When we think of a professional like Fuencisla Clemares (MBA ’00), one of the first questions that comes to mind is where does she get the time to do so many things and so well. It really seems like her days are longer than everyone else’s. Are they?

For many, reaching the C-suite may seem like the pinnacle of success. But how do executives arrive at those top spots? What does it take to stay and thrive in the role? And what can we learn from the experience of others that can be applied to our own career paths?

Management literature is packed with advice on becoming the boss. Yet, career paths narrow significantly as you ascend closer to the top executive spots

When you’re leading a company, it tends to get wired into your nervous system. I used to become physically ill whenever there was something wrong in the company — even if I didn’t know what it was. Even if I couldn’t see it, I could feel it. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling. Most good founders/CEOs that I know have this same, gnarly experience. Unfortunately, feeling it turns out to be the easy part of the job.
The hard part is what do you do when you feel that dread? Do you run towards your fear or do you run away from it?

Marketing has never been more integrated within the business, and never more challenging to execute. As customers demand more and businesses look to run lean and mean, it’s harder than ever to get it all done.
That doesn’t mean marketing executives are backing down. Instead, they’re looking for solutions and charging ahead, driving a loyal customer base by thinking outside of the box, and even taking it back to the basics.

We’re almost all hyperconnected. Our mobile devices allow us to check email, send messages, surf the internet, and monitor social media 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This impacts not only our personal lives but our professional lives as well — and presents executives with new management challenges

A breakdown of salaries for management consultants according to the top three consulting firms.

Management consultant salaries in the United States will vary by position and experience. Starting from the base, fresh graduates (from undergrad institutions) earn an average base pay of $83,500 from top-tier consulting firms. Their performance bonuses range between $12,000-$18,000, with a signing bonus of $5,000.

There are three breakthrough pathways that the most successful C-suite residents tend to leverage.

Being a Fixer, Relationship maven or a Passion player

If you’re someone who aspires to lead an organization in order to create real change, let’s see what it takes to lead thousands of employees and be outstanding at it

New executive openings are more likely to occur in growing business segments
The ability to think and act strategically is expected of executive leaders, and you must employ tactical capabilities as you conduct your executive job search. Here are a few things you should consider when trying to get an executive job.

C-suite Functions Are In Permanent Flux: As organizations become flatter and more team-based, levels of management are shrinking. While this makes team makeup more important across the board, it also means that top teams are expanding, with today’s CEOs having more direct reports than in the past

Companies face a Herculean challenge in today’s fast-evolving work environment. Such is the pace of change that businesses are disappearing more quickly than ever before. If they are to survive, never mind thrive, company leaders must learn to adapt. And here, the operative word is learn.

As with any goal, if the C-Suite is where you want to be, you need a plan. And then you need to get the best resources to help you implement your plan.
Being smart, accomplished and talented is not enough to get to the C-Suite.

The guide identifies what makes a good executive and highlights a list of executive skills required for senior-level leadership.
Use this guide to see which skills you already have under your belt, and which ones need to be developed or improved.

A surprising number of C-level executives say that when they first arrived in the C-suite they were surprised to learn that what had made them successful in the past often didn’t work anymore.
They felt unprepared, even though they had been working toward a top leadership role for most of their careers.
Here are five that they say are among the most important

There are a variety of attributes that recruiters name as being important in a C-level candidate. Some of them are intangible, but there are some you can improve
As you’re evaluating your chances of moving to the head of the business class, measure yourself against the following checklist:

Behind every great CEO, is an Executive Assistant. The role of an executive assistant has evolved from a personal secretary to someone who has the ability to execute decisions, network, influence, manage and even lead

The best advice for navigating a C-Suite Executive job search is:
Be ready to be recruited, Be patient with recruiters and the process, Update your marketing documents to show that you are successful, Make yourself visible, Network well, Be prepared for interviews.

What does effective leadership look like in times of COVID-19? What new qualities should the C-suite embrace to navigate a world spinning off its axis?
IESE professors and other thought leaders have looked at what characteristics – some classics and others newer – an ideal CEO needs in 2021

Managers looking for a boost up the career ladder should take a page out of their CEO’s book—literally.
Take a look at what C-level executives are reading in 2020.
After all, the data are increasingly clear that book learning and better career outcomes are linked.

C-level jobs require extensive experience, proven impact and a specific set of skills. If obtaining a C-level position is a personal career goal, there are several milestones you need to achieve along the way. But what is C-level, and how can you position yourself for these types of roles effectively?