Career Pathways

Common Pathways

General Management

• Level: Bachelor's, MBA

• Industry: Companies with Large Workforces

• General management positions offer opportunities to manage processes, projects and/or teams and may involve exercising skills across multiple business functions and interacting with various customers and stakeholders. Candidates should have an affinity for management, leadership, critical thinking, managing processes and projects and driving results. Key skills for general management include analytical thinking, strong problem-solving and communication skills, versatility, business acumen, team-oriented work style, and the ability to act as an influencer. There is moderate availability of opportunity for general management roles, and moderate availability for exit opportunities. General management positions are commonly seen in a variety of industries, especially technology, manufacturing and transportation, not-for-profit, retail, financial services, healthcare, energy/cleantech, and government.

Human Resources

• Level: Bachelor's, MBA

• Industry: All

• Human Resources is responsible for the development and delivery of business-focused HR strategies that attract, develop, motivate, and retain employees. HR partners with business leaders to deliver process, programs and services that drive business results and meet the needs of employees. Candidates should have an interest in change management, training and development, benefits, organizational and cultural change, and “people” development. An ideal skillset includes strategic thinking, resource management, recruiting, compensation modeling, policy development, flexibility, and the ability to be an agent for change. An understanding of varying communications and work styles is beneficial. There is a moderate availability of opportunity for human resources roles, and a moderate availability of exit opportunity.

Operations

• Level: Bachelor's, MBA

• Industry: All

• Operations professionals are passionate about making an organization run more smoothly and efficiently. That might involve conducting systems or productivity analysis, protecting assets and customers, or implementing cost control measures that help maximize the efficiency of services we deliver to customers and employees. Ideal candidates for operations roles should have interest in maximizing productivity, optimizing systems, managing processes and projects and driving results. Key skills include analytical thinking, strong communication and problem-solving skills, flexibility, a team-oriented work style, the ability to influence, and general management capabilities. There is moderate availability of opportunity for operations roles, and moderate availability of exit opportunities. Operations roles are found across corporate functions (finance operations, sales operations, HR operations, etc.) and across industries including technology, manufacturing and transportation, consumer products and retail, financial services, healthcare, and energy/cleantech.

Sales / Business Development

• Level: Bachelor's, MBA, Experience in Sales

• Industries: Companies with clients

• Sales and Business Development professionals drive sales and services opportunities, leveraging organizational resources to identify, maintain and expand client relationships. They might serve a geographic territory across industries or large accounts in a specific industry. These professionals thrive on leading sales initiates and closing business deals and managing customer satisfaction. Candidates should have an interest in sales and relationship building, developing business solutions, teamwork, self-management, and client-facing projects. An ideal skillset includes excellent interpersonal skills, strong business acumen, exceptional written and oral communication skills, the ability work with a sense of urgency, and an executive presence. There is a moderate availability of opportunity for sales and business development roles, and a high availability of exit opportunities. These roles are found across industries, and are particularly common in technology.

Supply Chain and Logistics

• Level: Bachelor's, MBA

• Industry: Companies with products

• Supply chain and logistics managers are passionate about quality, cost and speed as part of continuous improvement processes. Involves financial responsibilities that impact the bottom line, customer experience and shareholder expectations. Often involves technology and collaboration with cross-functional parties and external vendors to deliver results. Candidates should have an interest in analysis, data, processes and systems, setting goals and driving results, leadership, efficiency and productivity. An ideal skillset includes highly analytical thinking, strong problem-solving skills, bias for action, flexibility, exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to influence. There is moderate availability of opportunity for supply chain and logistics roles, and a moderate availability for exit opportunity. Supply chain and logistics roles are commonly found in the technology, consumer goods and retail, manufacturing and transportation, and energy and cleantech industries.

Technology – Product Management

• Level: Bachelor's, MBA, Work Experience

• Industry: All

• Product managers work closely with engineers to guide products from conception to launch, and with our business partners to generate profitable revenue streams. Bridge technical and business worlds from design to implementation and iteration, working within a matrix structure with sales, marketing, finance, legal, among others. Candidates should have an interest in product design, bias for action, customer focus, technology, and fast-paced work environments. An ideal skillset for a product manager includes analytical and project management skills, bias for action, breaking down complex problems into steps that drive product development, and excellent communication and interpersonal skills. There is moderate availability of opportunity for these highly competitive product management roles, but a high availability of exit opportunity. Product management roles are typically found within the technology, consumer products and retail, manufacturing and transportation, and media/entertainment/sports industries.

Additional Pathways

Rotational Programs / Leadership Development Programs (LDPs)

These programs specialize in leadership development training over a specific length of time (e.g., two years) where participants have the opportunity to partake in structured, intensive learning experiences, functionally and cross-functionally, under the mentorship of senior management. Some LDPs are across various functions (Sales, Operations, Finance) and others within a specific function (rotations within Finance, rotations with HR). Some LDPs move participants to assignments in different geographic locations; others do not. Talented individuals are crystalized into great leaders through crucible experiences – extreme leadership challenges that result in life changing lessons that prepare future general managers, directors and VPs. Stretched through a series of intense, progressively challenging opportunities, the leadership lessons learned and credibility developed will benefit a professional over the duration of his/her career and quickly prepare them for effective executive leadership. These leadership programs can be designed for a specific function, or can be rotational programs that span multiple functions. Candidates should demonstrate an interest in leadership, teamwork, analysis, learning, driving results, as well as having an impact and influencing others. An ideal skillset includes exceptional interpersonal and communications skills, executive presence, decision-making skills, business acumen, and management. There is a high availability of opportunity of leadership development programs, and a high availability of exit opportunities. LDPs are commonly found in the financial services, consumer products and retail, healthcare, manufacturing and transportation, and technology industries.