Jade Bonacolta didn’t just work her way up the ladder at LinkedIn, she sprinted. Over six and a half years, she climbed five levels, going from associate to a senior role, before moving on to Google.
Now based in Miami and co-founder of Archimedes, a community for LinkedIn thought leaders, she recently shared her journey in an interview with Business Insider.
Jade’s story is packed with smart, repeatable strategies that helped her grow fast in some of the world’s biggest tech companies. She shared the career growth tips that helped her stand out and get noticed.
Here’s how she did it with two rules and four tips to implement those rules.
THE TWO QUESTIONS
Jade asked her manager two key questions that helped her understand the most important facets about her job role.
“What are my responsibilities at my current level?” and “How would my responsibilities differ if I were one level more senior?”
The first question helped her understand exactly what was expected of her in her current role, instead of making assumptions. It gave her a reality check on her day-to-day performance.
The second one gave her a clear target. She now knew what “next-level” performance looked like and could actively start taking on those responsibilities before getting promoted. She could match her work to those expectations and show she was already performing at the next level.
In her interview with Business Insider, she also shared four tips that helped her work on what she understood from the above two questions better:
TIP 1: SPEAK UP AND TAKE CHARGE
Jade didn’t wait. When asked to create slide decks on sales productivity, she offered to present them herself and to senior vice-presidents no less.
She took the lead in stakeholder meetings and soon owned all updates. That kind of visibility is hard to ignore.
TIP 2: SHOWCASE RESULTS TO DECISION-MAKERS
Running those meetings gave her direct credibility with senior execs — many were surprised she was still an associate. Their positive reactions became fuel for her promotion.
Once your work shines, your manager can advocate for you, because you’ve already proved it.
TIP 3: PICK ROLES YOU ACTUALLY WANT
Jade warns against climbing for the sake of climbing. Take on extra work that excites and challenges you. Otherwise, you risk burnout, or landing in a role you don’t enjoy.
Make sure what you chase aligns with your passions and goals.
TIP 4: EXCEL IN YOUR CURRENT ROLE FIRST
Even if you take on new tasks, your main job mustn’t slip. At Google, Jade saw peers spread themselves thin on “20% projects” and lose their focus.
No one wants a half-done job. Nail your current duties, then layer on level-up work.
GETTING PROMOTED MEANS WORKING AT THE NEXT LEVEL
During her six-plus years at LinkedIn, and later at Google, Jade Bonacolta realised that promotions don’t come from wishing or waiting. They come from demonstrating you’re already capable.
With the right mix of performance and ambition, you don’t just earn the title — you’re ready for it.
Use these career growth tips to map your own promotion path. Be proactive, deliberate, and authentic. Promotions aren’t just for the lucky — they’re for the prepared.
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