What Does It Take To Break Through Into Senior Management?

Sounds very similar to me. I am surrounded by a great team, most of whom are more technically astute than me, but I offer drive and a sense of commercialism as well as being able to talk to clients at their level.

I agree. The talents and skills for a leader of a group are different than being and individual contributor in the group. Some folks should stay in individual contributor roles because that is the best expression of who they are, but there are others who can, and should, hone their potential to be effective leaders. This just came up with a client yesterday, who noted that some of his best sales producers wouldn’t make the best sales managers. His best sales manager right now is one who takes great pride in working to develop his team, think strategically about the future (is already planning for 2012) and carefully selects sales people who he thinks fit their unique culture. As a profession we should spend more time helping great individual contributors grow and, at the same time, develop the potential of some who can become outstanding leaders.