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
SVP, Global Talent & Learning (Large Enterprise)
5-7 years at SVP levelSkills to master
- Enterprise-wide strategy development, Board-level reporting, P&L management for a large function, leading leaders, navigating complex global organisations.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led a major talent transformation initiative across multiple business units.
- Consistently delivered on multi-million-pound functional budgets.
- Built and mentored a high-performing senior leadership team.
- Regularly presented strategic recommendations to the C-suite with demonstrable impact.
- 2
CHRO (Mid-sized or Growth Company)
3-5 years as CHROSkills to master
- Holistic HR leadership, investor relations, full P&L accountability, broader legal and compliance oversight, M&A leadership.
You're ready to move on when
- Owned the entire HR function for a significant business unit or smaller company.
- Managed all aspects of the employee lifecycle from hire to retire.
- Demonstrated strong business acumen beyond talent, understanding all aspects of company operations.
- Successfully navigated complex employee relations or legal challenges.
- 3
Partner / Practice Leader (Human Capital Consulting)
7-10 years as PartnerSkills to master
- Client relationship management at the C-suite level, driving revenue and P&L for a practice, thought leadership, solution design for diverse client needs.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivered multi-million-pound consulting engagements.
- Built a strong book of business and a reputation as an industry expert.
- Led large consulting teams on complex human capital projects.
- Published thought leadership or spoken at major industry events.