For some, climbing the corporate mountain is difficult. For others, the ascent is a blur of achievement and promotion.

Red Canary asked two such fast-tracking software professionals to share their thoughts and approaches to career success.

From grads to riches

After earning a degree in business administration from the Royal Military College of Canada and a postgraduate diploma in applied information technology, Brandon Kane landed a job as a software developer with Workbrain Inc. He barely hit the steps as he climbed the ladder: in less than four years he had been promoted to Development Manager.

Shane Sincich may only be 29, but he’s mastered the art of corporate mountaineering. After completing a degree in Multimedia Design and Production, he joined Motion Media Interactive as a CD-ROM designer and producer. Today, he’s the Chief Usability Officer at 80/20 Solutions Inc.

Shane Sincich

Kane and Sincich may have followed different paths, but they’re both well on their way to the top. The secret to their success? They adhered to simple career principles.

Startup, move up.

Both Sincich and Kane joined young, fast-growing companies early in their careers, and attribute this to much of their success.

“It’s probably important to note that the two companies I worked for after [graduating] were both startups. That’s probably the most important factor in my advancement” says Sincich. “In startups, there’s often more work than people, which means ample opportunity for employees to develop their own skills while nurturing the company’s growth.”

Kane concurs. “When I started at Workbrain in 2002 there were about 100 employees. That grew to over 600 before Workbrain was acquired by Infor this year. When I first started, I made it very clear that I wanted to take on as much responsibility as I could,” explains Kane. “As soon as people were ready, the opportunity was there.”

Be a jack of all trades…

Sincich and Kane also spoke to the value of being well-rounded.

“In both companies (that I worked for after graduation) I wore many hats and my responsibilities changed frequently as the companies matured,” explains Sincich. “For example, at MMI I quickly took on the role of project manager along with that of designer and I even did a stint as lead developer. Taking on these different roles, even if just long enough to sample them, helped to broaden my understanding of the business and the industry.”

“To make the leap you need to get the big picture,” he adds. “Although I believe it’s important to specialize, a director needs to have a strong understanding of where he or she fits into the company and where the company fits into the industry. An aspiring director should soak up that knowledge and experience wherever they can, such as trying on new roles, learning from mentors and colleagues and staying current with industry news.”

...and master of your industry

Brandon Kane

Kane took the leadership qualities he honed at RMC and threw himself into project management. While leading several projects, he earned his PMI certification and found that the combination of academic knowledge and practical experience “helped immensely in my career”.

While his current position doesn’t afford him the same hands-on creative and development work, he keeps up on emerging technologies, trends and techniques in his spare time. “I keep myself busy with several after-work projects at home. It helps me stay up-to-date with software developments and keep tabs on the industry.”

Sincich follows a similar regimen. “Keeping up on industry news is very important to me. I subscribe to newsletters, daily podcasts and news websites. To make the leap, your colleagues need to think of you as the industry expert.”

When you climb fast, you may have to be your own sherpa

Joining a small company meant career advantages, but Kane and Sincich reflect that leading the pack often meant the absence of a senior guide.

“I had some concerns early on as a designer, because Motion Media Interactive didn’t have a creative director, or someone comparable, to act as my mentor,” says Sincich. He says he drew on his own experiences and those of others to guide him. “I worked closely with brilliant minds in other areas of the business [and] this helped broaden my understanding of the industry as a whole.”

Kane’s experience was similar. “I was the first development manager at Workbrain. This meant I was able to help define the role, but was pretty much on my own for figuring out how to succeed.”

Despite divergent careers, Kane and Sincich’s approach to success is similar: They both took jobs (in small companies) that offered responsibility and career growth. Both stay on the bleeding edge of technology and their industry, and both found ways to lead in the absence of a guiding hand.

Applying these principles may not guarantee success, but they are clearly giving speed and traction to these young professionals as they hike to the corporate summit.