There are many ways to become a director of operations. This challenging, high-power position requires a combination of business acumen, leadership skills, and dedication to your industry. It's a difficult path, but no matter what stage of your career you're at, you can take steps to get to the boardroom today. COOs typically have a combination of strong education and work experience.
If people want to become COO, Windler said, they must have a business degree or a proven track record of successful team building. It takes 10 to 15 years to become a director of operations. That's 10 to 15 years of experience working in a specific industry. In addition, they must have at least a four-year degree.
That represents a total of 14 to 19 years of education and work experience needed to become a chief operating officer (COO). The career path of an operations manager can vary widely. Most come from business environments and have performed a variety of roles, such as business or financial advisors, product management experts, vendors, and other support functions. Having a tenure in the industry of the company you hope to work with is key to obtaining this high-level position.
