Do you need to be a manager to move forward in your career? | Work It

0 February 3, 2026 22:30

Management isn’t always everyone’s endgame. In a society that often equates success with taking up a management position, is there another way to progress in your career? Nat Fetalvero and Gerald Tan sit down with GEA’s HR vice president Ilja Rijnen to unpack whether leading teams will really add value to your career.

Highlights:
02:26 Why becoming a manager isn’t for everyone
06:40 Sideways moves can still lead to growth
09:42 Are sidesteps only for the growth-obsessed?
11:24 Breadth vs. depth: two valid paths
15:41 Go where the action is
19:02 Building a career story that makes sense
23:16 Skills and experience over job titles
25:15 How specialists can still earn more
28:49 Ask Work It: How to recover from a mistake
32:48 Support colleagues through their low points

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