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Growth isn’t always vertical, and forcing people up the ladder often pushes them out. This talk challenges the frameworks we use to define success and shows how to build teams that grow without leaving.
We’ve convinced ourselves that growth = promotion. That career success means moving “up.” That to retain people, we must level them – whether they want to or not.
But what if someone doesn’t want to climb? What if their best work, their most fulfilled self, exists in a role without a title change?
In this lightning talk, I’ll expose the growth frameworks we use (and often weaponize):
- The Career Ladder = deeply hierarchical → Promotions-as-growth, limited mobility → can’t be redeemed Burn it
- The Dual Track Framework = rigid → Hard to switch, unequal prestige → good if we Redesign it
- Competency Matrix = oversimplifies → Used as gatekeeping, checklisted → Reclaim it with care
These systems were built for order, not for humans. And they often punish the curious, the multi-passionate, and the quiet high performers.
I’ll share real stories of team members who thrived only after we ditched the “climb” mindset, and started treating careers like something to explore, not just escalate.
You’ll walk away with permission to rethink what growth really looks like, and how to build systems that support it without forcing everyone up.
Key takeaways
- Not all growth is vertical, and that’s okay.
- Promotion isn’t always retention.
- Competency frameworks often punish real potential.
- You can support growth without offering a new title.
- Great teams make space for exploration, not just elevation.
