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Becoming a CEO can be a lengthy process that will require drive, commitment and loads of experience. If you would like to eventually become a Chief Executive Officer, it is important that you set your personal and career goals early on. By doing this, you will know each step that you need to take while you are in school and while you are starting your career. As you achieve your goals, you can check your accomplishments off of the list to keep pushing you forward. It can be a time-consuming process, but as long as you know that it does not happen overnight you should have realistic expectations. Here are the steps that you will need to take to go from being a staff member to a CEO.
Step 1: Complete a Formal Education Program
While there are not stipulations that say that all CEO’s must have a graduate degree or a doctorate, most corporations want to appoint an executive who has a formal education. If you become an executive in charge of leading a smaller organization, it might be possible to compete for the title with just a Bachelor’s degree. If, however, you want to lead a large corporation or a top-tier organization, you need not only a graduate degree, but a graduate degree from a well-known institution that breeds the best business professionals in the world.
Top 20 Affordable Online MBA Programs
Today, big-name CEO’s hold degrees from Harvard, Princeton and Yale. While these institutions are known for training the business professionals of the future, some executives have managed to succeed without ever completing school. You should review some popular choices and strive to become an MBA or a Master’s degree holder if you are planning to climb the corporate ladder quickly.
Step 2: Land Yourself an Entry-level Position
A CEO provides vision and gives the company direction. It is not possible to be the visionary of a large corporation if you do not have experience in the industry. To get a working knowledge and to learn how to apply what you have learned while in school, you will need to seek an entry-level or mid-level position. Rising through the ranks is something you will have to do after you make the grade. It can really help you to attend networking events while you are in school so that you can make the necessary connections early. By doing this, you may be able to find an internship and then get hired following your graduation. It is never too early to build your reputation, and doing this while you are in school will speed up the process.
Step 3: Join the Board of Directors
When you want to have a good reputation in business it is all about honing your role and highlighting your talents. Once way to embrace your position is to apply to become a board member with the board of directors. This will show you how the CEO communicates with the board and will give you invaluable experience.
Step 4: Climb Up the Ladder and Seek Out Opportunity
You must climb the ranks and become a senior-level manager before you should even apply for an executive role. If the opening is not anticipated with your employer, look for openings with competitors. Having industry experience will get you attention, but you need to be a born leader and a strategist as well.
The best CEO is transparent and forward-thinking. If you believe that you can lead with a vision and shape a workplace so that the company is able to move forward, you could be a good fit for the job. Focus on education first and then you can focus on becoming a CEO as you get experience.
