I'm a CTO of a venture-backed startup. My observations:
- Most people in high positions are smart. I put cunning in the same category :) But there are many equally smart people who are not in high positions, because..
- They don't have the chance (either by design or by choice).
- You can have a better chance by starting your own business. Nobody starts a business with the intention of getting a VP job in another company, but it's a good fallback.
- Or know the right people (networking). But this usually go in hand with the previous point.
- Or work at some prestigious company (e.g. Google), and then move to a smaller pond to become a bigger fish.
- Or be known by your boss and their boss. So that when your direct boss resigns, they know who to appoint next :)
> - Most people in high positions are smart. I put cunning in the same category :) But there are many equally smart people who are not in high positions, because..
> - They don't have the chance (either by design or by choice).
One thing I've learned is that when you see companies promoting and hiring executives for a lot of reasons other than merit, it's time to start looking for a new job.
I didn't realize during the interview, but my last company's VP and higher positions were almost exclusively held by people who had connections to the CEO, regardless of their qualifications.
There were a handful of people who were promoted out of merit, or logically as part of acquisitions. They were steadily replaced and or demoted to make room for more of the C-level executives' friends and even family members over time.
One C-level executive I enjoyed working with was demoted to a VP title and the CEO's long time friend took his C-level position. The demoted C-level executive had years of experience at some of the biggest names in the industry. He had also uprooted his family and moved across the country for this position. His replacement had no experience in the industry. The VP was asked to stay around and "allowed" to keep his stock options to help the CEO's old friend learn the position and take over.
Opened my eyes to the realities of nepotism and loyalty in some companies.
- Most people in high positions are smart. I put cunning in the same category :) But there are many equally smart people who are not in high positions, because..
- They don't have the chance (either by design or by choice).
- You can have a better chance by starting your own business. Nobody starts a business with the intention of getting a VP job in another company, but it's a good fallback.
- Or know the right people (networking). But this usually go in hand with the previous point.
- Or work at some prestigious company (e.g. Google), and then move to a smaller pond to become a bigger fish.
- Or be known by your boss and their boss. So that when your direct boss resigns, they know who to appoint next :)