Case Study 1: The Calculated Climber
Starting Point: Michael P., Junior Analyst, $52,000
5-Year Transition Plan: 1. Junior → Senior Analyst (internal): $65K 2. Senior Analyst → FP&A (new company): $85K 3. FP&A → Senior FP&A (internal): $95K 4. Senior FP&A → Finance Manager (new): $120K 5. Finance Manager → Director (new): $155K
Results: - 3 companies, 5 roles - 198% total increase - Built diverse network - Gained varied experience
Case Study 2: The Transformation Story
Starting Point: Sarah C., Customer Service Manager, $58,000
Transformation Journey: 1. Identified customer success as growth area 2. Built technical skills (Salesforce, analytics) 3. Moved to SaaS company as CSM 4. Became Customer Success Director 5. Now VP of Customer Success
Current: - Salary: $175,000 - Equity: $50,000/year - Total: $225,000 (288% increase) - Timeline: 6 years