Observed career paths · leadership

Where does a Director of Data go next?

4 observed directions, from real career histories. Percentages are the share of people who made each move; the count is how many careers each number rests on. This is the generic map. No aspiration, no filler.

Typical advancement
VP of Product+20% typical comp change · ~4.7y typical
41% of observed moves out of Director of Data go here (28 careers)
executive stepconfidence low28 careers100% of observed exits move upward from there
Management path
VP of Engineering+15% typical comp change · ~4.7y typical
59% of observed moves out of Director of Data go here (40 careers)
executive stepconfidence low40 careers84% of observed exits move upward from there
CTO+36% typical comp change · ~9.2y typical
reachable via VP of Engineering. 49% joint share of observed careers
executive stepconfidence low40 careersno observed onward moves above the evidence floor
Higher-growth opportunity
Chief Product Officer+46% typical comp change · ~9.3y typical
reachable via VP of Product. 41% joint share of observed careers
executive stepconfidence low28 careersno observed onward moves above the evidence floor

What this page can’t know: which of these fit you. Your skills change the overlap, your record changes the difficulty, your priorities change the order. One question. What do you do today?. And this map becomes yours.

See your version of this map →
Where does a Director of Data go next? · Startline