The Marquee Project: How to Earn a Promotion

Many team members believe that doing their current job well should naturally lead to a promotion. They put in extra hours, perform reliably, handle their responsibilities effectively, and expect the next opportunity.

But solid performance is just the starting point. A Promotion comes when you demonstrate impact beyond your current role—when you show you're already thinking and operating at the next level.

That’s where my concept of the Marquee Project comes in.

But What Is a Marquee Project?

It doesn’t need to be a formal “project” with a title or a big team.

A Marquee Project is simply a problem the company needs solved—something slowing progress, hurting customers, or blocking growth. It could be fixing a broken process, improving the customer experience, improving onboarding, or leading a cross-functional initiative.

Choose a Problem That Already Matters

A Marquee Project isn’t a passion project of yours—it’s a real business need. Don’t invent something new for the sake of change. Instead, listen for what executives are already trying to fix.

What matters is that the problem is real, visible, and important to leadership. When you take initiative to solve it, you’re not just doing your job—you’re driving the company forward. That’s what executives look for and remember.

The Marquee Highlights Results—Not Names

Think of the marquee outside a theater. It doesn’t promote the backstage crew—it announces the main event.

In your career, the marquee moments are the business improvement results you help deliver. You don’t need to advertise your name—your consistent impact earns you recognition.

Lead 1–2 Marquee Projects Per Year

In my experience, I’ve seen that leading one or two of these each year builds your leadership brand—before you’re promoted.

High-potential professionals don’t wait to be asked. They volunteer to lead meaningful change.

Look for projects that:

• ✅ Tackle business-critical challenges
• ✅ Require cross-functional leadership
• ✅ Would stall without someone stepping up

Step Into the Spotlight—By Earning It

If you're serious about career growth:

• 🔍 Identify a real company challenge
• 🎯 Lead a project that creates measurable impact
• 🌟 Let the results light the marquee

It’s not about saying you’re ready.

It’s about demonstrating it—through impact that wouldn’t exist without you.