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
Head of Change / Senior Programme Manager
3-5 years in previous roleSkills to master
- Leading end-to-end change for multiple complex projects, managing large budgets, building and mentoring teams, and influencing senior stakeholders (VP level).
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully delivered a multi-year transformation programme with significant business impact.
- Consistently received strong feedback on leadership, strategic thinking, and stakeholder management.
- Developed and promoted several direct reports into more senior roles.
- 2
Management Consultant (Specialising in Change/Transformation)
5-8 years as a Principal/PartnerSkills to master
- Client relationship management at C-suite level, developing and selling large-scale transformation strategies, managing consulting teams, and deep industry expertise.
You're ready to move on when
- Led multiple large-scale transformation engagements for diverse clients.
- Demonstrated ability to drive strategic change from an advisory perspective, often with P&L accountability for engagements.
- Proven capability to build and maintain strong executive relationships.
- 3
VP, HR / Operations (with strong transformation remit)
3-5 years in previous roleSkills to master
- Deep operational or people leadership, P&L management, driving significant organisational change within their function, and strategic planning.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led a major functional transformation (e.g., HR digital transformation, ops re-engineering).
- Managed a large functional budget and delivered measurable improvements.
- Demonstrated strong cross-functional influence and strategic leadership.