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
VP of Technology / Director of IT
10-15 years of prior experienceSkills to master
- Managing large, multi-functional tech teams, owning significant departmental budgets, driving major technology programmes, and presenting to senior leadership. You'd have already demonstrated your ability to lead and innovate at scale.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully led a technology department through a major transformation or growth period.
- Consistently delivered on multi-million-pound technology budgets and strategic initiatives.
- Built and retained a strong leadership team beneath you.
- Proven ability to influence and collaborate with C-suite peers.
- 2
Chief Architect / Principal Engineer (Enterprise Level)
15-20 years of prior experienceSkills to master
- While less common, an exceptional Chief Architect who has defined enterprise-wide technical strategy, influenced the entire organisation's technical direction, and demonstrated strong leadership capabilities could transition. This path requires a significant focus on developing executive communication and P&L management skills.
You're ready to move on when
- Architected and overseen the implementation of multiple enterprise-scale systems.
- Recognised as an industry expert in a critical technical domain (e.g., interoperability, cloud architecture).
- Demonstrated ability to lead technical strategy and influence non-technical stakeholders at the executive level.
- Developed strong business acumen and understanding of financial drivers.
- 3
Consulting Partner (Digital Transformation / Healthcare Tech)
15-20 years of prior experienceSkills to master
- Leading large-scale digital transformation engagements for multiple clients, developing deep industry expertise, managing client relationships at the executive level, and building consulting practices. This path brings strong strategic and client-facing skills.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully delivered complex digital transformation programmes for major clients.
- Managed significant P&L within a consulting practice.
- Developed thought leadership in healthcare technology or digital strategy.
- Proven ability to build and maintain executive-level client relationships.