In today’s world, you are directed to aspire to become the next CEO or open the next business that’s going to change the world. Moreso for us, as we make our footprint in the corporate world, we are expected to desire the climb.

Woe unto you if you have different metrics of success, you better not spell it out lest you get accused of letting the sisterhood down. 

As we celebrate women who are breaking barriers and getting into the C-Suite, should you really care about advancing through the corporate ladder?

A lot of people desire to be at the very top but only a few can manage the pressure of working at such a level. The big meetings, the constant travel and everything in between require a certain temperament. If this is you, then by all means work toward getting intO the C-suite. Some are just cut out for this.

Whilst your junior colleagues will be able to leave work after 5 pm and even switch off on the weekend, you will no longer have such privileges. You will have to constantly be reachable except when you are on vacation.

Should there be an emergency, you should be ready to cut it short and attend to urgent matters. Your responsibilities will be bigger which is why you are getting the big purse.

The grass is not always greener on the other side and this is certainly true for higher positions. Whilst your bosses look like they are having the best time, at times, they might actually be living with their stresses.

Find someone who has been there before and talk to them about being a high-level manager. This will give you an insight into what the job is like. If you like podcasts, there are great ones out there on business and leadership.

At this point, please forget about work-life balance. Do you have a family and want to be with them often? Do you have interests that you want to keep pursuing? Well, you might not be able to do all these because, for the most part, you will working.

You will be in planes flying in and out and for the most part, talking to your family via your devices. Is it worth it? For some, it is while others end up regretting the missed birthdays, holidays, graduations and other life milestones.

If you don’t like office politics but want to be in the C-suite, you might start training yourself on how to deal with them. It’s an inevitable part of the work of these types of employees. 

You will have confrontations with your peers about all kinds of things and you’ll have to participate. You will engage with other companies and you will have to know how to handle such conversations. Behind closed doors, things aren’t always as rosy so be ready to dip your toe in the mad. 

Let's go back to the question that we started with. Should you care about climbing the corporate ladder? Well, it really is up to you. If you desire it and want it badly, go for it but make sure you go through the points we've listed above.