From a junior engineer to a C‑suite data leader – your step‑by‑step guide.
| Phase | Years | Focus | Key Milestones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foundations | 0‑2 | Programming, relational & NoSQL basics, simple ETL | Portfolio of 3+ projects, DP‑900 cert |
| Technical Specialist | 2‑4 | Cloud platforms, modern ETL/ELT, streaming basics | Production pipeline, cost‑optimization plan, AWS/GCP cert |
| Architecture Lead | 4‑7 | Data lakehouse, data mesh, governance, security | Enterprise‑wide platform, 10% cost savings, CDMP |
| Leadership & Strategy | 7‑12 | Data culture, vendor eval, KPI design, exec communication | Data strategy roadmap, 3‑year budget, executive talks |
| Chief Data Architect / CDO | 12‑15+ | Governance, ethics, AI integration, global scale | Data‑centric product line, board participation, whitepapers |
Fill in the short form below and I’ll send you a downloadable PDF of the entire roadmap, plus a free 30‑minute career chat.