Career paths in GRC and policy management

GRC career development combines technical knowledge with soft skills. Key areas to develop: 1) Deep regulatory knowledge in your industry, 2) Risk assessment and analysis capabilities, 3) Strong written communication - policies need to be clear and precise, 4) Stakeholder management and influencing skills, 5) Project management for policy programs, 6) Change management experience, 7) Technology literacy (GRC tools, data analytics), 8) Business acumen to understand operational realities. Certifications like OCEG GRC-P, ICA, or industry-specific credentials add credibility. Seek cross-functional exposure - work with legal, compliance, operations, IT to understand how policies impact different areas.

I'd add that building relationships across the organization is crucial. Policy management is inherently cross-functional, and your effectiveness depends on trust and credibility with stakeholders. Also consider interim roles or secondments to see different policy frameworks - consulting firms and regulatory bodies often offer interesting perspectives on how different organizations approach GRC.