I am currently working as a software engineer with 3 yoe at a tech company and want to go on path of becoming an executive as a long term goal. I am good with coming with a vision for product and able to predict why going with a particular strategy could be better long term results or short term. I read books, improving soft skills, becoming over all sound, take on high visible projects. I do not get much support from direct manager as they don't take it serious due me not tenured and believe in me paying my dues of keep sucking up to them before they let me grow any further. Do I get an MBA or switch to PM or IB or strategy like McKinsey to be in fast track to become top in one? I am willing to work hard and smart, put in extra hours, but I am not okay at sucking up, sacrificing on values. Any advice from current executive ? I would love to have a mentor whom I can go and look up to.
OP, why? If you really want to be CEO go start your own. Climbing the ladder takes years and really is more a game of luck at the end of the day on the road to the top. I don’t know if it’s worth it
Any advice on how to find cofounders and right group/circles? Everyone around me is happy at partying, making 6 figure, chasing women, cars.
Go to entrepreneurship events
I like the ambition. Do learn to spell McKinsey.
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In corporate America the fastest way to become a leader is management consulting. Second fastest is to be as nontechnical as you can: Eng starts out with good pay but promo is slow. Product management / marketing / sales Bd can suddenly jump to leadership roles for no reason. See Fidji simo @ Facebook or Sheryl Sandberg (quickly to VP @ google after just a few years out of mba) or most CEOs of companies (including tech companies)
Can I get in consulting without MBA?
You can but its really going to be hard. Top B School MBA accelerate your career into MC at MBB. MBB = McKinsey/Bain/BCG
Found a company and make it succeed. Career execs are lame. The best execs are people who built their market themselves.
Pichai started at Google as a product manager and I think thats a common way to become director and stuff. It makes sense that this gives you a path to take ownership of increasingly larger products. Alternatively you can go the Jeff B way and found something. People shit on it as a moonshot, but I think it can’t be much worse odds than making it to the top of a fortune 20 company
It's worth noting that Pichai also got an MBA and spent a couple years at Mkinsey to hone his skills.