What Career Growth Means Now

“Climbing the ladder used to be the goal. Now, it's about designing a career that works for your life—not the other way around.”

If you're a mid-level marketer, chances are you've spent years building experience, gaining responsibility, and pushing toward what you thought was the next logical step—management, senior leadership, or a fancy title…but something’s changed.

You’re not alone if you’re questioning whether that’s still the goal—or if it ever really was. Today’s marketers, especially Gen Z and millennials, are redefining what success looks like. According to Deloitte’s 2025 Gen Z and Millennial Survey:

• Only 6% of Gen Z professionals say their primary career goal is to reach a senior leadership position.

• Nearly one-third of Gen Zs and 17% of millennials plan to leave their employers within the next two years.

• Many cite a desire for better work/life balance, personal meaning, and continuous learning—not bigger titles—as their reason for making a change.

This isn’t a lack of ambition. It’s a realignment.

Mid-level marketers today are no longer chasing traditional promotions just for the sake of prestige or salary. Instead, they’re asking:

• “Is this role still helping me grow?”

• “Do I feel energized or drained by what I do every day?”

• “Is there purpose in my work—or just pressure?”

Why This Matters

If you've been feeling a tug toward something different—but haven’t been able to name it—this is your turning point.

Career growth today means:

• Developing new skills, not just new titles

• Finding freedom and flexibility, not just responsibilities

• Building purposeful momentum, not just staying busy

It’s time to redefine success on your own terms.

Stay tuned to my blog for more insight into what drives us and how to identify common ‘stuck points’.