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Key Takeaways Nonlinear careers build stronger, more adaptable skillsets than traditional ladder-climbing paths ever could.
Lateral moves and strategic risks often accelerate long-term growth more than safe, predictable choices.
No one owns your career but you — define your direction and pursue it intentionally.
I recently interviewed a senior candidate who confessed that his career had “meandered.” I’ve never liked that word — and I don’t think he was being fair to himself. Far from wandering aimlessly from one position to the next, he had intentionally built a unique toolkit.
To me, that’s not a red flag; it’s a competitive advantage.
It also showed curiosity. He wasn’t afraid to step outside of his comfort zone, start over, and learn new skills. That is exactly the mindset I look for — especially in the age of AI.
As the President and CFO of a Fortune 500 company, and someone whose own career hasn’t followed a traditional path, I’ve seen the value of following your curiosity and embracing unexpected pivots.
Unfortunately, many people still cling to old ideas about the “natural” shape of a career: Get a job, get your boss’s job, get your boss’s boss’s job, and keep climbing until you reach the top.
In 2026, that’s an outdated notion. What might once have been sensible career advice is now a series of myths that may be holding people back from reaching their true potential.
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