Weekly Business Insights from Top Ten Business Magazines | Week 332
Extractive summaries and key takeaways from the articles curated from TOP TEN BUSINESS MAGAZINES to promote informed business decision-making | Since September 2017 | Week 332 | January 19-25, 2024
Leading & Managing Section | 2
Mars senior executive reveals his best career hack for climbing the corporate ladder: ‘Stop fixating on that promotion. Worry about learning, not your next job’
By Orianna Rosa Royle | Fortune Magazine | January 20, 2024
Extractive Summary of the Article | Listen
In the cutthroat world of climbing the career ladder, landing that next title can feel like the ultimate aim. But take a cue from Shaid Shah, the global president of Mars Food & Nutrition, the powerhouse behind brands like Dolmio, Ben’s Original, and Kevin’s Natural Foods. Forget obsessing over your next job title; focus on learning.
Since joining the $50 billion global food and pet care giant in 2007 from AB InBev, Shah has climbed the ranks from sales director to the helm of its Food & Nutrition department and worked around the world.
“When you’re growing up in corporate life, of course, you’re thinking about, not only how do I do a brilliant job in what I do, but also how do I grow both hierarchically, financially, and all of those sorts of things,” he says. “And what you realize is that what determines success is bigger than that.”
Instead, he says, it’s more important to focus your energy on finding out what energizes you “beyond just a linear career pathway”.
“It’s about acquiring the experiences that you need to realize your ambition, to realize what makes you happy, what makes you tick, what inspires you to get out of bed every day,” Shah explains. “Because career success is more than just hierarchy.”
In doing that, you’re more likely to choose roles that move you closer to where you ultimately want to be and attain long-term success, instead of taking what just looks like a promotion on paper now.
Ultimately, by understanding what you truly aspire to be and what you want to achieve in life, Shah believes you can realize your true potential.
“That’s one of the opportunities that helps us unlock the best in people,” he adds, referring to the role that managers have to play in success.
2 key takeaways from the article
- In the cutthroat world of climbing the career ladder, landing that next title can feel like the ultimate aim. But take a cue from Shaid Shah, the global president of Mars Food & Nutrition, the powerhouse behind brands like Dolmio, Ben’s Original, and Kevin’s Natural Foods. Forget obsessing over your next job title; focus on learning.
- It’s more important to focus your energy on finding out what energizes you “beyond just a linear career pathway”. “It’s about acquiring the experiences that you need to realize your ambition, to realize what makes you happy, what makes you tick, what inspires you to get out of bed every day,” Shah explains. “Because career success is more than just hierarchy.”
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Topics: Career, Success, Personal Development