The pathway
How you actually get there, here
How you become one varies far more by country than what one does. This is the UK route. Most people take one of these ways in; the right one depends on where you're starting from.
- 1
Business Analysis Manager (Internal Promotion)
3-5 years as a ManagerSkills to master
- Mastering team leadership, managing a portfolio of strategic analyses, and consistently delivering high-impact recommendations to VP-level stakeholders. Proving you can own a strategic domain.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently exceeds performance expectations as a Business Analysis Manager.
- Has successfully led 2-3 major strategic programmes from inception to recommendation.
- Direct reports are developing well and showing strong progression.
- Trusted advisor to a business unit VP, regularly sought out for strategic counsel.
- 2
Senior Management Consultant (External Hire)
10-15+ years in a top-tier management consulting firm (e.g., McKinsey, Bain, BCG) at Principal or Partner level.Skills to master
- Translating consulting frameworks into actionable corporate strategy, adapting to an internal corporate culture, and building internal relationships rather than client-focused ones. Leading large, complex engagements.
You're ready to move on when
- Proven track record of leading multi-million-pound client engagements.
- Deep expertise in a relevant industry sector (e.g., SaaS, FinTech).
- Strong client relationship management skills at the C-suite level.
- Demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing project teams.
- 3
Head of Strategy (from a smaller company)
5-8 years as Head of Strategy or similar in a high-growth scale-up or mid-sized company.Skills to master
- Scaling strategic processes, navigating larger organisational complexity, and operating within a more established corporate governance structure. Adapting to a different pace and scale.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully built and executed strategic plans for a company with £50M+ revenue.
- Experience reporting directly to a CEO or Board.
- Demonstrated ability to grow a strategy function and team.
- Comfortable with the increased scrutiny and political landscape of a larger organisation.