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 Design Thinking Strategist (L3)
3-5 years at L3Skills to master
- Leading full design sprints end-to-end, designing complex workshops, presenting to project stakeholders, and effectively mentoring 0-2 junior colleagues.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivering high-quality, validated insights and prototypes for complex workstreams.
- Demonstrating strong leadership in project settings, guiding cross-functional teams.
- Receiving positive feedback on mentorship and coaching abilities.
- Proactively identifying and proposing solutions to strategic challenges, not just executing tasks.
- 2
Product Manager / Senior Product Designer (from other companies)
Roughly 8-10 years in product/design rolesSkills to master
- Deep understanding of user research and validation, experience with early-stage product development, and a strong customer-centric mindset. You'll need to demonstrate how your product experience translates into strategic innovation leadership.
You're ready to move on when
- A portfolio showcasing significant contributions to new product discovery and validation.
- Experience leading cross-functional teams through ambiguous problem spaces.
- Ability to articulate the 'why' behind product decisions, not just the 'what'.
- Strong communication skills for influencing diverse stakeholders.
- 3
Innovation Consultant (from external consultancies)
Roughly 5-8 years in innovation/design consultingSkills to master
- Experience running design thinking engagements for corporate clients, strong facilitation skills, and a proven ability to translate insights into actionable strategies. You'll need to adapt to our internal culture and navigate internal politics.
You're ready to move on when
- Demonstrable experience leading client engagements focused on innovation or new product development.
- Strong client management and presentation skills.
- A clear understanding of how to drive change within large, established organisations.
- Ability to build internal relationships and influence without direct authority.