Redefining the Modern Tech Leader

May 11, 2026

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About the Guests

Tarun Inuganti

Global Practice Leader of Technology | Korn Ferry

Tarun Inuganti is Global Practice Leader of Technology at Korn Ferry, where he leads both the North American Technology Executive Search Practice and the Global Technology & Digital Officers Practice. He specializes in recruiting CIOs, CTOs, digital, data, product, engineering, and cybersecurity leaders across industries, helping organizations elevate technology leadership within the C-suite and boardroom.

Ryan Bulkoski

Partner | Heidrick & Struggles

Ryan Bulkoski is a Partner at Heidrick & Struggles and Head of the Artificial Intelligence and Data Practice. Based in San Francisco, his work spans financial services, technology, and consumer retail, with executive search expertise across Chief AI Officer, Chief Data Officer, CTO, machine learning, and AI leadership roles.

Mike Doonan

Chief Information Officer | Vulcan Materials

Mike Doonan is Managing Partner at SPMB Executive Search, where he leads the firm’s Digital Transformation and Data Practice. Over the past two decades, he has led more than 400 executive searches across technology, digital, product, data, and security leadership functions for companies including Google Cloud, Amazon AWS, Disney Streaming, Comcast, and Capital One.

Episode Overview

As AI reshapes enterprise operating models, the profile of the modern technology leader is changing just as quickly.

In this special Technovation Summit May 2026 panel, Metis Strategy’s Steven Norton sits down with executive search leaders Tarun Inuganti of Korn Ferry, Ryan Bulkoski of Heidrick & Struggles, and Mike Doonan of SPMB Executive Search to discuss how AI is redefining executive hiring, leadership expectations, and boardroom dynamics.

The conversation explores why nonlinear career paths are becoming more valuable, how organizations are approaching Chief AI Officer roles, and why storytelling, influence, and change leadership are now essential executive capabilities.

Key topics include: