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
Senior Digital Change Coordinator (Internal Promotion)
3-5 years as a Senior CoordinatorSkills to master
- Leading end-to-end change for complex projects, mentoring junior colleagues, managing difficult stakeholders, and making significant technical decisions within project scope.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivers successful change projects with high adoption rates.
- Proactively identifies and mitigates project-level resistance.
- Has successfully mentored at least two junior team members.
- Demonstrates strong influencing skills with senior project sponsors.
- Has taken initiative to improve internal change processes or templates.
- 2
Project/Programme Manager (External Hire)
10-15 years in project/programme management, with a strong change focusSkills to master
- Deep understanding of change management principles, experience leading the 'people side' of large projects, and a proven ability to manage cross-functional teams.
You're ready to move on when
- Has successfully delivered projects with significant organisational change components.
- Demonstrates a clear understanding of human behaviour in response to change.
- Possesses strong stakeholder management and communication skills.
- Has experience managing project budgets and resources effectively.
- 3
Change Management Consultant (External Hire)
10-15 years in change consulting, often at a Senior Manager or Principal levelSkills to master
- Experience designing and implementing change strategies for diverse clients, strong presentation and client-facing skills, and a broad understanding of various industries and change challenges.
You're ready to move on when
- Has led change engagements for multiple clients, demonstrating adaptability.
- Brings a strong toolkit of change methodologies and best practices.
- Is adept at influencing senior client stakeholders and managing expectations.
- Has experience building and leading project teams.