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 of Behavioural Science & Insights (L6)
3-5 years at L6Skills to master
- Mastering the integration of behavioural science across multiple business units, influencing C-suite decisions, and building high-performing, multi-disciplinary teams. You'd need to show you can consistently deliver multi-million pound impact.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led a major strategic initiative that resulted in a significant, measurable shift in customer behaviour or market share.
- Consistently provided insights that directly shaped business unit strategy and influenced executive-level decision-making.
- Built and retained a highly engaged team of 25-100+ customer intelligence professionals.
- Recognised internally and externally as a thought leader in behavioural science and customer insights.
- 2
VP of Customer Experience (CX) or Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) at a smaller firm
5-8 years at a smaller firm, then transition to a larger enterpriseSkills to master
- Holistic ownership of customer experience or marketing strategy, including P&L accountability, leading cross-functional teams, and driving growth in a smaller, more agile environment. This path demonstrates broad strategic capability.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully scaled a customer experience or marketing function from scratch or significantly grew it in a high-growth company.
- Demonstrated full P&L ownership and accountability for customer-related revenue and cost centres.
- Proven ability to build and lead diverse teams across multiple marketing/CX disciplines.
- Successfully influenced investor relations and board-level decisions in a smaller, but still significant, company.
- 3
Senior Partner at a Global Management Consultancy (specialising in Customer/Marketing Strategy)
5-10 years as a Senior PartnerSkills to master
- Developing and selling large-scale customer strategy engagements to Fortune 500 clients, leading complex transformation programmes, and managing diverse client relationships at the C-suite level. This path demonstrates strategic advisory expertise.
You're ready to move on when
- Consistently delivered multi-million pound consulting engagements focused on customer strategy or digital transformation.
- Developed deep expertise in a specific industry sector, advising multiple C-suite clients on their customer challenges.
- Built a strong personal brand and network within the industry.
- Managed large consulting teams and consistently exceeded revenue targets.