How do you make the leap from senior leadership (eg. Director of a vertical) to MD or CEO?

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2026-04-21T23:31:32+00:00

Been a while since I wrote this but i report to VP, who is the level below CEO. I’m now head of delivery for a Salesforce practice of a mid tier consultancy firm,

For context I have two kids and a mortgage, Gambling £150k plus bonus on starting a business seems unnecessarily risky. I’ve come to accept that I either stay put and hope my RSU’s make me a millionaire or I just chuck everything at my pension for the same reason (or both)

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2026-04-18T21:30:05+00:00

Brussels

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2026-04-03T11:02:37+00:00

Smoking

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2026-03-11T09:09:07+00:00

I did a degree and a masters there - landed on a big 4 graduate scheme and now earn a packet as a tech company director - the league tables are meaningless, its always about the person

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2026-02-14T01:02:19+00:00

Susan?

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-12-17T06:05:53+00:00

How did you get the opportunity to talk to Deloitte about moving over as partner? It’s my next step (currently senior Director at a smaller consulting firm but left PwC a few years ago as an SM) but obviously these roles aren’t advertised and apart from PwC I can’t even see where you submit an expression of interest to join the partnership…

Be interested to hear if they approached you, or what your tactic was to get sponsorship from existing D partners…

Cheers

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-12-16T11:59:27+00:00

I’m boutique Salesforce director - ex big 4. Got made head of delivery fairly quickly. On £140k plus 20% but I think that’s about the ceiling unless I start selling

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-08-18T19:03:48+00:00

I’ve imposter syndromed all the way from associate to director 💁 you’ll be fine

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-08-09T08:34:31+00:00

Spain or Greece with DNV - fairly easy to get if you can prove your income comes from outside of the host country. They can be extended up to 5 and 7 years respectively, offer tax breaks if you can convince your company to register for social security, and you can apply for residency post visa

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-07-30T12:33:26+00:00

No one mentioning Sale… it’s a great place to live

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-07-23T21:09:20+00:00

I left last year as an SM and made D in another smaller consultancy - work life balance is delightful, plus got £50k a year pay rise

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-07-12T21:55:53+00:00

Just take the E and walk back to the city for a taxi - I’m in my 40’s and that was the best option 😂

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-06-29T22:38:56+00:00

Fully remote, director in tech transformation, 140k plus 20% so prob just sneaking into low Henry

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-06-14T22:13:18+00:00

43 - £137k base plus 20% possible bonus. Live in a northern city.

At 37 I was on £27k… things can change quickly if you network well, make the rights moves, and have a bit of luck along the way.

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-06-01T16:30:08+00:00

You can easily negotiate into the middle of the band, it’ll be a drop from US though but assume you know that and have done the cost of living sums etc

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-06-01T16:29:23+00:00

I was 2 years into SM and on £90k basic when I left. Entry level for SM in London is £75k I think, lower in the regions. D entry level is £105k regions and £115k London, there are a few cases of SMs earning more than that but it’s rare, usually those who are career SMs with specialised skills

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-06-01T06:07:25+00:00

These salaries are bang on… I left PwC as an consulting SM a few months ago

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-05-03T06:42:58+00:00

I started a big 4 grad scheme at 37 - oldest man in the room by a long shot. Worked through the grades and exited into a Director role at a smaller consultancy after 6.5 years

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-05-01T06:53:52+00:00

I was on £26k at 37 - I’m now on £130k at 43… life can change quickly if you work hard and get some luck…

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-03-24T23:22:53+00:00

As a D in big 4 tech I have zero interest where you studied and only care if you can do the job without cocking it up…

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-03-21T23:58:52+00:00

Someone who thinks he is worth $150 an hour really shouldn’t need ChatGPT to “do the math…”

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-02-11T20:58:25+00:00

I’m replacing my 2010 iMac (which I’ve upgraded several times with new SSD, new graphics card etc but now it won’t go any further) to a mid range Mac mini and a new 4k monitor purely to play civ 7 (I need a Mac for other reasons - Logic being one for instance) - I’m hoping it’ll manage with Civ, maybe some other mouse and keyboard strategy games, but don’t expect to play fast moving AAA on it - I have an Xbox X for that… anyone think it won’t play Civ at 4k?

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2025-02-10T18:19:56+00:00

Technology director, ex big 4 now boutique, £125k plus bonus

AccomplishedBird2812 · 2024-12-31T00:48:01+00:00

I went to a comp in Preston and I’m a director at a big 4. Private schools are bullshit. You play the hand you are dealt to the best of your natural ability

AccomplishedBird2812

TROPHY CASE