Is it possible to rise through the ranks in corporate if you start from the bottom?

[Anonymous]

Our company has a VP who started out as an admin. She was a single mother, went to college and grad school at night and gradually climbed the ranks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes of course. DH started as an intern and rose to partner by 30.

Tall white male, right?

Not even close.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My spouse did. Started at Deloitte at 22 and made partner at 39.

NP and to me making partner at these places just seems different than rising through the corporate ranks. It seems like at consulting firms you either move up or get pushed out so there's a natural progression there that doesn't happen in corporate jobs where you could languish at a given level until a spot opens up.

[Anonymous]

Count how many entry level people there are. Count how many VP+. Divide.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it truly possible to attain a leadership position such as a VP or a Senior Director if you start off at a company as an entry level or junior employee?

I notice getting an MBA and joining already at a middle manager or above level seems to fast-track your career. I know an Oxford MBA who earns 300k as a senior director at 30 years old. She probably has 1 year post grad experience.

300k is mid-career line worker non-leadership comp at a professional talent company (tech, law, medicne)

[Anonymous]

Yes, but not a one company. You need to job hop.

I started doing that during the pandemic and have only increased my title and salary over the last 2.5 years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My spouse did. Started at Deloitte at 22 and made partner at 39.

That's different than starting as an accounting clerk and becoming CFO

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Roger Goddell started as an intern in the NFL, and then became driver for Pete Rozelle

Not saying he isn't talented, but life is a lot easier if your father was a US Senator.

[Anonymous]

Worked for a NYC bank in early 1980s full of Ivy types. VP was Horatio Alger - started in the mail room, two night degrees at St. Johns. Acknowledged as one of the smartest people at the bank.

Would probably not happen these days. Believe "they" pretty much know where you are going the day you start.

[Anonymous]

Yes, my DH started out as an analyst at a Fortune 100 company and is now an SVP- switched companies around Senior Director to get a jump to VP. He fostered great relationships with his bosses so that when they moved up, they took him along.

It has brought serious sacrifices to our family. On average he works 11-12 hour days. I also work FT, but have "mom tracked" myself to take on the bulk of home and child responsibilities 90% of the time. Lucky for him, I am pretty independent and have learned to deal with this is our reality. If he didn't love his career with a passion I never have experienced (and probably never will), it would be much harder.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Worked for a NYC bank in early 1980s full of Ivy types. VP was Horatio Alger - started in the mail room, two night degrees at St. Johns. Acknowledged as one of the smartest people at the bank.

Would probably not happen these days. Believe "they" pretty much know where you are going the day you start.

The CEO of Merrill Lynch way back went to St. John’s and joked to work at Merrill as an investment banker or trader you now need an Ivy League degree and the only job you can get with a St. John’s degree degree is CEO

[Anonymous]

I'm a Fortune 200 VP and started there as an admin when I was 21.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes of course. DH started as an intern and rose to partner by 30.

Tall white male, right?

Not even close.

Indeed. What's with the racist postings by some folks on this thread? It's 2023 not 1963.

As some PPs have explained, you need to bust your rear end and position yourself for success. If you provide value to people in power, they will reward you. If they don't, then find a different job. Don't keep working for such people, expecting that some day they'll wake up and recognize how valuable you are.

Unfortunately, it's much easier to blame others for your lack of success.

[Anonymous]

It is but if you are doing well moving up and elsewhere every few years will get you there faster. Yes, it’s risky and change is always an issue but if you are very talented you will do fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My spouse did. Started at Deloitte at 22 and made partner at 39.

Tall white male alert.