C-level
Corner office occupant
C-level refers to the highest tier of corporate executives—those whose titles begin with "Chief": CEO, CFO, COO, CTO, and others.
The C stands for chief, and level indicates rank.
She's been trying to break into C-level for years.
C-level decisions shape company strategy; C-level compensation is notoriously generous.
Also: C-suite.
Senior organizational leader
- officerAuthority figure in uniform
- chiefTop-ranking leader
- presidentElected leader of nation
- boardFlat rigid panel
director · chairman · founder · partner · principal · head · vice-president · corporate
Top corporate officer
Ability to see
- roadmapDetailed plan forward
- growthIncrease in size
- expansionIncrease in scope
- scalabilityCapacity for growth
diversification · acquisition · merger · pivot · disruption · innovation · transformation · turnaround
Imaginative planner of futures
- decision-makerOne with choosing power
- strategistExpert in planning campaigns
- leaderOne who guides others
- authorityPower to enforce obedience
influencer · thought-leader · mentor · sponsor · delegation · accountability · stewardship · gravitas
executive
Senior organizational leader
board · director · chairman · founder · partner · principal · head · vice-president · corporate · senior
CEO
Top corporate officer
vision
Ability to see
scalability · diversification · acquisition · merger · pivot · disruption · innovation · transformation · turnaround · restructuring
visionary
Imaginative planner of futures
- decision-makerOne with choosing power
- strategistExpert in planning campaigns
- leaderOne who guides others
authority · influencer · thought-leader · mentor · sponsor · delegation · accountability · stewardship · gravitas · mandate
C-levelentry-level
Requiring minimal prior experience
rank-and-file · individual contributor · hourly worker · shop floor · worker bee
C-levelrank-and-file
Ordinary organization members
non-executive · back office · worker · subordinate · underling