25 Mar Managing your career as a Company Secretary: From your first steps to scaling back
Careers rarely follow a straight line. They change, speed up, slow down, and sometimes deliberately pause. Whether you’re just getting started, looking for your next step, or thinking about easing back, the basics of managing your career stay pretty much the same.
Start strong: Build more than just technical skills
At the beginning of your career, technical expertise matters – but it’s only part of the picture. Credibility comes from understanding the business, communicating well, and showing curiosity. The people who progress early are more engaged – they ask questions and actively look for opportunities to learn.
It’s just as important to find someone you can learn from. A good manager can accelerate your growth dramatically, but only if you’re open, proactive, and willing to stretch yourself.
Remember to keep your head up. Awareness of what’s happening around you—beyond your immediate role—is often what separates those who grow from those who stall.
Progress isn’t about being “ready”
- One of the most common pieces of feedback people receive is that they’re “not quite ready” to move into a more senior role. While this can feel frustrating, it’s also an opportunity. Too often, people fixate on the negative. A better approach is balance – recognise what you’re doing well, and treat constructive feedback as something to revisit once the initial emotion has passed.
- Progress is as much about perception as performance. Being seen as a “safe pair of hands” is valuable, but it’s not always enough. Confidence plays a critical role, and like any skill, it needs to be developed intentionally.
- The reality is that no-one is ever fully ‘ready’ for the next step. Growth requires a degree of self-belief and a willingness to step forward before you feel completely prepared.
Networking is just a conversation
- For many, networking feels awkward or forced. But at its core, it’s simply about starting conversations. The people who appear more confident in networking situations aren’t fundamentally different, they’ve just practised more.
- Confidence builds through repetition. Start small, and set simple goals for yourself – speak to a few new people, ask a couple of questions, follow up with one useful connection. Over time, it will become more natural.
- Remember – it’s not a competition. Run your own race. Genuine, human connections matter far more than ticking boxes.
Stepping up: Moving into a more senior role
- As you move up, the landscape changes. The number of opportunities narrows and competition increases.
- Rejection can become part of the process, and it’s not necessarily a reflection of your capability. Sometimes, others are simply stronger in a particular moment. The important thing is to learn what you can and not take setbacks personally.
- If you’re moving internally, recognition often needs to come before the title. You have to demonstrate readiness in practice – stepping up, contributing more broadly, and making your impact visible.
- If you’re joining a new organisation in a senior role, the challenge is different. You may have the technical expertise, but understanding the internal dynamics—relationships, influence, and unwritten rules—becomes critical, and you need to learn quickly.
- Ask yourself: What does success in this role actually look like? Who are the key stakeholders? What legacy perceptions might you need to shift? The more intentional your approach, the smoother the transition.
Scaling back without losing momentum
- Stepping back, whether for parental leave or a career break, isn’t the end of ambition. You are not just your job. Building a healthy relationship with work early on makes transitions far easier later.
- Practically, planning is everything. Knowledge transfer, succession planning, and building relationships across the business all reduce risk, for both you and your organisation.
- Letting go can be difficult, especially in a role where control and oversight are part of the identity. But reframing helps – creating space for others to grow is also a form of leadership.
- When you return, expect change. Priorities may have shifted and dynamics evolved. The most effective approach is to come back with curiosity, just as you did at the start of your career.
Supporting others along the way
- Careers aren’t built in isolation. One of the most powerful things you can do is support others by sharing your experience and offering your time. Feedback, when delivered well, is a gift. Others can also learn from your own successes on not just what worked, but how you approached it.
- In short, be the support you wish you had earlier in your career.
Marsden’s Head of Corporate Governance, Rory Kramer-Strong, recently took part in a webinar panel discussion hosted by the WGCA to mark International Women’s Day. This article is based on key learnings from the event.