About

I am an Assistant Professor of Technology Management at the University of California, Santa Barbara. I co-direct the Health Innovation Lab with Sandra Barbosu and Sungyong Chang, and organize the Health Innovation Working Group Seminar. I serve on the Editorial Review Board of Organization Science and on research committees for AOM's STR Division and as the Rep-at-Large at Innovation & Knowledge and Research Methods Community at SMS.

I hold a PhD in Strategy and Entrepreneurship from London Business School. My research has been recognized by AOM Sumantra Goshal Research and Practice Award (2025), AOM STR Distinguished Paper Award in Corporate and International Strategy (2025), the AOM STR/TIM Outstanding Dissertation Award Finalists (2024), ISA Giarrantani Rising Star Award Runner-up (2024), Sir James Ball PhD Award by London Business School (2024), and the Organization Science/INFORMS Dissertation Proposal Competition (2022).

My research explores the intricate ways in which technology influences innovation, aiming to identify the key drivers and obstacles to technology adoption and its effects on individuals, firms, and our society. My research also investigates the broader implications of technology and innovation, with an emphasis on how technology alters firm strategy and behavior. My goal is to deepen our understanding of how to effectively use technology to foster innovation within a business context.

Before academia, I was a semiconductor engineer at Samsung Electronics and a research engineer at I&C Technology. In 2010, I founded an Internet startup in Seoul. I hold a BS in Computer Engineering from the University of Illinois and Master's degrees from USC in Computer Engineering and Entrepreneurship & Innovation. These experiences inform my research on how firms innovate and commercialize new technologies.

I am a member of the Working Group on Compassionate Use & Preapproval Access (CUPA) at NYU and have served on the International Rare Diseases Research Consortium (IRDiRC) Task Force on Funding Models. I mentor startups through the CancerX Accelerator.

I engage in a variety of consulting, advising, and speaking activities. This includes advising startups on entrepreneurial strategy, consulting with firms on their strategy, and speaking to a variety of audiences on topics around strategy, innovation, and entrepreneurship.

I can be reached at sukhunkang@ucsb.edu. You can also find me on Google Scholar, LinkedIn, and X/Twitter.