Tessa Burg and Aaron Grando break down one of the most talked-about topics in AI right now: context engineering. If you’ve been using AI tools and wondering why your outputs sometimes sound generic or miss the mark, this episode is for you. Aaron explains how context engineering helps AI better understand what you want by feeding it the right information—from your brand voice to real-time data—before you even type your prompt. Aaron and Tessa also explore how context engineering plays a key role in reducing hallucinations, maintaining brand integrity, and building automated agents that can actually take meaningful action.

This conversation will challenge everything you think you know about leadership identity. Deborah Fell sits down with powerhouse CEO Ticki Favaroth, a faith-driven leader who has mastered the art of showing up authentically while building multiple successful enterprises.
Ticki doesn’t mince words: “People don’t get to choose my life” – and in this raw, transformative conversation, she explains exactly what that means for leaders who want to build a lasting legacy rather than just temporary success. From her journey through 20 years in corporate America to founding HR&Co and leading The BOW Enterprises, Ticki shares the hard-won wisdom about identity, boundaries, and the courage to let things burn when they’re meant to transform. This isn’t your typical business strategy episode – it’s a masterclass in becoming the leader you’re meant to be, complete with practical frameworks for navigating change, building authentic relationships, and focusing on what you can actually control.

States, lots of ‘em, 50 states. Plus Red States, Blue States. States of consciousness. Physical states. Liquid/Gas… How about the state of Markets, being Market Dominant, or simply being an “also-ran?” The fact is there are only two states you can reside in as a company: you’re either dominating one market or more, or you’re dominating zero. And if you’re dominating zero markets, you WILL go out of business in time unless you turn into a company that IS dominating at least one market. Market Dominance is security, it’s collateral, safety, shelter, asylum, parlay; but most importantly, it’s freedom. Because the only two reasons a company dominating a market can ever go out of business is either financial mismanagement or if the market is just too small. So how do you map your journey to market dominance? What’s changed over the past few years that makes it easier for some and more difficult for others to even get out of the gates? In this chat, I ask Chris for his insights into the real stakes of entering this Octagon of business without true dominating intent. Lsiten to one of Corey Frank’s favorite episodes entitled, “The Two-State Solution in Market Dominance: Dollars or Donuts?”

Your son just graduated college with excellent grades, but can’t get past the “AI robot” screening resumes. Meanwhile, companies like Nike are using AI filters as their first hiring step, eliminating potentially brilliant candidates before any human ever sees them. What’s going wrong with this approach? In Part 2 of our series with Frederic Lucas-Conwell, President of GRI (Growth Resources Institute), we dive beyond traditional resume screening into the world of AI-enhanced behavioral profiling. While most companies use AI to filter OUT candidates based on keywords and credentials, GRI uses AI to understand HOW people actually function in roles. Frederic reveals the fundamental flaw in asking for “perfect” candidates and shares how behavioral intelligence helps you spot the hidden characteristics that drive revenue performance—especially in candidates who might not have the perfect resume. We explore why recent college graduates with stellar academics are being eliminated by systems that can’t see their potential, and how companies can identify candidates who are ready to quit their current jobs (and how to attract them). Susan shares a real-world example of interviewing two best friends using GRI’s approach, demonstrating how behavioral insights create instant trust and reveal traits that would never appear on a resume. This isn’t just about hiring—it’s about seeing what your eyes cannot see.

Leader Generation from Mod Op hosted by Tessa Burg

Guest: Aaron Grando

EP134: Beyond Prompts: Better AI Outputs With Context Engineering


Success Beneath the Surface from Chief Outsiders, hosted by Deborah Fell

Guest: Ticki Favaroth, CEO, Founder, Author, Speaker

EP113: The 90% Rule – How Much of Yourself to Show as a Leader


Market Dominance Guys, hosted by Corey Frank, CEO Branch 49, Chris Beall, CEO ConnectAndSell

EP11: The Two-State Solution in Market Dominance: Dollars or Donuts?


Rooted in Revenue hosted by Susan Finch & Lany Sullivan

Guest: Frederic Lucas-Conwell, President of GRI (Growth Resources Institute)

Why AI Resume Filters Are Eliminating Your Best Candidates


All-Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol Comforting Covers for Kids

Guest: Susie Vybiral, founder of Room Redux

EP82: Turning Broken Spaces into Sacred Places – Room Redux


Sales Pipeline Radio from Heinz Marketing, hosted by Matt Heinz

Guest: Helen Baptist, Chief Strategy and Market Officer at Lytho.

What’s Empathy Got To Do With B2B Marketing?!


The Granite List Live from Connect Healthcare Collaboration hosted by Sally Pace and Leigh Dill

Guest: Stew Baskin, CEO of CannaPlan

A Natural Path to Elevate Employee Wellness


Know, Grow, Go! from Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Beaverton, OR – Fr. Bill, Fr. Dominic, Deacon Brett

Peace Be With You