Observed career paths · service_design

Where does a Service Design Lead go next?

9 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
Director of Service Design+43% typical comp change · ~3.0y typical
84% of observed moves out of Service Design Lead go here (4,200 careers)
executive stepconfidence high4,200 careersno observed onward moves above the evidence floor
Specialist path
Principal, Experiential Design+19% typical comp change · ~7.0y typical
reachable via Project Director, Exhibits. 4% joint share of observed careers
executive stepconfidence moderate210 careersno observed onward moves above the evidence floor
VP Marketing+13% typical comp change · ~7.0y typical
reachable via Director of Marketing. 3% joint share of observed careers
executive stepconfidence moderate180 careers100% of observed exits move upward from there
Higher-growth opportunity
Chief Strategy Officer, Agency+43% typical comp change · ~7.0y typical
reachable via Strategy Lead, Brand. 4% joint share of observed careers
executive stepconfidence moderate210 careersno observed onward moves above the evidence floor
Chief Marketing Officer+73% typical comp change · ~7.0y typical
reachable via Director of Marketing. 1% joint share of observed careers
executive stepconfidence moderate180 careersno observed onward moves above the evidence floor
Adjacent career
Strategy Lead, Brand+0% typical comp change · ~4.0y typical
4% of observed moves out of Service Design Lead go here (210 careers)
lateralconfidence moderate210 careers84% of observed exits move upward from there
Project Director, Exhibits-17% typical comp change · ~4.0y typical
4% of observed moves out of Service Design Lead go here (210 careers)
lateralconfidence moderate210 careers84% of observed exits move upward from there
Director of Marketing-21% typical comp change · ~4.0y typical
4% of observed moves out of Service Design Lead go here (180 careers)
lateralconfidence moderate180 careers93% of observed exits move upward from there

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 Service Design Lead go next? · Startline