Become a Circler
The C-Level Lifecycle®
C-level management careers rarely follow a straight path – they are characterised by transitions, upheavals and ever-changing requirements. What was considered a success on the way up can become a burden at the top. And what seems like stagnation after leaving a company is often the beginning of something new.
With each stage of development, you enter new territory and do things for the first time. How would it feel to have someone by your side who is familiar with this new territory? By dividing your career into seven clear phases, we have created structure in the complexity and enable you to recognise where you stand, what your next steps are and how we can support you in this process.
The seven phases
Precisely because the challenges are changing, a model is needed that reflects this dynamic. Our C-Level Lifecycle® shows that a career is not a linear progression, but a multi-layered development process – with phases in which orientation, decision-making power, stability or reorientation are required.
In Office
Leadership at its peak
What matters now is how you lead. Between day-to-day business, political pressure and the demand for innovation, you maintain your stance and your signature style.
We support you in remaining confident in the dynamic environment of everyday C-level life. We reflect on difficult situations with you, help with internal and external tensions, and develop fresh perspectives for your team, strategy and culture. This phase is about consciously managing your energy, leading with the right emphasis and creating space for yourself – for reflection, regeneration and further development.
Design Exit
Time for clarity
You realise: it's time for something new. Perhaps an exit is on the horizon – planned or unplanned. Perhaps you want to pass on the baton or consciously shape a turning point. In this phase, we support you in strategically shaping your last 100 days on the job – both communicatively and emotionally. We help you to act openly or discreetly, to pass on your knowledge effectively and to prepare for the time afterwards. A well-planned exit is a career highlight – not a departure. And it is the transition to a new freedom.
Post-C-level
New paths, new impact
Your operational management career is behind you – but you are far from ‘finished’. On the contrary: now begins the phase in which you can contribute and shape your experience in new ways. Whether it's supervisory board mandates, investments, founding a non-profit organisation or walking completely new entrepreneurial paths: we help you sort through your options, find suitable roles and gain visibility with substance. This phase is about meaning, sovereignty and self-determination. And about continuing to write your story.
Pre-C Level
Orientation with vision
You're not quite at the top yet – but you can feel it pulling you there. You've already celebrated successes, those around you believe in you – or maybe they don't, but you know you can do it. How do you strategically get to the next level? In this phase, we help you to define your career ambitions. Together, we analyse your starting position, sharpen your profile and help you close specific gaps – whether in leadership experience, presentation or networking. You gain initial insights into our ecosystem and access to relevant service providers. This is where you lay the foundation for your next big leap.
Search
The right place for you
This phase is about assessing your current situation and exploring future options. You are ready to take on responsibility at the next level or in a new position – but not at any price. The cultural fit, the mandate, the timing: everything has to be right. We support you in your targeted search for the right role. It's not just about job titles, but about meaning, creative freedom and impact. We advise you on decision-making, prepare you for interviews with headhunters, boards and CEOs, and help you read between the lines.
Negotiation
You set the rules of the game
Contract negotiations are not a formality – they are strategic. They determine how much creative freedom you get, whether your everyday life remains liveable and whether your values find space.
We accompany you closely during this sensitive phase: with legal expertise, psychological intuition and the experience gained from countless top-level negotiations. We are at your side not only in negotiations regarding salary and bonuses, but also exit clauses, responsibilities and soft or core factors such as flexibility, leadership span or personal purpose. You go into these discussions feeling empowered and clear – and you determine the conditions for your effectiveness yourself.
Start new Job
Arrive, make an impact, grow
The first 100 days in a new position are formative. This is when it becomes clear whether strategy and reality are aligned.
We are here to support you as sparring partners during this transition period. Together, we analyse internal power structures, draft communication plans and set priorities. You will learn to actively manage expectations, build trust and quickly make a visible impact – without losing yourself. This phase will help you arrive in your new role with strength and clarity.
In Office
Design Exit
Post-C-Level
Pre-C-Level
Search
Negotiation
Start new Job
Which phase are you currently in?
Your classification into one of the three membership levels is based on your phase in the C-Level Lifecycle®.
Luna
Pre-C-Level
You are about to make the leap into top management. With a Luna membership, you receive targeted preparation, professional assessment and access to a network that will help you advance – both professionally and personally.
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Stella
C-Level
You are an active leader and want to rely on sound mentoring. As a Stella, you have access to our most experienced navigators, our entire network and tailored advice for all phases of the lifecycle – including rapid availability in urgent cases.
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Nova
Post-C-Level
You are ready for your next role outside of traditional management. As a Nova, you will receive support in identifying and positioning yourself for suitable mandates, expanding your network and strategically shaping your new professional identity.
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