Becoming an operations director could take up to 15 years. By earning your master's degree, you'll stand out from your peers and acquire the skills and knowledge needed to be an effective COO. An MBA or master's degree in management and leadership can be crucial as you prepare to advance your career. An executive MBA can also set you apart from the competition.
Even so, it provides you with the business knowledge you'll need for the position, but it focuses more on the leadership skills you'll also need. It's a smart decision if you're specifically playing the role of chief operating officer, which is a very leadership-oriented position. COOs typically have a combination of strong education and work experience. If people want to become COO, Windler said, they must have a business degree or a proven track record of successful team building.
As a result, you might see the COO sometimes referred to as chief operating officer, managing director, or “executive vice president of operations.” They are often referred to as COO, Vice President of Operations, Director of Operations, and Executive Vice President of Operations. So what exactly is a COO? Operations managers act as the second in command of a company and report directly to the CEO or CEO.