Corporate operations don't run themselves. They need to be managed, and someone needs to manage the process of managing them. That someone is the Chief Administrative Officer, the head honcho of operations and processes. If the CEO is the vision executive, the CAO and the nuts-and-bolts exec. Every company needs one of each.
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In as few as 24 months, you can earn a top-ranked MBA that provides experiential learning opportunities and a.
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You will take courses in organizational behavior, leading cross-cultural and virtual teams, talent management, and the psychology of conflict.
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Think Beyond an MBA. Think Global. Earn a global MBA online at Tufts and join an accomplished global network.
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Merrimack’s Master of Science in Leadership program is designed to equip professionals with the essential skills and mindset to.
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Merrimack’s M.S. in Management is an accessible, highly customizable, and flexible program designed to fit your career goals, budget.
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You need a practical approach to business leadership. The Haslam College of Business Online MBA offers you actionable leadership.
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In as few as 24 months, you can earn a top-ranked MBA that provides experiential learning opportunities and a.
Learn More
You will take courses in organizational behavior, leading cross-cultural and virtual teams, talent management, and the psychology of conflict.
Learn More
Technology isn't just in our DNA. Learn to leverage business data to drive better decisions through the Online MBA.
Learn More
Think Beyond an MBA. Think Global. Earn a global MBA online at Tufts and join an accomplished global network.
Learn More
Merrimack’s Master of Science in Leadership program is designed to equip professionals with the essential skills and mindset to.
Learn More
Merrimack’s M.S. in Management is an accessible, highly customizable, and flexible program designed to fit your career goals, budget.
Learn More
You need a practical approach to business leadership. The Haslam College of Business Online MBA offers you actionable leadership.
Learn More Browse More Programs Pepperdine University: Online Master of Science in Management and Leadership Stevens Institute of Technology: Online Master of Business Administration Tufts University: Online Master of Global Business Administration Merrimack College: Master of Science in Leadership Merrimack College: Master of Science in Management The University of Tennessee: Online Master of Business AdministrationEvery company runs differently and has different standards for its C-suite employees. If you’re running a tech startup out of your mom’s garage, you could probably become a CAO without a high school diploma. That said, almost all CAOs have at least a bachelor’s degree (generally in business), and most also have a master’s degree (usually an MBA or another management-related master’s).
A bachelor’s in business is a great way to start your career, but qualifying to become a CAO typically requires substantial work experience. Unless you are in some kind of “Succession” situation, it should take a while to work your way up the ladder. You would never become CEO right out of college—again, excluding the garage scenario—and the same is true for becoming Chief Information Officer, Chief Financial Officer, or Chief Administrative Officer. In some cases, you’ll start out at a company with a different position and be promoted to CAO, often after you’ve accrued multiple years of administrative and/or supervisory experience.
Once you have a few years of work experience under your belt, return to school to earn that master’s degree. A Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) is the most popular business master’s, but you might also consider a Master of Management, a Master of Science in Business Analytics, or a Master of Finance. A master’s in art history probably won’t serve you as well.
You don’t need a degree from a top business school for most business careers. If you’re aiming for the C-suite, however, an MBA from a highly ranked school will definitely help your cause. U.S. News and World Report‘s identifies the best business schools as:
Top executives and other c-level employees often move up in the company after years of experience. There is no additional license or certification requirement, but having one (or more) can’t hurt.
Any management certification is helpful even if you aren’t entirely sure you want to be a CAO but know you want to move up through a company; maybe you’ll decide you want to be a vice president or a CFO. No matter your aspirations, earning certifications is an excellent way to signal dedication and mastery of your skills.
The old saying “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know” is at least partially true, especially in the corporate world. Finding a mentor can make a huge difference in a person’s career trajectory. Look to develop contacts through:
These people can give you valuable insight into what it’s like to run a company that you won’t get anywhere else. An MBA teaches a lot, but you need to learn from someone in the trenches.
If you’re looking for professional organizations, you can find support and professional development from groups like the National Management Association or the American Management Association. These associations can be costly to join, but they provide a great way to meet people.
You can always get additional education and professional development from other institutions or associations. It might be worthwhile to take an executive training program, such as the one from New York University. These programs are designed for active executives who are continually trying to improve and learn.
So, now, let’s get real. There aren’t that many chairs (all of them extremely comfortable, by the way) in the C-suite. Most people, even those who spend their entire lives in the business world, never enter the C-suite, let alone work there. That doesn’t mean you can’t become a chief administrative officer; it just means you’re not a failure if you never get there. Statistically speaking, just about everyone never gets there.
If you really have your heart set on this position, you should focus your attention on demonstrating your expertise at managing large operations. An extraordinary capacity for processing and retaining details will also help. As CAO, you’ll be responsible for making sure everything in your company or organization runs smoothly. That means you’ll need big-picture mastery and a small-bore understanding of how each division in your operation works. You’ll also need killer interpersonal skills to coax top performances from your subordinates. If that sounds like how you want to spend your days, you may be CAO material: get out there and start impressing the hell out of everyone in the C-suite. Maybe they’ll invite you in.
(Last Updated on February 26, 2024)
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