Tessa Burg welcomes Tal Jacobson, CEO of Perion, for a conversation about the fast-moving world of digital media.

Tal shares insights from his nearly 30-year career in digital marketing. With a deep understanding of both technology and media, Tal explains why marketers need to shift their focus from channels and formats to audience behavior—and how AI can help cut waste and drive real results.

Tal explains how to navigate a complex media landscape, optimize ad spend without relying on outdated methods like cookies, and gain real clarity on what’s working. He also breaks down how AI-powered solutions can unify campaign strategies across platforms, eliminate inefficiencies, and make marketing smarter—not just automated.

Everyone from CMOs to marketing strategists will hear fresh ideas on how to make data-driven decisions without getting lost in the noise. Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.

About Tal Jacobson:

Tal Jacobson has been a leader and executive in the ad-tech industry for more than two decades. Prior to his appointment as Perion's CEO in 2023, Tal served as General Manager of CodeFuel, Perion's Search Advertising unit, since 2018. During his tenure, he turned CodeFuel into a significant driver of Perion's market share and valuation. He also cemented a strategic relationship with Microsoft, for which the company won the Microsoft Advertising Global Supply Partner Award. Prior positions included: Chief Revenue Officer of SimilarWeb, VP of Business at McCann Erickson, CEO at Watchitoo and Director of Business Development at AOL.

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.

Navigating change in today’s fast-moving marketing landscape isn’t easy—especially with the constant pressure to adopt new technologies, evolve strategies and meet ambitious goals.

In this episode of Leader Generation, host Tessa Burg talks with Anna Jankowska, Author and EVP of Adlook and RTB House, to discuss how leaders can bring their teams along through transformation while maintaining clarity, confidence and connection.

Anna shares her expertise on building strong, trusting relationships in business, reducing noise in decision-making and creating an environment where people feel safe to grow and innovate. She also offers insights into managing fear, embracing failure as a learning tool and fostering an adaptive mindset in uncertain times.

This is a great episode for those looking for real-world leadership strategies that balance emotional intelligence with high performance.

Leader Generation is hosted by Tessa Burg and brought to you by Mod Op.

About Anna Jankowska:

Anna is the EVP of Global Partnerships at RTB House and Adlook, and the author of the ebook The Power of Personal: Unlocking Your Authentic Self to Build Business Relationships and Achieve Success. It is a collection of her articles, offering insights on overcoming self-doubt, embracing personal limits, and building trust in uncertain times. Rooted in real experiences, this ebook encourages professionals to leverage their unique stories to form meaningful connections and navigate their careers with authenticity.

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.

In this episode of Leader Generation, host Patty Parobek is joined by Technical Project Managers, Ian Pescod and Jose Franceschi, who share their hands-on experience testing Microsoft Copilot in Mod Op’s AI Playground.

Ian and Jose discuss how Microsoft Copilot has helped streamline their workflows, from automatic note-taking in meetings to document formatting and email assistance. They agree that this tool is for anyone who has ever struggled with staying present in meetings while jotting down key takeaways, or looking for ways to boost efficiency in Microsoft apps like Word, Excel and Outlook.

Ian and Jose provide honest insights into Microsoft Copilot’s strengths, how it compares to other AI tools, and whether it’s worth integrating into your workflow. Tune in to discover if Microsoft Copilot could be worth the investment.

Leader Generation is brought to you by Mod Op.

Contributors:

Ian Pescod, Technical Project Manager at Mod Op

Jose Franceschi, Technical Project Manager at Mod Op

Guest Host, 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.