Been a Senior PM for 3 years and hitting that ‘glass ceiling’ everyone whispers about. Did the certifications, networked relentlessly, delivered solid products – but exec roles feel like a mirage. Heard murmurs about non-linear paths from some SV veterans here (lateral moves, interim gigs, strategic advocacy). Anyone willing to share concrete examples of actual tactics that worked when traditional promotion failed? Bonus points for stories about turning internal politics into stepping stones.
the whole ‘play the game’ advice is tired but true. saw a director get promoted after leaking fake offers to execs – scummy but effective. your best bet? start documenting every leadership moment like you’re building a legal case. most ‘strategic moves’ are just theatrical escalations of minor wins.
wait does this mean we shouldnt focus on product metrics anymore? like how do u show ur ready if not thru OKRs??
Two underrated levers: 1) Orchestrate cross-departmental initiatives that force visibility with C-suite – think compliance or cost-saving plays rather than feature builds 2) Cultivate internal sponsors outside product orgs (CFO/COO orgs often have more influence on exec promotions than your direct VP). One member transitioned to CPO via leading a regulatory task force nobody wanted.
You’ve got this! A friend parlayed beta-testing wins into a strategy role – stay open to unexpected doors!
Was stuck for years until I started mentoring junior PMs in other verticals. Sounds fluffy, but built a reputation as ‘the connector’ – got tapped to lead a new innovation lab when leadership needed someone who understood multiple product lines. Sometimes lateral visibility > vertical hustle.
2023 internal promotion data shows only 22% of Head of Product roles were filled through traditional PM>Group PM>Director paths. The majority came from: crisis leadership (31%), cross-functional cost-cutting projects (28%), and external hires with vertical-specific ops experience (19%). Target invisible pain points.