Philipp Navratil spent roughly two decades climbing up the corporate ladder, so he knows a thing or two about getting promoted.
The CEO of the company behind more than 30 billion-dollar brands, including Nespresso and DiGiorno, joined the business as an internal auditor and worked across a range of roles before becoming CEO in 2025. Along the way, he said he noticed three traits that consistently set successful employees apart.
First, they stay curious, he said. That means constantly learning — whether by teaching themselves new skills or seeking guidance from colleagues, managers, and mentors.
As a CEO, Navratil still learns from his colleagues. He said he’s been working with a more junior “reverse-mentor” who has been teaching him how to program agents.
Navratil said continuous learning has been a practice throughout his career. While working as a sales representative in Panama between 2005 and 2009, he said he realized he had become too comfortable in his role. Fortunately, he had a line manager who encouraged him to move into a different position.
Navratil said he almost always said “yes” to new opportunities. The learning happens when you’re a “little outside your comfort zone,” the CEO said.
He also said it’s crucial to be a go-getter.
Employees who earn promotions have a drive to make things better, he said. Someone with the ambition to win is more likely to succeed than someone with all the right skills but little passion to make a difference.
“Are they hungry?” Navratil said. “Do they want to win?”
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The third factor is humility.
“I like humble people,” Navratil said. “I don’t like people that boast; that are full of themselves.”
Navratil said that arrogance is “a recipe for not being successful.” Employees who keep moving up recognize when they need help — and don’t assume they’re the smartest person in the room.
“Humbleness, be hungry, and be curious,” Navratil said, summing up the three traits. “Just keep learning every day.”
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Ana writes about workplace trends, careers, and how AI is reshaping software engineering roles. She also regularly interviews C-suite executives about their trajectories and leadership insights.Ana is the host of “Get Better at Work,” a series that offers advice about the habits and behaviors that can help workers stand out and build their careers. She also hosts “Work Shift,” which breaks down the biggest workplace news of the week. She holds a master’s degree in multimedia journalism from NYU and has been featured on BBC, NPR, and other global media platforms.Have a tip? You can contact her via email at aaltchek@Themoneytimes.com or through the secure-messaging app Signal at aalt.19.