiple industries, including telecommunications (terrestrial, cellular & satellite), financial services, military avionics, retail, and insurance, and he has held leadership roles at such companies as Citibank, The Home Depot, and First Data. Alex has experience in creating an enterprise architecture team, and under his leadership, First Data was named a winner of the 2011 Enterprise Architecture Award, by InfoWorld and Forrester Research. Alex holds a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Florida Institute of 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].
 

Wondering why your brand isn’t showing up in answer engines like Google AI Overviews, Perplexity AI, and ChatGPT—even though you’ve been investing in content and SEO?
Maurice White, who leads SEO at Mod Op, is back to explain the rise of Generative Engine Optimization (GEO) and why it’s changing the way we think about search. Maurice and Tessa Burg break down what GEO means, how it fits into your existing SEO strategy and the concrete steps you can take right now to make your brand more visible in AI-generated answers.
You’ll learn how to build helpful, high-quality content that AI engines recognize and reward, and how PR and brand mentions now play a key role in visibility. Maurice also shares free and paid tools you can use to measure your GEO progress—so you’re not just guessing, you’re growing. 
Whether you're a marketer, content creator or brand leader, this episode offers smart insights and real takeaways to help your brand show up where it matters most.
Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op. 
Contributor:
Maurice White, Senior SEO Strategist at Mod Op
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].