You're considering a career change in Executive Management. How can you prepare for the transition?

I suggest you do 1st a feedback collection with your upper management and peers, especially with those you may expect 'tough' answers 1 then, self-reflect. Check your legitimacy. Evaluation like MBTI or Insights are great tools to start. I experienced the Clifton Strenghts (Gallup) test: very powerful. Executives have a deep experience. Showcase how yours can be leveraged for the company. Understand what they need and how a WIN/WIN relationship can be created. if you are not good at selling yourself, work hard on collecting recos in LinkedIn. You need to be clear if you want to be an Exec for the title / salary or for the impact/influence/accountability you will have. Do not forget to elaborate on the importance of people to achieve goals

In my experience, assessing strengths involves identifying key competencies such as leadership, communication, and problem-solving, which are crucial for success in executive management positions. Recognizing areas for improvement is essential, whether it's enhancing financial management skills or refining strategic planning abilities. To fill these gaps, I've found value in targeted training, mentorship from experienced leaders, and networking within the industry. Using tools like online assessments, feedback, and coaching has helped shape a comprehensive personal development plan focused on maximizing strengths and addressing skill gaps for future leadership roles.

Sharpen your leadership brand by targeting desired industries and bridge any skill gaps through courses or networking with industry experts.

One thing aspiring executives must remember: their role has shifted from following to leading. They shouldn't wait for direction from the board of directors or anyone else. Proactiveness is key. As the torchbearer, you need to identify potential opportunities and equip your team with the necessary tools. You should remember, while these positions require briefings from subordinates, ensure the information is concise and focused, sharpen this skill. Minimize meeting time and encourage colleagues to submit comments and feedback electronically whenever possible; start practising it where you are currently.

Research the market and specific executive management roles to understand trends, challenges, and opportunities in your target sector. Investigate the responsibilities, expectations, and goals associated with the roles you're considering. Identify the key skills, knowledge, and attributes sought by employers in these positions. Leverage online sources, industry reports, job descriptions, and informational interviews for comprehensive insights. This preparation helps align your capabilities with market demands and employer expectations, positioning you effectively for a successful career transition.

You must be ready to lead, listen and apply emotional intelligence whence the need arises. Search out a mentor to share ideas and how they were able to overcome challenges at that level of management.

Focus on Impact, Not Quantity: While extensive experience across many organizations isn't always necessary, demonstrating successful growth within a few key institutions is more valuable. Highlight Leadership & Results: Don't simply list your past tasks; focus on how many people you managed and the impact that translated into business success. This is the true measure of your leadership. Show Strategic Thinking: Go beyond experience. Your resume should hint at your vision and potential direction for the organization you're applying to. Professional Polish on LinkedIn: LinkedIn is a great platform to showcase your professional accomplishments. Ensure your profile is free of excessive personal images and maintains a professional tone.

Career change could be tricky. At times you might not know what you end up doing. Hence, you can offer two informations to people (1) Firstly, share what do you want to achieve? ie What is the things you want to do, what is your objective or what are you passionate about and (2) Secondly, What can you do? ie What kind of skillsets you offer? What kind of knowledge you have or What kind of resources you have? These information acts as a pollen grains to attract potential future pollination for new jobs or ventures on your way.

After assessing your strengths, identifying gaps, and researching the market, update your resume and portfolio to emphasize your fit for executive management. Highlight achievements, leadership skills, and the impact of your work. Include work samples or case studies in your portfolio that showcase problem-solving, strategic thinking, and decision-making capabilities. Tailor your resume and portfolio for each position, incorporating relevant keywords, examples, and metrics to demonstrate your value and suitability explicitly. This targeted approach makes your application more compelling to potential employers, showcasing your readiness for executive roles.

As globalization continue to evolve, management skills need to evolve as well; therefore, our knowledge must to be always updated with the most recent strategies and abilities to be efficient and effective.

Understand where you want to be for your next executive position. Networking with the right people and attending specific events is key. You will be meeting more people and networking a lot more, which will help in your visibility and honing down on your key skills

As an executive, you become the company's public face. Be ready for increased visibility! Participate in relevant events, consider hosting your own, and focus on genuine social media engagement (quality over quantity). LinkedIn is your professional platform for better visibility. Skip expensive influencers; seek authentic partners who align with your vision. Hone your public speaking skills with courses or Toastmasters. This focuses on the key takeaways: increased public visibility, strategic social media use, and strong communication skills for executive leaders.

Networking is absolutely critical for executive roles. Your contributions become less quantifiable in executive roles. You need to dedicate time to networking and establishing your brand in the industry. Pro-bono contributions also play a critical role.

From my experience it helps a lot to have coffee meetings and attend events where you meet people that might not be relevant for your next career step at first sight. It gives you much more inspiration and helps you to think out of the box so you won't be stuck in your old job, what you are doing at the moment.

As a founder and leader I start by building and expanding my network. My mindset is global, high-tech and innovation. I pick connections strategically to makes sure I speak to the ones important. The Equity Story is the one most important mission to explain, make interest to and communicate.

Be Prepared with Questions: While it's important to prepare answers for interview questions, it's equally important to have well-considered questions for the interviewers. Tailor your questions to the flow of the interview. Salary Expectations: When considering salary, be prepared with a range rather than a single number. For example, if your target is $200k, have a range of $180k to $220k in mind. This demonstrates flexibility and realism. Focus on Value: While discussing salary, it's crucial to highlight the value you bring to the company and your vision for contributing to their success. This approach positions you for potentially exceeding the initial offer, rather than overpromising and creating unrealistic expectations.

To prepare for a career change in Executive Management, undertake relevant training or courses, seek mentorship from seasoned executives, and network within the industry to gain insights and opportunities. Additionally, focus on developing leadership skills, honing strategic thinking, and staying abreast of industry trends and best practices.

Here are some steps you can take to prepare for a successful transition during a career change in Executive Management or Leadership: 1. Set goals: Clearly define your career goals and objectives for the transition, including short-term and long-term milestones. 2. Continuous learning: Stay current with industry trends, best practices, and leadership techniques through professional development opportunities, workshops, courses, and conferences. 3. Seek mentorship: Find a mentor or coach who can provide guidance, support, and expertise as you navigate your career transition. 4. Develop a transition plan: Create a detailed plan outlining the steps, including timelines, resources needed, and potential challenges.

Primero, la empresa qué quiere? Alguien que le lleve la empresa con el lineamiento actual sin cambios, alguien que lleve el lineamiento actual y lo potencie, alguien que cambie el lineamiento actual. Si es la opción primera, todo pasa por caerles bien, si es la dos, puede ser que valoran experiencias anteriores y piensen que pueden potenciar y si es la tres, hay que modelizar con dinámica de sistemas y si están de acuerdo ir para adelante y si dudan o no entienden, no quieren cambiar nada. Si es la opción dos el CV sirve, si es la uno todo paso por el sentimiento, opción ideal para los chaantas, si es la tres, y va, maravillas a las puertas.

Pienso que la vocación es algo que se va amasando durante toda la vida, no tiene principio o fin determinado. La capacidad de no renunciar a seguir aprendiendo y a ser fiel al propio deseo es lo que te mantiene vivo. Pienso que el presente de un rol, es el momento del futuro, que acaba antes de que terminemos de nombrarlo. Todo esto lo digo porque de ser Director Ejecutivo, me he convertido en psicólogo de ellos.

Know yourself well. Some people are good at and like to do everything — but most people have something that they just don’t care for. If you know that about yourself, be upfront about it and think about how to address it. What would you do to compensate? What type of help would you seek, or what alternatives could you pursue?