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re: How did most C-Suite Execs get to that position?
Posted on 5/15/24 at 12:30 am to GRTiger
Posted on 5/15/24 at 12:30 am to GRTiger
I interact with senior leaders daily. I’ll boil it down to trust, dependability, communication & storytelling.
In terms of actually getting up the ladder, tremendous about of luck and happenstance…preparation meeting opportunity.
For large public companies, one dimension that I think gets overlooked for people with CEO aspirations: You have to get to the middle management roles rapidly early in your career. If you don’t, then you “age out” of achieving the top level jobs. Achieving VP in mid to late 30s…SVP early 40s…creates ability for a Chief role in mid 40s. A board generally wants a CEO with at least a good amount of time of the clock before retirement so early 50s is a target.
Someone getting to a VP rank at 50 just doesn’t have enough years left to get to the top spot very often.
We should also delineate…there is a massive difference between CEO and “Chief XYZ Officer” in F500 settings. Just look at the pay differences between CEO and their direct reports…it’s shocking how quickly the comp bands decrease.
In terms of actually getting up the ladder, tremendous about of luck and happenstance…preparation meeting opportunity.
For large public companies, one dimension that I think gets overlooked for people with CEO aspirations: You have to get to the middle management roles rapidly early in your career. If you don’t, then you “age out” of achieving the top level jobs. Achieving VP in mid to late 30s…SVP early 40s…creates ability for a Chief role in mid 40s. A board generally wants a CEO with at least a good amount of time of the clock before retirement so early 50s is a target.
Someone getting to a VP rank at 50 just doesn’t have enough years left to get to the top spot very often.
We should also delineate…there is a massive difference between CEO and “Chief XYZ Officer” in F500 settings. Just look at the pay differences between CEO and their direct reports…it’s shocking how quickly the comp bands decrease.
This post was edited on 5/15/24 at 12:31 am
2
Posted on 5/15/24 at 7:18 am to lynxcat
quote:
You have to get to the middle management roles rapidly early in your career.
That's nearly impossible. I've never seen one guy in their early 30s in a regional/global role beyond corporate office. Most of those guys are Sr. Managers and 40ish at absolute best.
Maybe Sales this might be possible. Technical disciplines I've never seen that. Apparently tech anything is possible though.
This post was edited on 5/15/24 at 7:19 am
Posted on 5/15/24 at 7:41 am to lynxcat
quote:
You have to get to the middle management roles rapidly early in your career. If you don’t, then you “age out” of achieving the top level jobs.
This is very important. It is also good life advice for everyone on this board.
Many people in the prime of their careers don't take advantage of every opportunity. They turn down promotions, or opportunities to elevate with other companies, because they choose to be comfortable instead of taking some risk. They choose the company they already know, they choose the shorter commute or they choose not to relocate so they can live close to mommy.
You need to do EVERYTHING you can to aggressively move up in your early career. Not only is this the path to a potential V or C level role, but if you choose the comfortable path, you will find yourself in your mid to late 40s in a position that should be occupied by some in their late 20s/early 30s. You will have a mortgage, kids in college and a wife who isn't working, and after you get laid-off and can't find a well-paying fulltime job, you will find yourself calling recruiters and begging for a low-level temp position. It is sad, but unfortunately, it is the path for many of you (you just don't know it yet).
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