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 Innovation Strategist (L4)
3-5 yearsSkills to master
- Mastering portfolio management, developing robust evaluation frameworks, building strong relationships with business unit stakeholders, and leading complex innovation challenges end-to-end.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully managed a significant innovation workstream or portfolio worth >£2M.
- Consistently secured funding for 3+ intrapreneur-led projects.
- Demonstrated ability to influence Director-level stakeholders without direct authority.
- Proven mentorship of 2+ junior team members.
- 2
Senior Product Manager (with Innovation Focus)
4-6 yearsSkills to master
- Deep understanding of product lifecycle, market analysis, customer discovery, and bringing new products/features to market, coupled with a strong interest in early-stage innovation.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully launched 2+ new products or major features with measurable impact.
- Led product strategy for a significant product line.
- Strong experience with customer research and validation techniques.
- Demonstrated ability to drive cross-functional product teams.
- 3
Management Consultant (Innovation Specialism)
5-7 yearsSkills to master
- Experience in designing and implementing innovation strategies for multiple clients, strong programme management, stakeholder engagement at executive levels, and a broad view of industry best practices.
You're ready to move on when
- Led 3+ innovation strategy engagements for large corporate clients.
- Managed project teams of 5+ consultants.
- Proven ability to deliver measurable business outcomes for clients.
- Strong presentation and client relationship management skills.