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 Sales Manager (L4)
3-5 years as a high-performing Sales ManagerSkills to master
- Consistently exceeding team quota, developing a strong coaching cadence for individual reps, mastering sales forecasting for your team, and effectively managing performance challenges.
You're ready to move on when
- Your team consistently hits or exceeds its revenue targets.
- You've successfully coached multiple reps to become top performers.
- You're seen as a trusted advisor by senior sales leadership.
- You've taken on informal leadership roles beyond your direct team, perhaps leading a cross-functional project.
- 2
Sales Operations Director
5-8 years in Sales Operations, with leadership experienceSkills to master
- Deep expertise in sales process optimisation, CRM administration, data analytics, compensation plan design, and sales technology stack management. You'd need to layer on strong people leadership skills.
You're ready to move on when
- You've successfully designed and implemented major sales process improvements.
- You've built and managed complex sales compensation models.
- You're an expert in sales data analysis and reporting.
- You've demonstrated the ability to lead and influence across different sales teams.
- 3
Marketing Director (with strong commercial focus)
8-10 years in Marketing, with a focus on demand generation and commercial outcomesSkills to master
- Understanding of customer acquisition funnels, campaign management, brand strategy, and market research. You'd need to develop a much deeper understanding of direct sales motions and P&L accountability.
You're ready to move on when
- You've consistently delivered high-quality leads that convert to revenue.
- You have a strong track record of collaborating effectively with sales teams.
- You've demonstrated an understanding of commercial metrics beyond marketing-specific KPIs.
- You're able to translate market insights into actionable GTM strategies.