To become a more effective leader with a holistic business view, deliberately seek experience across various interconnected functions like operations, marketing, and sales. This strategy prevents the narrow perspective that often limits specialized leaders, even if it requires taking lateral or junior roles to learn.

The traditional power structure of climbing a single corporate ladder is obsolete. For senior women, networks have become the primary vehicle for building influence and opportunity. They leverage these communities to collaborate, find investors, and launch ventures, effectively creating their own "tables of influence."

The most effective operators, dubbed 'dolphins,' can fluidly move between altitudes: operating strategically at 10,000 feet with founders, managing at 5,000 feet, and executing tactically in the weeds at 1,000 feet. This ability to oscillate is a key trait to hire for, especially in advisory or early-stage leadership roles.

Career growth isn't just vertical; it can be more powerful laterally. Transferring skills from one industry to another provides a unique perspective. For example, using music industry insights on audience behavior to solve a marketing challenge for a video game launch.

Whitney Wolfe Herd explains how stepping away from Bumble and separating her personal identity from the company's gave her crucial perspective. This "space" between the circles of self and company, while counterintuitive to investors, ultimately made her a more effective leader upon her return.

Baer's non-linear career—actress, writer, model, screenwriter—culminated in her founding a major company at age 50. Her story is a powerful counter-narrative to the idea of a single career path, demonstrating that profound professional reinvention can happen at any life stage.

Countering the job-hopping narrative, Rachel Andrews explains her 15 years at Cvent felt like different jobs. Because the team, company, and goals constantly evolved, she continuously expanded her role without leaving, proving that long-term commitment at a dynamic company can be a powerful vehicle for diverse professional growth.

At the VP or C-level, a leader's primary role shifts from managing their function to driving overall business success. Their focus becomes more external—customers, market, revenue—and their success is measured by their end-to-end impact on the company, not just their team's performance.

A linear career path is not required for success. Businesses ultimately value high performers who demonstrate an ownership mentality and consistently drive impact. Focusing on helping the business win creates opportunities to move across roles and industries, making your journey more valuable.