Let’s face it: The C-suite is the golden perch of any corporate ladder, the elite circle where decisions are made, and power is wielded. Everyone admires the people up there—CEO, CFO, COO—titles that radiate authority, competence, and success. But getting there? Well, that’s a different story. I’m here to break it down for you, and I won’t sugarcoat it. The journey to the top is not just about working hard, being smart, and ticking off boxes. It’s often messy, sometimes cutthroat, and rarely as glamorous as it looks from the outside.
So, what does it really take to get into the C-suite? Let’s dive into the good, the bad, and the unspoken truths.
1. Competence Isn’t Enough, But It’s the Foundation
This is the part most people get right. You can’t aspire to the C-suite without competence. It’s table stakes. You need to know your stuff inside and out. Whether it’s finance, operations, or strategy, you must have deep technical knowledge in your area. And not just in theory. You need to have delivered results, preferably results that have moved the needle for your company or previous roles.
However, here’s the kicker: Competence alone won’t get you there. You could be the best strategist in the company, the person everyone turns to in a crisis, and still be passed over for a promotion. Why? Because competence is just one part of the equation.
2. Self-Promotion is Not Optional
If you think being good at your job means you’ll automatically get noticed, think again. Many people believe that doing great work is enough to get ahead, but the reality is, the people who rise are the ones who make sure everyone knows about their great work.
There’s a certain distasteful art to self-promotion that you need to master if you want to break into the C-suite. You have to be able to tout your achievements without sounding like a braggart (though, let’s be honest, sometimes a bit of bragging is necessary). You need to strategically drop your wins into conversations with the right people, ensuring that your name is mentioned in the right circles.
I’ll be honest, it feels slimy sometimes. It can feel like you’re selling out or trying too hard, but in many organizations, if you’re not advocating for yourself, no one else is going to do it for you.
3. It’s About Who You Know, and Who Knows You
Networking is crucial. I know you’ve heard it a million times, but this isn’t about collecting business cards at conferences. It’s about building deep, authentic relationships with the people who matter—particularly those above you. Mentors, sponsors, and allies are your lifeline in the corporate world. You need advocates in high places who will champion your cause when you’re not in the room.
But here’s where things get murky. In the race to the top, relationships can become transactional. Some people will use others as stepping stones. You might witness colleagues suddenly becoming best friends with the new VP or cozying up to the CEO at company events. Is it genuine? Often not. Is it effective? Absolutely.
There’s also an undercurrent of favoritism and nepotism in many organizations that people don’t like to talk about. I’ve seen talented individuals sidelined simply because they weren’t in the right clique or didn’t have the right connections. It’s a tough pill to swallow, but sometimes your skill set matters less than your ability to navigate the internal power structures.
4. You Have to Play Politics, Like It or Not
Speaking of navigating power structures, let’s talk office politics. It’s inevitable, it’s ugly, and it’s necessary. If you think you can rise to the top by staying neutral, you’re in for a rude awakening. The truth is, you need to play the game—whether that’s aligning yourself with the right leaders, avoiding conflicts with influential players, or tactically positioning yourself as the solution to your boss’s problems.
Sometimes, it’s about strategically withholding information or using it at the right moment to gain leverage. Other times, it’s about making others think they’re winning, while quietly maneuvering yourself into a better position. And yes, there’s a level of manipulation involved. The truth is, many C-suite aspirants have mastered the art of making others feel powerful while subtly undermining them when needed.
Now, this doesn’t mean you have to be a ruthless, backstabbing Machiavelli. But if you think you can rise by keeping your hands clean, I’ve got news for you—it’s not going to happen. At the very least, you need to be politically savvy, understanding who holds influence and how to align your goals with theirs.
5. Visibility is Critical (And No, That Doesn’t Mean Just Showing Up)
Being seen is crucial. But when I say visibility, I don’t mean just attending meetings or being present at office events. You need to be visible in a way that positions you as a leader. That means volunteering for high-profile projects, taking on responsibilities that put you in front of senior leaders, and speaking up in meetings—even when you’re unsure if you have the best idea.
Perception matters. The higher up you go, the more important it becomes. You need to be perceived as leadership material. That means dressing the part, speaking the part, and embodying the qualities people expect in a senior leader—confidence, decisiveness, and a certain presence.
There’s also a delicate dance you need to learn. You can’t be too eager, or you’ll come off as desperate. You can’t be too aggressive, or you’ll be seen as abrasive. You need to walk the fine line between assertiveness and likability. And yes, there’s often a double standard here—what’s seen as strong leadership in men can be perceived as pushy or “bossy” in women. It’s unfair, but it’s real.
6. You’ll Make Enemies (It’s Inevitable)
Here’s the truth no one talks about: You can’t make it to the C-suite without stepping on a few toes. Along the way, you will rub people the wrong way. You’ll have colleagues who see you as a threat, and others who will be jealous of your success. The higher you climb, the more political it gets, and the more opposition you’ll face.
Some of this will come in the form of passive-aggressive comments, others in the form of outright sabotage. People will undermine you, talk behind your back, and sometimes even try to take credit for your work. It’s tough, but if you want to get into the C-suite, you need to develop a thick skin. You need to learn how to handle criticism and backlash without losing your cool.
This also means you’ll have to make tough decisions that won’t make you popular. Maybe you’ll have to let people go, make cuts that impact jobs, or back decisions that aren’t universally loved. If you want to be liked by everyone, you’re not cut out for the C-suite.
7. You’ll Sacrifice (Sometimes More Than You Realize)
We often see C-suite executives as living the dream—big salaries, fancy offices, corner views. But what we don’t see is what they’ve sacrificed to get there. The truth is, getting to the C-suite often comes at a personal cost. Long hours, constant stress, and the unrelenting pressure to perform are par for the course. Many executives have sacrificed time with their families, missed out on important life events, and sometimes damaged their health in the pursuit of career success.
Work-life balance becomes a myth the higher you climb. You will be expected to be available 24/7, to travel at the drop of a hat, and to prioritize work above almost everything else. If you’re not prepared for that, the C-suite might not be for you.
8. You’ll Need Grit and Resilience—Lots of It
The road to the C-suite is not a straight line. You will face setbacks, rejections, and roadblocks. You might be passed over for a promotion you thought you had in the bag. You’ll have failures along the way, and some of them will be public. The key is not just how well you succeed, but how well you recover from failure.
Resilience is critical. The people who make it to the C-suite are often the ones who kept going when others gave up. They didn’t take no for an answer. They bounced back from setbacks, learned from their mistakes, and kept pushing forward.
9. You Have to Want It—Really Want It
Finally, let’s get real. Not everyone is cut out for the C-suite, and that’s okay. You have to ask yourself if you really want it—because if you don’t, the sacrifices and compromises won’t be worth it. Getting into the C-suite requires a level of ambition and determination that not everyone has. You have to be willing to do whatever it takes, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it’s messy.
10. You Must Learn to Delegate (And Let Go)
One of the biggest challenges for people on the path to the C-suite is learning how to truly delegate. Early in your career, success is often about being hands-on, showing your personal expertise, and proving that you can handle the details. But as you move up the ladder, especially when aiming for the C-suite, your job shifts from being a doer to being a leader. And that means you have to trust other people to execute.
Letting go is harder than it sounds. Many aspiring executives struggle with the fear that things won’t get done correctly if they don’t oversee every aspect themselves. They micromanage, they hover, and they burn themselves out trying to be involved in everything. But here’s the reality: No one reaches the C-suite by doing it all themselves. The higher you go, the more your success depends on the success of others. You have to learn how to identify the right talent, delegate responsibilities effectively, and trust your team to deliver.
This isn’t just about freeing up your own time (although that’s part of it). It’s also about demonstrating that you can lead at a strategic level, focusing on the big picture rather than getting caught in the weeds. In the C-suite, your role is to guide, inspire, and set the direction—not to manage every detail. If you can’t delegate and let go, you’ll struggle to operate effectively in an executive role.
It’s not always a pretty journey. It’s not always fair. But if you’re clear-eyed about the realities and still want to make it, then go for it. Just know that behind the polished facade of the C-suite lies a world that’s far more complex—and sometimes ruthless—than it appears.
