5 Next-Gen Positions to Consider for Up-and-Coming Leaders
As business priorities evolve to include growth, customer experience leadership, sustainability, diversity and inclusion in talent management, and more empathetic communication, it’s important that your leadership team has the skills and talent essential for long-term growth and innovation.
June 10, 2025
If your organization doesn’t already have the following roles, consider creating them–especially since they offer opportunities for high-potential future leaders to get exposure to executive-level colleagues and job responsibilities, and greater visibility into how your organization runs.
Director of Talent Intelligence
An HR role that brings a data-driven approach to talent management, strategic workforce planning, and leadership development. They ensure decisions about future leadership are both strategic and informed. The Director of Talent Intelligence uses advanced analytics to identify high-potential employees, optimize diversity and inclusion efforts, mitigate turnover risk, and stay ahead of competitors in your market. They prepare your executives to lead today and as the business evolves.
Chief Growth Officer (CGO)
The CGO is responsible for identifying and executing growth strategies and overseeing revenue generation. By encouraging growth across the entire business, the CGO ensures that growth initiatives are not fragmented or isolated in different departments, but are integrated and aligned with a company’s broader objectives and culture. They align cross-functional teams, drive innovation, leverage data and technology, and ensure growth strategies are scalable, sustainable, and adaptable to market disruption.
Chief Experience Officer (CXO)
As customer expectations have risen, the overall experience—not only the product or service—has become an important way for organizations to differentiate themselves in competitive markets. The CXO oversees the entire customer experience (CX) journey, ensuring it’s seamless, consistent, and aligned with the company’s brand and values. Their role is to leverage data and encourage collaboration across functions and teams to drive innovation, enhance the experience, and build brand loyalty and customer retention.
Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO)
Sustainability has shifted from being a “nice-to-have” to an essential business priority. A CSO ensures organizations are compliant with current and future regulatory requirements, mitigates risks, and avoids costly penalties. They also can play a major role in fostering innovative business practices and improving operational efficiency. Additionally, this role enhances the corporate reputation, especially among younger generations of the workforce who are increasingly seeking employers aligned with their values, particularly when it comes to sustainability.