The Intern-to-CEO Trajectory

PwC US CEO Paul Griggs did not enter the C-suite through traditional fast-track programs or inherited privilege. He started as an intern. His ascent to the top of one of the Big Four accounting firms highlights a critical lesson for entrepreneurs and mid-level managers: technical skills get you in the door, but intellectual hunger keeps you there.

Griggs’ story challenges the notion that promotion is solely about visibility or networking. Instead, he points to an internal discipline that operates independently of external validation.

The 20-Minute Rule of Curiosity

The core of Griggs’ advice centers on a 20-minute habit. This is not about checking emails or scrolling industry news. It is dedicated time spent exploring questions that have no immediate answer or business application.

  • Dedicate 20 minutes daily to learning something outside your immediate role.
  • Focus on understanding the 'why' behind market shifts, not just the 'what'.
  • Use this time to build mental models that connect disparate industries.

This practice separates employees who move up from those who plateau. In a volatile market, leaders who understand broader contexts make better strategic decisions.

Why Founders Must Cultivate Unseen Curiosity

For startup founders and business leaders, this habit is a risk mitigation strategy. When you are building a company, you often operate in silos. Dedicating time to unrelated fields prevents echo chambers.

Griggs suggests that curiosity when no one is watching builds resilience. It creates a knowledge base that allows leaders to pivot quickly when market conditions change. If you only learn what is required for today’s tasks, you lack the tools for tomorrow’s crises.

Applying the Habit to Leadership Culture

Leadership is not just about personal growth; it is about setting expectations for your team. By modeling this behavior, executives signal that continuous learning is valued over static expertise.

Encourage your team to explore adjacent technologies or consumer behaviors. This fosters innovation from the bottom up. A culture of curiosity reduces the fear of failure because learning is seen as a constant process, not a binary outcome.

The Bottom Line for Career Advancement

Whether you are an intern or a CEO, the mechanism for advancement remains consistent: proactive engagement with the unknown. The 20-minute habit is simple, but it requires discipline. In an era of AI and rapid technological change, the ability to learn quickly is the ultimate competitive advantage.