Question - how many are in executive equivalent positions?

[Sassy Girl]

For those that ARE interested/are moving up the dreaded ladder:laugh:

 

How did your career trajectory happen? Was it through mentors? Right place at the right time? Connections through networking? Connections through college/university friends/greek connections, etc?

 

Did you plan to be in your field? Did you start somewhere else and migrate over to it?

 

My career happened late. I entered tertiary education at 25, for two undergraduate degrees whilst getting married and when I graduated I was in my 30s and had two children, and was 3 years into a full time career in my chosen field as well. Since graduation trajectory has been incredibly fast due to a change in company. In the 4 years I have been there I have had another child and two promotions. And just last week I was accepted into the best business school in my country to do an executive MBA, with a small partial scholarship and my company sponsoring most of the cost as an investment in me. Haven't had a mentor but am currently looking into it.

 

The main reason it's worked is because I have the right behaviours. I'm a team player and a good cultural fit. I have a job where I am an advisor to the executive team and stakeholder management is a key strength of mine so that has given me some great exposure. So in short, I got here by being me and being trusted and reliable. No tricks, no affiliations, networking certainly helped, but being a mature aged student I didn't really have the normal university experience. I was working and raising a family so no time for socialising. I don't have any uni friends and I'm not connected at all.

 

Didn't plan to be in my field although I did plan the industry. No one in my field ever intends to end up here it just happens. I'm loving it right now but am using my MBA to get some versatility and move into corporate strategy. I'm in senior management now (was hired as an analyst 4 years ago, took 12 months maternity leave for my las child shortly after that). My goal is to move To executive management but in a strategic advisory type portfolio.

 

People can be as disparaging as they like about big corporations . Mine is fabulos. Paid maternity leave provisions, free vacation care for my children during school holidays, and generous charity program, provides shared value to community and not for profit organisations ... List goes on. It's a great company and I'm happy to climb the ladder when it gives me and my community so many opportunities. Through them I've also done some charity and volunteering all sponsored by the company and on their dime and the experiences have been incredibly fulfilling

Edited November 8, 2015 by Sassy Girl

[Ruby Slippers]

I started up a small business with a partner from nothing, we're now at 6 figures in revenue, and we've worked with clients on almost every continent. To take the next leap to 7 figures in revenue and beyond, I need capital so I can get office space and a small staff. I don't have family or friend money behind me, and I don't want to take out a big loan or have to answer to investors.

 

Many of the startup business owners I know in my industry worked in the corporate world for 5-10 years and saved a lot before starting up their businesses. Or their family gave them the capital. I just dove right in. So I'm considering going back to a corporate job so I can save up the capital myself. I think $100K would get me to the next level, and if I'm frugal (as I always am), I could probably save that up within 5 years. I'm 95% sure that if I had $100K to play with, I could go from 6 to 7 figures within 1-2 years.

 

My ultimate goal is to make enough money that I can do whatever I want, like write and record music more seriously. I'd love to get enough capital to start up a dozen more small businesses, then keep investing in the best of them.

 

I haven't felt held back by any glass ceilings because I'm a woman. I've felt more barriers because I come from a low-income background and a messed-up family. It's kinda vexing when every single person you're doing business with is wealthy and lives a fairly lavish lifestyle, while you're still budgeting and bootstrapping. Working to get to the next level has been frustrating lately, but it's sometimes invigorating.

[DrReplyInRhymes]

I'm the lowest denomination of customer service you can be, but I like to believe I'm not a loser, so I generally call myself by other....more pleasant titles.

 

In reality, I'm a glorified secretary.