How to Win in Corporate in 2026: Strategies Every Leader Must Know
- Maya Grossman
- 6 days ago
- 6 min read
The most successful executives I know are not the hardest workers. They are the most leveraged ones.
If you’re a Director or senior leader wondering how to succeed in corporate in 2026, this matters more than ever. The rules that rewarded effort, endurance, and execution are breaking down fast.
The corporate world is shifting faster than any traditional playbook can keep up with. What worked five years ago won't get you anywhere next year. And the next wave of leaders will be the ones who stop relying on effort alone and start multiplying their impact.
Naval Ravikant calls this "leverage" - the ability to accomplish more without doing more.
Executives use this all the time, but most people just don't think about it as a career strategy. I explain this more in my step‑by‑step guide on designing an effective career plan that helps you grow your career.
But if you want to rise in a shrinking, competitive job market, you'll need leverage too.
For Directors aiming for VP, leverage is what separates ‘high performer’ from ‘promotion-ready executive.’
But here's the hopeful part:
You already have the raw materials. You just haven't been using them strategically.
Let me show you what I mean.
The Job Market Was Brutal Yet Senior Leaders Still Got Promoted
The last few years have been some of the most unpredictable we've seen.
Layoffs. Hiring freezes. Fierce competition for fewer roles.
And still - 2025 was the year my clients broke records.
Promotions. New leadership roles. Career pivots.
Multiple income streams. Hybrid careers that offer flexibility and security.
And here's the wild part:
Not a single one of those wins came from updating a resume or applying online.
Not one.
They all came from smarter, more leveraged career moves.
Like:
Laura
She started consulting while interviewing, which positioned her as a strategic insider. That consulting turned into a full-time role… and she kept consulting on the side. One identity, two revenue streams, total control.
Shauna
She debated between a full-time role and building her own business after a year long sabbatical. She designed a portfolio career that now gives her freedom, financial stability, and long-term opportunity. And as a bonus, doing work she loves in an industry she’s passionate about.
Katie
She walked into a job search and walked out with two offers - instead of saying "no" she walked away with one full-time role and one consulting gig. She didn't choose between them. She combined them. That's how you build resilience and optionality in a fractured market.
These aren't entrepreneurs. These are modern executives.
The hybrid leader.
The future-proof operator.
The person who isn't dependent on one employer or one path.
This is where careers are going. And in 2026, this will be the differentiator.
Here are the four forces I believe will shape your trajectory next year - and how to get ahead of them.
(Welcome to my Ted talk)
Leverage #1: How Executives Use AI to Multiply Impact
AI isn't replacing executives.
It's replacing the ones who refuse to evolve.
The next generation of leaders will be people who:
move faster because they automate the tedious parts of their job
think better because they use AI to analyze, synthesize, and stress-test decisions
communicate more clearly because AI helps them sharpen their message
spend less time executing and more time leading
VP-level work depends on insight, judgment, and strategy - and AI amplifies every one of those muscles. This is also why AI fluency is quickly becoming a quiet signal of executive readiness.
Your ability to use AI as a thinking partner will be one of your biggest competitive advantages in 2026.
Not using it will be like refusing to use a computer in 1998.
My tip? New AI tools pop up every day, and it's impossible to catch up. Focus on learning how to prompt and ask the right questions.
Leverage #2: Your Network as an Executive Operating System
Companies are shrinking. Competition is rising. Opportunities are concentrated.
And every meaningful decision happens in rooms you're not in yet—unless someone brings your name forward.
Your network is no longer a "nice to have" or something you do when you're looking for a job.
It's your access point to those rooms and opportunities.
When you build the right relationships:
doors open faster
you hear about roles before they're posted
you gain advocates who speak for you when you're not in the room
you stop competing with hundreds of candidates and start being personally invited in
This is not networking like a salesperson. These are not random coffee chats or updates.
This is networking like a CEO: intentional, strategic, and high ROI.
In 2026, your network will be one of the most powerful forms of leverage you have.
My tip? No matter where you are and what you're working on - grow your network. You never know when you'll need it. Build internally, with stakeholders at your company, and externally for future opportunities.
Leverage #3: Your Personal Brand as Executive Currency
If you want to stand out in a crowded market, the decision makers need to understand your value before you walk into the room. Your personal brand does that for you.
It's not about being an influencer.
It's not about posting selfies or making videos every day.
It's about shaping the narrative so people know:
what you're great at
what you stand for
why you're valuable
why they should trust you
A strong brand creates pull.
At the VP level, your brand often reaches the decision-maker before you do.
It makes you a desired candidate, a respected thought partner, a credible leader.
It's career insurance.
And most executives still ignore it. The ones who don't will win big.
My tip? You can't build a brand in a vacuum. Get specific. What do you want to be known for? What's your unique perspective? Who needs to know it? How will you get to them? Randomly posting on LinkedIn won't build your brand. Addressing those questions will.
Leverage #4: Optionality Through Multiple Income Streams
This isn't about hustling. And it's not about quitting corporate to "go solo."
It's about having options so you don't get stuck.
Think about it as being a hybrid executive.
This isn’t about distraction, it’s about reducing career risk while increasing negotiating power.
Someone who:
builds consulting opportunities
creates a small personal brand online
advises startups
launches a simple digital product or workshop
experiments with small side projects
Your employer pays you to gain skills. You can repurpose those skills anywhere you choose.
I'm not advising you to work 24/7 but that you START building. Slowly. Week by week.
That optionality will become one of the biggest career advantages in the next decade.
My tip? Go talk to people who are doing some of this "side" work as executives. Ask them how they manage their schedule. How they started. What they learned. You'll use that information to build a roadmap to your version of a second income stream.
The New Career Equation To Win In Corporate In 2026
Effort used to be enough but not anymore.
Leverage is the new advantage.
AI + Network + Brand + Income Streams =
A career that is resilient, visible, desirable, and future-proof.
These four elements won't just help you survive the shifts coming in 2026 - they'll help you rise above them.
To stay ahead, don't ask "How do I work harder?" Ask "How do I create leverage?"
You don't need to overhaul your life. You just need to start thinking differently.
Take 3 minutes to look at these four leverage points:
AI leverage
Network leverage
Brand leverage
Income leverage
Score yourself from 1 to 5 on each.
(1 = barely started, 5 = strong and consistent.)
Then ask: What's the one area I want to intentionally build in 2026?
That's your focus. Your advantage. Your leverage.
If this post resonated, you’re already thinking like an executive, now it’s time to translate that leverage to win in corporate in 2026.
In my free masterclass, I break down how Directors in tech become the obvious choice for VP by building visibility, credibility, and executive leverage, without burning out or waiting to be “noticed.”
I believe in you, and I’m rooting for you
Maya❤️
P.S. This is the thinking behind everything I teach. Not simply "how to survive corporate" but how to design your career and life so you're in control and always have options. If that's what you're looking for this year let's talk.
