[jollyllama]

> One is that I really don't like being in charge of my own destiny with this kind of thing.

> I don't want my career and life to evolve by happenstance.

OP is looking for someone to benevolently direct their career path...

>Do you think this was good advice? You took their advice, even if it seemed a bitter pill at the time. They were most certainly part of the process for your promotion.

>It feels like this senior director is in your corner. I'd schedule a 1:1 with a simple agenda of "looking for advice".

And as you pointed out, they might actually have it! OP, consider these things. If you truly don't want happenstance OR yourself to direct your path, you're going to have to stick with a benevolent individual who will, so you should stick to this senior director like glue.