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
Lead Growth Strategist (Internal Promotion)
3-5 years as a LeadSkills to master
- Programme management, advanced stakeholder influence, team leadership (informal), strategic ambiguity navigation, M&A diligence.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led multiple complex, cross-functional strategic programmes.
- Consistently delivered on significant business outcomes (e.g., £500K+ impact).
- Demonstrated ability to mentor and guide junior strategists effectively.
- Trusted by VPs to deliver high-quality, actionable strategic insights.
- 2
Management Consultant (Big 4 or Boutique)
8-12 years in consulting (e.g., Senior Manager/Principal level)Skills to master
- Client management, hypothesis-driven problem solving, rapid analysis, executive communication, industry specialisation.
You're ready to move on when
- Managed multiple large-scale strategic engagements for diverse clients.
- Proven ability to translate complex problems into clear, actionable recommendations.
- Strong track record of business development and client relationship management.
- Deep expertise in a relevant industry sector (e.g., SaaS, FinTech).
- 3
Corporate Development Manager/Senior Manager
5-8 years in corp dev or M&A rolesSkills to master
- Deal sourcing, valuation, due diligence, post-merger integration planning, negotiation.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully executed multiple M&A transactions or strategic investments.
- Strong financial modeling and valuation capabilities.
- Experience navigating complex legal and financial aspects of deals.
- Ability to work effectively with external advisors (banks, lawyers).