Nike's new CEO began as an intern, and a leadership expert shares what you can learn from this experience: "Everyone can benefit from the unique qualities of this company."

Few individuals are fortunate enough to run their workplace as an intern, and Elliott Hill is one of them.

Nike appointed Hill, 60, as its new CEO on September 19. Although he has been with the company since the late 80s, he spent the last four years retired.

Hill began his career at Nike as an apparel sales representative intern in 1988. He progressed rapidly, moving up to management, director, and vice president positions on average every two years. Prior to his brief retirement in 2020, Hill served as president of consumer and marketplace.

It can seem challenging to achieve upward mobility, especially nowadays. However, according to Rohan Verma, a San Francisco-based executive coach and former senior executive at LinkedIn, it is achievable.

Verma tells CNBC Make It that the long-term presence of someone in various roles and the presence of individuals from diverse backgrounds with similar career paths in other industries indicate that there is a common factor that everyone can benefit from.

Each of General Motors' CEO Mary Barra, Walmart's CEO Doug McMillon, and Costco's CEO Ron Vachris rose from entry-level positions and have been with their respective companies for over 40 years, Verma notes.

By adopting a willing and able mindset, you can make things happen, as these people did because they had the right attitude, according to Verma.

To get ahead, 'take on more' and build relationships

Verma emphasizes the importance of being both willing and able to reinvent oneself, take on new challenges, expose oneself to diverse business units, perform different functions and roles, and establish the necessary relationships to advance.

To succeed in a managerial position at work, you must have both the willingness to take on the role and the necessary leadership and organizational skills.

If you're not willing to put in the time and effort to complete a big project, managers may not consider you for promotion.

In seven years, Verma progressed from an undergraduate intern to director at LinkedIn by continuously seeking opportunities to improve and embracing new, challenging experiences, according to him.

According to Nike's executive chairman Mike Parker, Hill appears to share the same mindset.

Elliott's global expertise, leadership style, and deep understanding of our industry and partners, combined with his passion for sport, our brands, products, consumers, athletes, and employees, make him the ideal candidate to lead Nike's next stage of growth, as stated by Parker in a September 19th press release.

He has established connections with notable individuals such as Michael Jordan, Eric Sprunk, Nike's former COO, and various current and past employees.

The importance of a good boss

According to Verma, strong managers are crucial for advancing from an intern to the C-suite. This is particularly true for women and people of color, as representation among women of color decreases by two-thirds as they climb the corporate ladder, according to a 2023 report from McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.org.

Numerous individuals from Black and Hispanic communities often find themselves in entry-level positions with limited salary growth prospects.

A good boss will recognize your achievements and provide support for your growth and advancement opportunities, particularly after you have been in your current position for some time.

Verma believes that Hill's appointment was a stroke of luck, as it is challenging to find bosses and companies that offer upward mobility for over 30 years.

Verma believes that Hill's success is largely due to working hard at the right business in an environment where opportunities are abundant. He emphasizes the importance of understanding how to innovate, closing the skill gap, and being willing to put in the hard work to succeed.

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