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If you’d asked me three years ago whether I saw myself in an executive role, I would have laughed. Not because I didn’t believe in my abilities — but because I thought executive roles were only reserved for people with decades of corporate grooming, MBAs, or political polish. That wasn’t me. I was just… good at my work.
But the truth is, career growth doesn’t always follow a clean ladder. Sometimes, it takes a sharp turn. And in my case, that turn was made possible entirely through one thing: networking — not the awkward kind at hotel bars, but the real, genuine kind that happens in daily professional life when you start showing up differently.
Here’s how I pivoted from a stable, mid-level role into an executive leadership position, without applying through job boards or going back to school — and what I learned along the way that might help you do the same.
How It Started: The Plateau You Don’t See Coming
I had been in my mid-career role for nearly five years. Solid pay, steady responsibilities, and a good reputation in the company. By all external accounts, I had “made it.”
But internally, I felt like I was living in neutral. No new challenges. No real growth. I wasn’t being stretched, and that scared me more than being overworked. I knew I had more to offer, but I also knew that moving up wasn’t just about merit anymore — it was about visibility.
And that’s where the idea of networking, the right kind, began to form.
Why I Stopped Looking for Promotions and Started Looking for People
I realized something that shifted my perspective: promotions often come through people, not from systems.
I stopped thinking about climbing a ladder inside my company and started focusing on expanding my network outside of it. Not because I wanted to jump ship right away — but because I wanted to understand what leadership looked like in other environments. How decisions were made. How executives thought. And, most importantly, where I might fit into that world.
At first, I didn’t have a strategy. I just reached out to people on LinkedIn — former colleagues, conference speakers, people I genuinely admired. I didn’t ask for jobs. I just asked for time.
“Hey, I really liked your talk on data-led decision making. Would love to hear more about your transition into leadership if you’re open to a quick virtual coffee.”
Surprisingly, a lot of them said yes.
What Those Conversations Did That My Resume Never Could
Every conversation gave me a piece of the puzzle I was missing.
One executive explained how she used cross-functional projects to gain visibility across departments. Another shared how she hired leaders — not based on experience alone, but on how well they could translate vision into systems. That stuck with me.
I started thinking differently. I stopped obsessing over my current title and began documenting how I added value across my organization — things that mattered to leaders: cost saved, team retention, systems streamlined.
I also began sharing more of this thinking publicly. A short post on LinkedIn every week. A comment on someone else’s thread. A well-written breakdown of how I led a difficult product pivot.
It wasn’t overnight, but over a few months, people began associating me with leadership qualities. That association was the crack in the door.
The Moment It All Shifted
One afternoon, I got a message from someone I had spoken to six months earlier. We had only talked once — a casual video call over coffee. They were now leading operations at a scaling tech company and had an opening for a Director of Strategy & Growth.
They weren’t posting it online yet. They wanted someone who understood execution but could also help shape vision. My name came up in their mind.
I almost didn’t believe it.
We met, talked through expectations, and within two weeks, I was being onboarded — not as a mid-level manager, but as an executive team member reporting directly to the CEO.
No job portal. No interview panel. Just proof of value and trust built through one honest conversation months ago.
What Networking Really Means (It’s Not What You Think)
I know the word “networking” makes people cringe. It used to make me cringe too. It felt transactional, shallow, performative.
But real networking — the kind that changes careers — is none of those things. It’s about curiosity and generosity.
Curiosity to learn how others think and lead. Generosity to share your own insights without expecting anything in return. When you show up like that, people remember you.
And when opportunities come up, they think of people they trust — not just people with polished resumes.
How I’d Do It All Over Again
If you’re sitting in a mid-career role wondering what’s next, here’s what worked for me — not as a checklist, but as a mindset shift:
- Stop waiting for your manager to recognize you. Start showing your leadership beyond your current circle.
- Don’t network to get something. Connect with people because you’re genuinely interested in how they think and work.
- Talk about what you’re learning. Even if it’s just in a short weekly post. Visibility isn’t bragging — it’s context.
- Track what you’ve done. Not just responsibilities, but actual outcomes. Executives think in terms of results.
Final Thoughts: The Role You Want Might Not Be on a Job Board
Making the leap from a mid-career role to an executive seat felt less like a promotion and more like stepping into a new identity. I didn’t need a new degree or a secret shortcut. I needed people. Conversations. Insight. Visibility. And a little courage to trust that the value I’d been quietly building for years was finally ready to speak louder.
If you’re at that same crossroads, don’t just refresh your resume. Refresh your relationships. That’s where the real momentum begins.
