Technology leadership is entering a new era, and the traditional CIO career path may no longer be the best preparation for it.
At the 2026 Metis Strategy Summit, Steven Norton spoke with SPMB Managing Partner Mike Doonan, Tarun Inuganti of Korn Ferry, and Ryan Bulkoski of Heidrick & Struggles about how AI is reshaping executive hiring and leadership expectations.
A major takeaway: organizations increasingly value technology leaders with nonlinear career paths, cross-industry experience, and the ability to influence enterprise-wide change.
The conversation also explores:
- The rise of AI-fluent boards
- The evolution of Chief AI Officer roles
- Why storytelling and change management now matter as much as technical depth
- How executive recruiters evaluate modern CIO leadership
Listen to the full panel conversation here:
https://www.metisstrategy.com/interview/redefining-the-modern-tech-leader/
