Leader Generation

AI is changing everything, but not in the way most leaders think. In this episode, Rishad Tobaccowala breaks down how we got here, from the early days of broadcast marketing to today’s fast-moving, AI-powered world. He explains why the current moment is different, what’s actually changing and what still matters more than ever.

If you’ve been hearing about AI strategy and wondering where to start, this conversation will shift your perspective. Rishad makes the case that focusing on AI alone is a trap and instead challenges leaders to rethink their entire organization, their role and how they create value. He also shares a powerful framework for moving from control to inspiration and why imagination is becoming one of the most important leadership skills.

You’ll walk away with practical ways to think about talent, structure your team and stay competitive in a world that’s evolving faster than ever. Whether you’re leading a team or just trying to keep up, this episode will give you a clearer way forward.

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

About Rishad Tobaccowala:
Rishad Tobaccowala was named by BusinessWeek as one of the top business leaders for his pioneering innovation, and TIME magazine dubbed him one of five “Marketing Innovators”. He is one of only 300 people elected to the Advertising Hall of Fame since 1948.

Rishad is the author of Restoring the Soul of Business: Staying Human in The Age of Data which helps people think, feel, and see differently about how to grow their companies, their teams, and themselves to remain relevant in transformational time, and Rethinking Work which helps people thrive amidst the seismic changes that will occur at work due a combination of changing demographics, new mindsets, the rise of distributed work, and the spread of AI. 

Rishad Tobaccowala remains a Senior Advisor to the Publicis Groupe where he has spent his entire career, most recently serving as the Chief Growth Officer and Chief Strategist of the 100,000+ person firm. Prior to those roles Rishad was the Chairman of Digitas and Razorfish.

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].

Technology doesn’t have to be scary or steal jobs. In this episode of Leader Generation, Katya Lobynko shares a fresh perspective on digital transformation—one that puts people at the center. From her “people-priorities-process" approach to getting user feedback in hours instead of months, Katya breaks down practical frameworks for leading change that actually work. 

 

If you’re tired of hearing about AI taking over and want to learn how technology can make work more meaningful, this episode is for you. Katya offers real strategies for building change from both the bottom up and top down, plus her lean startup approach to testing new technologies before making big investments. You’ll walk away with actionable tools for becoming the kind of change leader who creates transformation that people want to be a part of. 

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

About Katya Lobynko:
Katya Lobynko is a digital transformation leader with 15+ years across FMCG and pharma in EMEA and Asia. Her expertise spans commercial operations, data & analytics, conversational AI, and innovation with emerging technologies. She has held roles from global strategy and operating model evolution to local program leadership at P&G, Sanofi, and Danone, where she currently serves as IT & Data Director. Katya brings structure to complexity and delivers business results through a pragmatic, people-centered approach with a strong focus on stakeholder alignment, business value, and sustainable change. She serves on the global P&G Alumni Network Board. Connect with Katya 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 [email protected].

Tessa Burg talks for a second time with Mariano Bosaz, Global VP of Consumer Data and Strategy at Coca-Cola and the author of “Digital Mindset.” This time, they dive deeper into practical applications of digital thinking, moving beyond theory to give you actionable strategies you can implement right away.

Mariano shares real-world examples of how the shift from analog to digital thinking transforms problem-solving, particularly around the "last mile challenge" that affects so many industries. You'll discover what teams of the future look like and get concrete use cases from recent headlines that make these concepts accessible and immediately applicable. 

Whether you're a business leader looking to stay ahead or someone curious about how AI-era marketing really works, this conversation offers valuable insights from someone operating at the highest levels of global business.

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

Listen to the previous episode with Mariano here.

About Mariano Bosaz:
Mariano Bosaz is the author of Digital Mindset and an experienced digital leader serving as the Global VP of Data and Digital Head of China at The Coca-Cola Company. With a career spanning over two decades, his background includes founding and selling a digital business during his student exchange the University of Richmond in 1999 and holding key leadership roles such as Group Digital Director for Eurasia and Africa—overseeing 92 countries—and Vice President of Digital in Asia. In addition to his corporate experience, Mariano has served as an assistant professor at London Business School since 2015. His current work focuses on the intersection of emerging technologies and strategy, underpinned by research into blockchain and cryptocurrencies since 2020 and his role on the advisory boards of several AI startups. Mariano can be reached on LinkedIn or at marianobosaz.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 [email protected].

AI is moving fast, and for a lot of leaders that creates both pressure and possibility. In this episode of Leader Generation, Tessa Burg talks with Rohit Prabhakar, Global Head of Digital Experiences and Capabilities at Visa, about what it really takes to lead transformation when the rules keep changing. They dig into why strong foundations still matter, why connected data is more important than ever and why leaders need to balance quick wins with bigger reimagining.

If you’re trying to make sense of AI beyond the hype, this conversation is worth your time. Rohit shares practical ways to think about adoption, experimentation and change management without getting stuck in overplanning or unrealistic ROI expectations. It’s a thoughtful listen for anyone leading teams, modernizing operations or figuring out how to move forward while bringing people along with them.

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

About Rohit Prabhakar:
Rohit Prabhakar is a Fortune 50 CMO and Chief Digital Officer who has generated $1.7B+ in business value by turning customer obsession into revenue growth. Currently leading global digital experiences at Visa, he has transformed marketing, data, AI, and CX across McKesson, Thomson Reuters, and FIS. Rohit's superpower: making customers love the most powerful growth engine. You can reach him at Rohitprabharkar.com or 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 [email protected].

During National Women’s History Month, Leader Generation welcomes Nicole Purcell for a conversation about creative leadership. While so many conversations right now are focused on AI, this episode shifts the spotlight to something just as powerful: hospitality, intuition and the kind of human-centered thinking that makes teams thrive and people feel seen.

Nicole shares how her career journey shaped her leadership style and how she built The Clios into a bigger, more connected brand by listening closely, trusting her vision and creating space for others to grow. She talks openly about resilience, communication and what it really means to lead with both strength and heart. You’ll also hear how creativity shows up far beyond design—in problem-solving, team building and making great decisions under pressure.

If you’re leading a team, growing in your career or just looking for a fresh perspective on what strong leadership can look like, this episode is worth your time. It’s an inspiring listen for anyone who wants to build with more intention, lead with more empathy and stay connected to the human side of work.

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

About Nicole Purcell:

Nicole Purcell is CEO of the Clios, a global awards platform celebrating creative excellence in advertising. With a bold, culture-forward approach to business, creativity, and leadership, she has reinvented the Clios, transforming it from a traditional awards show into a dynamic, year-round ecosystem that inspires, celebrates, and connects creators and brands across industries and continents.

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].