Michael Stehn ⋅ Alexandria, VA Deloitte Consulting LLP ⋅ 9 years experience

The first question you need to answer is, Are you CEO material? What about you would make you a likely CEO candidate. My guess is not to be rude, but right now you are not quite on that path yet. To be a CEO at a large company you will likely need to pay your dues. I think you first need to decide what industry do you want to work in? Then research companies in that space, then start to look for positions that may start you on the path.

Jeff Martin ⋅ Ashburn, VA The Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System ⋅ 25 years experience

Do the best you can at every job you have and be able to articulate the positive results you’ve achieved. Build a strong networks of mentors and peers and be the best supporter you can be to them so that they might return the favor to you if given the chance.

David Akre ⋅ New York, NY A NYSE listed financial company ⋅ 25 years experience

Those are not given out by chance. I’d say work in the field for 20 plus years, bust your butt every single day, do everything you can to add value to the company, and cross your fingers. Either that or vote for Bernie... Ha.

Rebecca Splinter ⋅ Tacoma, WA Wells Fargo ⋅ 40 years experience

There are probably many paths to a CEO role. To start in that direction, find an industry for which you have sincere interest or even a passion, get hired into a role in that field, and work hard to add value. You may want to seek opportunities to move laterally into roles that will give you greater breadth. Look at the career histories of CEOs at large firms to see the experience they have. One thing they will all have in common is a broad range of expertise, as well as increasingly responsible levels of accountability and leadership. You can find these by looking in the financial section of whatever news you follow for announcements of new leaders; those articles may include info about the career experience that person has. Even if not, you can then search online for career info about that person. Just like in the military (I'm guessing), there is a LOT of competition for every next-level-up role. If you've led people in the military, you have experience that the private sector values that some of your competition won't have.