[koheripbal]

Are you talking about actual C-level executives at major corporations, or just mid-level managers you've had?

[toyg]

I think it depends.

A lot of large institutional companies effectively work "on rails", so loads of C-level execs there are glorified middle managers whose only talent is climbing the greasy pole.

Young companies though, they have "real" go-getter execs.

Finding out who is who, is a skill in itself.