Dr. Severin Schwan
The average CEO takes about 20 years to become a CEO, and is around 47 years old at the time of starting the first CEO position. Be ready for your marathon. Chances of seeing yourself on the cover of Forbes after 5-10 years are really slim.
Large companies are driven by financial numbers. Develop a strong foundation in finance. Try to take active roles in finance, accounting, sales etc.
Be willing to rotate into broader operating roles, even if they are at different divisions and you are not an expert on those topics.