Although 84% of respondents acknowledge the growing importance of CIO, CTO, or CDO roles in the shaping of business strategy, a significant 63% still see no clear path from these positions to CEO roles. This highlights a recognition of their strategic value but also underscores a perceived barrier to reaching the top executive position.    

While progressing into the CEO seat may not be viewed as practical, or even desirable, our survey indicates a strong desire for more robust internal support for broader career progression. This suggests that while the direct path to CEO might not be the goal for all, there is a clear need for mechanisms that aid in the overall advancement of tech leaders within their organizations. 

Nearly one third of respondents cite a lack of coaching and mentoring as barriers to their career advancement, and less than 25% are confident in their organizations’ succession planning. This signals a pressing need for development programs that will cultivate more commercially fluent future leaders.  

In reality, a significant number of CIO, CTO and CDO positions will continue to be filled externally to bring fresh insights and keep up with the pace of change across the industry. Our findings do suggest an opportunity to boost the commercial effectiveness of technology leaders, which could tilt hiring preferences toward internal candidates for top roles, potentially changing the internal versus external hiring dynamics.