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
From Principal Strategist, Global Sourcing (L5)
3-5 years as Principal StrategistSkills to master
- Deepen your understanding of enterprise-wide P&L management, master board-level communication, and gain significant experience in M&A integration. You'll need to transition from setting strategy for a function to shaping it for the entire business.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led 2-3 major, multi-million-pound sourcing initiatives with clear, demonstrable TCO reduction.
- Consistently received positive feedback from C-suite executives on your strategic insights and recommendations.
- Built and mentored a high-performing team of outsourcing managers, with clear succession plans in place.
- Demonstrated the ability to navigate complex organisational politics and drive change across multiple business units.
- 2
From Head of Operations (Large Business Unit)
5-7 years as Head of OperationsSkills to master
- Develop a global perspective on outsourcing, moving beyond managing internal operations to strategically leveraging external partners. You'll need to master enterprise-level contract negotiation and third-party risk management frameworks, which are different from internal operational risks.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully managed a large operational budget and delivered significant efficiency improvements within your business unit.
- Demonstrated strong leadership in managing large operational teams and driving performance.
- Experience in managing external vendor relationships within your business unit, with a focus on performance and cost.
- Proven ability to contribute to broader company strategy beyond your immediate operational domain.
- 3
From Senior Management Consultant (Operations/Sourcing Focus)
8-10 years in senior consulting rolesSkills to master
- Transition from advising to owning the execution and P&L. You'll need to build and lead an internal team, manage day-to-day operational realities, and navigate internal politics, which can be different from client-side consulting. You'll also need to build deep institutional knowledge.
You're ready to move on when
- Led multiple large-scale operations or sourcing transformation projects for major clients.
- Demonstrated strong client relationship management at the executive level.
- Proven ability to develop and implement strategic recommendations that deliver tangible business outcomes.
- Experience in building and leading project teams, with a focus on developing talent.