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 Change Impact Analyst (Internal Promotion)
3-5 years as a Senior AnalystSkills to master
- Leading end-to-end impact assessments for medium-sized projects, mentoring junior colleagues, challenging project assumptions, and presenting recommendations to project leadership.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivers high-quality impact assessments on time and budget.
- Proactively identifies and escalates programme-level risks, not just project risks.
- Demonstrates strong coaching skills with junior team members.
- Has successfully managed complex stakeholder relationships independently.
- 2
Management Consultant (People & Change)
5-8 years in a consulting firmSkills to master
- Client relationship management, structured problem-solving, programme management, and delivering change management solutions across diverse industries.
You're ready to move on when
- Managed multiple client engagements focused on organisational change.
- Skilled in quickly diagnosing complex organisational problems and proposing solutions.
- Experience presenting to and influencing C-suite level clients.
- Comfortable with fast-paced, demanding environments.
- 3
Senior Project Manager (with Change Focus)
3-6 years as a Senior Project ManagerSkills to master
- Full project lifecycle management, budget and resource allocation, risk management, and a strong appreciation for the people-side of project success.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully delivered complex projects that involved significant human change.
- Demonstrates a track record of proactive stakeholder engagement and communication.
- Understands the difference between technical implementation and people adoption.
- Has experience managing project teams and motivating individuals.