The jump from Director to VP is one of the hardest to make. It’s because what got you here (Director) won’t get you there (VP).

And yes, I know it’s a cliché, but it’s a cliché for a reason—it’s true.

I was convinced I would never become a VP because, no matter how hard I worked, I couldn’t seem to make any progress.

Then one of my mentors said something that changed my perspective:

“Are you working hard, or are you working on a promotion?”

“Is there a difference?” I asked.

“Yes,” he smiled.

He pointed out that I was making choices every day that either brought me closer to a promotion—or didn’t.

I was choosing to deprioritize networking because “it’s not important.”

I was choosing to stay humble and rely on my work because “I’m sure they’ll notice.”

I was choosing to develop marketing skills because “proficiency will get me promoted.”

No one forced me to make these choices. But without realizing it, I was making decisions that kept me stuck.

The truth is, I knew what I should have been doing to get promoted, but I chose to stay comfortable instead of challenging myself.

Are you making the same choices I was making?

Let’s change that.

Choice #1: Sell Yourself as an Executive

It shouldn’t come as a surprise, but senior leaders aren’t mind readers.

If you don’t talk about your work and how it impacts the bigger picture, they won’t automatically connect the dots.

It’s not because they don’t like you—it’s because they have their own priorities to worry about. They’re not spending their days thinking: “I wonder what Maya is doing. Did she make a big impact this quarter?”

Here’s the rule of thumb: If you didn’t tell them, assume they don’t know.

That means if you do great work but don’t promote it, it’s like you never did it at all (annoying, I know).

I have a full guide on how to sell yourself here, but let me give you one simple action to help you sell yourself on autopilot.

Your Move:

Start every one-on-one with your manager with a win. Instead of diving straight into updates and problems, use the first five minutes to share a success story.

• It sets a positive tone for the entire meeting.

• It’s memorable—people remember beginnings and ends.

• It’s repeatable—you can do it every week and shape how you’re perceived.

Plus, it forces you to exercise your self-promotion muscle, so over time, you feel more comfortable advocating for yourself.

Stop avoiding advocacy and start selling yourself.

Choice #2: Prioritize Executive Skills

If you’re anything like me, you grew up believing that being the best at your job was the key to getting ahead. And, for a while, that’s true.

But at the executive level, getting better at your job has diminishing returns.

Don’t get me wrong—you still need to excel at your work. But even top performers need to develop executive skills like strategic thinking, communication, and decision-making to succeed at higher levels.

Your Move:

Pick one executive skill to focus on this quarter. Here’s an easy starting point:

• Communication: Try the BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front) method in your next meeting for clarity.

• Decision-making: If you have 70% of the information you need, make a decision.

• Strategic thinking: Use AI tools like ChatGPT to brainstorm and widen your options.

The goal is to start small, build new habits, and over time, develop these skills.

Stop focusing on more hours, and start investing in your executive presence.

Choice #3: Build Relationships with Decision-Makers

I used to avoid networking, dismissing it as something only people with nothing to show for themselves did.

Boy, was I wrong.

Executive promotions require social proof.

It’s not enough to do a good job—you need people to vouch for you and validate that you’re the right choice for promotion.

Just like you’d prefer to buy a product with 1,000 five-star reviews, your leadership team would rather promote someone with glowing endorsements from trusted advocates.

Your Move:

Think beyond your manager. Ask yourself:

• Who makes promotion decisions in my company?

• Who’s influencing those decisions behind the scenes?

Then, start building those relationships intentionally. This doesn’t mean pitching yourself—it means listening, learning, and adding value before you ask for anything.

Stop avoiding networking and start connecting with stakeholders.

It may not feel like it, but this will be time well spent.

Your Next Steps

I hope you’re not making the same choices that kept me stuck, despite all my hard work.

I know how frustrating it is to pour your heart into your job and still feel overlooked.

Take a moment to reflect: Are You Making All Three Choices?

• Are you creating visibility for your work?

• Are you developing the skills that matter at higher levels?

• Are you building relationships with the right people?

  
  

If the answer isn’t a confident yes to all three, it’s time to rethink your strategy and make better choices.

I believe in you, and I’m rooting for you.

Maya ❤️