Good morning Reader,

Thank you for joining Rise and Thrive! Every other Thursday at 5am, I share real coaching scenarios with strategies, tools, and insights to help you accelerate your career, land high-impact roles, and lead with confidence. I work with high-achieving Directors, VPs, and C-Level Executives in Manufacturing and Life Sciences.

There’s a common myth, and it’s basically wishful thinking, by mid-level executives seeking senior leadership roles, especially in industries such as Manufacturing and Life Sciences:

"If I just keep delivering, someone will notice and tap me for that next big opportunity."

But that tap doesn’t always come.

That was the case for Chris, a Director of Operations at a global Life Sciences company. He was reliable, trusted by leadership, respected by peers, and known for getting results. His metrics were solid. His audits were clean. His team was engaged.

And yet… the VP promotion he’d been quietly preparing for wasn’t materializing.

When we first spoke, he said something I hear often:

"I'm not being seen as ready for the next level and I don't know how to change that."

Chris knew he was plateauing and he was ready to do something about it.

Step 1: Clarify the Executive Identity

The first thing we did was slow down so we could speed up with intention.

Chris had built his brand around operational excellence. But he hadn’t crafted a clear narrative about how he was ready to lead beyond his function.

We spent time unpacking the leadership qualities he already had but wasn’t articulating. This included cross-functional influence, strategic foresight, and the ability to lead through regulatory complexity.

We shaped a new leadership identity: from dependable operations leader to strategic enterprise leader.

Once that identity was clear, everything else became easier to align.

Step 2: Audit the Brand Footprint

Next, we examined what the market, and his peers, were seeing.

• His LinkedIn read like a project tracker, not a strategic bio.
• His resume reflected depth, but not scale.
• Internally, people saw him as reliable but not necessarily “next-in-line” for broader leadership.

We rebuilt his professional materials to reflect his new identity. More importantly, we coached him on how to speak about his experience, shifting from task-based to outcome-based language.

It was about strategic framing.

Step 3: Strengthen Executive Presence

Chris was calm and competent but not always commanding. We worked on the nuances of executive presence:

• How he entered a room (even a virtual one)
• How he framed ideas with clarity and conviction
• How he led difficult conversations without deferring too quickly

Through live coaching, video playback, and targeted feedback, we refined his leadership communication style. Not to change who he was but to ensure others saw what was already there.

Step 4: Activate Strategic Relationships

Chris wasn’t actively job-seeking. But we knew his next opportunity would come through relationships and not job boards.

He started reaching out to former colleagues, cross-functional peers, and board-adjacent stakeholders. These were focused, strategic conversations built on mutual respect and long-term value.

Within 10 weeks, Chris was invited to interview for two VP roles, neither of which were posted publicly.

The Result?

Chris accepted a VP of Operations position at a mid-sized company, with expanded scope across multiple sites, a 22% salary increase, and a direct seat at the executive table.

And the best part?

He made the move while he was strong, not when things fell apart.

His only regret? Waiting as long as he did to take the steps to get to the next level.

If you’re a senior leader in Manufacturing or Life Sciences and you’re feeling like you're not being taken seriously for what you’re ready to do, you're closer than you think!

Let’s explore working together.​
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🚨 The Executive Career Accelerator™ is a 6-month coaching partnership designed for Directors, VPs, and C-suite leaders navigating a career move. Whether you’re aiming for a promotion, pivot, or more purposeful role, we help you clarify what’s next and move toward it with precision and confidence.

Sign Up Today for a Complimentary Strategy Session

I look forward to connecting with you further and helping you blaze New Career Directions!

Talk soon,
Lisa Chubinsky, CPCC, CTS, CPC
Founder and CEO New Career Directions​
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Lisa Chubinsky, CPCC, CTS, CPC is an Award-Winning Certified Career Coach, Executive Coach, Executive Resume Writer, Career Strategist, Job Search and Promotion Strategist, Interview Preparation Coach, Former Executive Recruiter, Workshop Presenter and Keynote Speaker