I am interested in making the jump to a more senior role, e.g. Director, from a senior technical role. However, I can see two paths for promotion:
1) you look after your manager, and once she gets promoted she will remember you and you will move up the ranks together
2) the ping-pong method: two years at a company, if you don't get promoted (or at least a raise) seek a better role somewhere else
Right now I am in a situation like 1), but my manager is interested in getting promoted and hiring an old friend for her current role. Other execs are doing the same: pushing the existing team for success, and then once they get established they hire their friends under them.
I am full of ideas, suggestions and solutions about how the company might improve, but I am usually shot down by my own manager whenever I try to discuss things beyond my technical role. Basically, I am valuable to her, but I need to stay where I am to support her own plans. And the same happens to even more senior people with some new execs.
All these execs are not going up anytime soon (just promoted, or recently joined). How do I actually get into a more senior role? I am at a loss here. Especially because it's not black and white, I am treated well but there is NO career plan in sight.