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
Principal Internal Consultant (L5)
3-5 years as a PrincipalSkills to master
- Mastering portfolio management, developing C-suite relationships, identifying new strategic opportunities, and building a strong reputation for delivering significant business impact.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivering >£2M in annualised business impact across your portfolio.
- Receiving unsolicited positive feedback from multiple VPs and SVPs.
- Demonstrating strong leadership in developing and mentoring junior consultants.
- Proactively identifying and scoping new strategic projects for the business.
- 2
External Management Consulting Director/Partner
Coming from 15+ years in a top-tier consulting firmSkills to master
- Adapting to an internal corporate environment (which is different from client-facing consulting), building internal political capital, and understanding the nuances of our specific industry and company culture.
You're ready to move on when
- Proven track record of building and managing large client accounts and delivering multi-million-pound engagements.
- Strong experience in practice building, methodology development, and talent management within a consulting firm.
- A clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities of moving from external to internal consulting.
- Demonstrated ability to quickly build trust and credibility with new senior stakeholders.
- 3
Senior Director, Corporate Strategy or Operations
5-8 years in a senior strategy or operational leadership role within a large corporationSkills to master
- Developing a consulting mindset (structured problem-solving, stakeholder management, influence without direct authority), and understanding how to translate broad strategy into actionable transformation programmes.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led significant strategic initiatives or operational transformations within a business unit.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills applied to complex business challenges.
- Experience in managing cross-functional teams and driving consensus among diverse stakeholders.
- A clear passion for driving organisational change and building internal capabilities.