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
Director / VP of People (Large Organisation)
5-7 years at this levelSkills to master
- Leading a large HR function, managing multi-million-pound budgets, influencing C-suite peers, driving business unit-level HR strategy, building and developing senior HR teams.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivering on strategic HR objectives for a significant business unit or function.
- Successfully navigating complex executive-level challenges and organisational transformations.
- Being recognised as a trusted advisor to the CEO or business unit President.
- Demonstrating a clear ability to link HR strategy to commercial outcomes.
- 2
Chief Operating Officer (with strong People focus)
3-5 years in COO roleSkills to master
- End-to-end operational excellence, P&L management beyond HR, cross-functional leadership, process optimisation, strategic execution across the business.
You're ready to move on when
- Proven ability to manage complex operations and P&L for a significant part of the business.
- Demonstrating a deep understanding of how people strategy impacts operational efficiency and customer experience.
- Successfully leading large, diverse teams across multiple functions.
- 3
Head of HR / Chief People Officer (Mid-Sized Growth Company)
7-10 years at this levelSkills to master
- Building an HR function from the ground up, scaling people operations during rapid growth, attracting and retaining talent in competitive markets, directly influencing the founding team/CEO.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully scaling a people function through significant company growth (e.g., from 100 to 1000+ employees).
- Building a strong employer brand and culture in a fast-changing environment.
- Consistently delivering on critical talent acquisition and retention targets.
- Proving an ability to operate both strategically and hands-on when needed.