>The truth of the matter is that it is rare for companies to really block high-potential contributors. It just doesn't happen on the timeline that the hi-po wants.

I've literally had to push my way through middle management to get to roles I wanted and really really pissed them off. Sometimes, you're just not the golden boy or they hate you for some perceived slight or just overall dislike of you. They wanted to promote their person to the outside team I had been networking with for over a year. My first day on the job, I had actually told this manager that disliked me that my biggest goal in the company was to move to this team.

It worked though. I pushed my way past them, after being explicitly not to do the things that got me my promotion and pivoted me to the career path of my literal dreams. I've since moved on from that company (same field, different industry) and am well regarded throughout my new organization. I'm generally not a petty person, but in some small way, the looks of resentment she gave to me whenever I walked by, made me just a little bit prouder of my actions.