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, Global Social & Community (L6)
3-5 years at L6Skills to master
- Mastering multi-year vision setting, owning a significant global P&L, building and leading large, distributed teams, and effectively influencing C-suite stakeholders on strategic initiatives.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led a major digital transformation programme that delivered significant ROI.
- Consistently exceeded global digital revenue targets and reduced CAC.
- Built a strong leadership team with clear succession plans.
- Demonstrated exceptional strategic foresight and crisis management capabilities.
- Proven ability to present compelling business cases to the Board and secure significant investment.
- 2
VP, Marketing (from another large enterprise)
Direct entry, assuming equivalent experienceSkills to master
- Quickly understanding our specific market dynamics, company culture, and existing digital infrastructure. Building immediate credibility with the Board and C-suite.
You're ready to move on when
- A demonstrable track record of success in a similar role at a comparable scale.
- Strong references highlighting strategic vision, commercial acumen, and leadership impact.
- Ability to articulate how their previous experience directly translates to our specific challenges and opportunities.
- 3
Chief Digital Officer (CDO) / Head of Digital (from a smaller, fast-growth company)
2-3 years in a larger, more complex environment firstSkills to master
- Scaling digital strategies for a much larger, more complex global organisation. Navigating the politics and processes of a larger enterprise. Managing significantly larger budgets and teams.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully scaled a digital function through a period of rapid growth.
- Demonstrated ability to adapt to different organisational structures and cultures.
- Proven capability to attract and develop senior talent.
- Strong understanding of enterprise-level governance and risk management.