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 IoT Engineering / Product
5-7 years at Director levelSkills to master
- Mastering the full P&L responsibility for a significant business unit, building and leading large multi-disciplinary teams (100+ people), and developing a strong strategic vision that translates into tangible business outcomes. You'll need to demonstrate consistent delivery and influence at the C-suite level.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully grew a business unit's P&L by 20%+ year-on-year for multiple years.
- Led a major product launch that significantly impacted market share or revenue.
- Built and retained a high-performing leadership team within your business unit.
- Consistently presented and influenced strategic decisions at the Executive Leadership Team level.
- 2
CTO / Head of Product (at a smaller, high-growth IoT company)
3-5 years as CTO/Head of ProductSkills to master
- Gaining end-to-end accountability for product and technology strategy, often with direct P&L influence or ownership in a fast-paced environment. This path helps you develop a holistic view of running a connected products business, albeit on a smaller scale.
You're ready to move on when
- Successfully scaled a product from early-stage to significant market adoption.
- Managed a full product lifecycle, from ideation to end-of-life, with commercial success.
- Built and led a core engineering and product team, demonstrating strong talent acquisition and retention.
- Developed and articulated a clear technology vision that attracted investment or strategic partners.
- 3
Management Consultant (Specialising in IoT/Digital Transformation)
7-10 years in senior consulting rolesSkills to master
- Developing a broad strategic perspective across multiple industries, advising C-suite clients on digital transformation, and building a strong network. While not direct operational experience, it provides invaluable exposure to diverse business challenges and strategic problem-solving at the highest levels.
You're ready to move on when
- Led multiple large-scale IoT strategy engagements for Fortune 500 clients.
- Developed and presented strategic recommendations that resulted in significant client business impact.
- Built a strong reputation and network within the IoT consulting ecosystem.
- Demonstrated ability to influence executive-level decision-makers across various organisations.