Search Innovation Hackathon 2026

Two days to challenge how we work, build new models, and identify ideas worth investing in.

This will not be a traditional brainstorming session. We will work on real business problems with the expectation of leaving with ideas that are tangible, pressure-tested, and ready to pilot.

Each participant will be sorted into one of four teams (to be announced soon!), with every team tackling a distinct theme tied to a critical moment in the search journey. Below is where each team will focus its problem solving and solution-building during the hackathon.

Team 1

Win Searches

Key Question

How do we win more in less time by bringing an advisory mindset backed by actionable data, insights and intelligence?

Team 2

Find People

Key Question

How do we show clients at speed that we understand the talent landscape, know the right players and help them see what is possible in their market?

Team 3

Interview and Assess Talent

Key Question

Can we re-imagine how we interview, assess & present candidates to drive clients to better decisions faster?

Team 4

Elevate Data & Drive Insights

Key Question

What are the most impactful things we can do to translate our data into better insights for clients?

Please review these before the event. They represent our own systems view of AI and transformation and thought starters from the market. As you read, note the themes that feel most relevant to our search workflows.

Recommended Interactive Prep Page What to Try Before We Start Russell Reynolds Associates AI Transformation and Leadership 2026, A CEO Playbook Russell Reynolds Associates Transformational Leadership Boston Consulting Group The Widening AI Value Gap Wall Street Journal Why Walmart Is Overhaluing Its Approach to AI Agents
Tuck Rickards headshot

Tuck Rickards

Managing Director

Harpreet Khurana headshot

Harpreet Khurana

Chief Technology and Data Officer

Sabina McBride headshot

Sabina McBride

Chief Client Services Officer

Christian Komecki headshot

Christian Komecki

Global Head, Operational Improvement

Amy Scissons headshot

Amy Scissons

Chief Marketing & Communications Officer

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic headshot

Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic

Chief Science Officer

Alex Chenier headshot

Alex Chenier

Research Consultant, INR

New York

Alix Pollack headshot

Alix Pollack

CS&I Leader, BCAP

New York

Amy Miller headshot

Amy Miller

Director, Digital Learning & Enablement

New York

Andrew Bauer headshot

Andrew Bauer

ASO, Tech Officers

New York

Angela Jung headshot

Angela Jung

ED, Tech Officers

New York

Angela Lubben headshot

Angela Lubben

Research Director, Market Expert, Technology

San Francisco

Ariel Jacobson headshot

Ariel Jacobson

Senior Project Coordinator

New York

Art Hopkins headshot

Art Hopkins

MD, Tech Officers

Atlanta

Bea Constable headshot

Bea Constable

ASO, Financial Officers

Boston

Bryan Gibson headshot

Bryan Gibson

Director, AI & Data Science

New York

Catherine Schroeder headshot

Catherine Schroeder

CS&I Leader, Financial Officers

Toronto

Chris Davis headshot

Chris Davis

MD, Financial Services

New York

Claudia Huskamp headshot

Claudia Huskamp

Project Coordinator

San Francisco

Dana Krueger headshot

Dana Krueger

MD, Healthcare

Amsterdam

Daniela Andrade headshot

Daniela Andrade

Director, AI-Activation

Mexico City

Desiree Stryker headshot

Desiree Stryker

Senior Project Coordinator

New York

Emma Golen headshot

Emma Golen

Operations Lead, NY & Stamford

New York

Fawad Bajwa headshot

Fawad Bajwa

MD, OSCO

Toronto

Gagan Saini headshot

Gagan Saini

Director, AI, Technology Strategy & Innovation

New York

George Head headshot

George Head

CS&I Leader, Tech Officers

London

Jesse Reich headshot

Jesse Reich

ED, Tech Officers

New York

Kay Adams headshot

Kay Adams

Product Design Lead

New York

Kristi Maynor headshot

Kristi Maynor

MD, Consumer

Dallas

Liz Nanavati headshot

Liz Nanavati

Project Coordinator

New York

Margaret Strauss headshot

Margaret Strauss

Research Consultant, AIT, Technology

New York

Melissa Maheux headshot

Melissa Maheux

ED, Tech Officers

Atlanta

Michelle Chan Crouse headshot

Michelle Chan Crouse

MD, Consumer

Singapore

Norm Yustin headshot

Norm Yustin

MD, CAG

Chicago

Pam Attinger headshot

Pam Attinger

MD, Technology

San Francisco

Sam Smith headshot

Sam Smith

MD, Technology

Chicago

Stefanie Lukasko headshot

Stefanie Lukasko

Research Director, Managing Lead, SI&E

Washington DC

Steve Morse headshot

Steve Morse

MD, BCAP

Houston

Travis Presbitero headshot

Travis Presbitero

Research Consultant, INR

Calgary

Valerie King headshot

Valerie King

Research Consultant, BCAP

Los Angeles

Will McKinnon headshot

Will McKinnon

MD, LRCR

Washington DC

Willa Alexander-Jaffe headshot

Willa Alexander-Jaffe

Research Consultant, Technology

San Francisco

These additional readings round out the prep materials with broader perspectives on transformation, AI agents, and enterprise software.

Nautic Partners, LLC Candidate Slate - Digital Operation Advisor VISTA'S 2026 OUTLOOK Agentic AI and the Future of Enterprise Software PwC Three-quarters of AI’s economic gains are being captured by just 20% of companies – with the leading companies focused on growth, not just productivity: PwC McKinsey The AI transformation manifesto McKinsey Rewiring the way McKinsey works with Lilli, our generative AI platform YourStory Consulting Firms AI Tools: McKinsey, BCG, Deloitte in 2025 BCG How BCG Is Revolutionizing Consulting With AI: A Case Study Bain & Company Parsing How Winners Use AI McKinsey Superagency in the workplace: Empowering people to unlock AI's full potential