Major Obstacles

Once you master your craft is when the real learning begins - you'll have to keep training, keep self-educating, keep updated in your overall knowledge of data leadership requirements - especially as they pertain to data science, data strategy, product & program design, law & policy, economics, marketing & growth, psychology, and user experience. Due to the rapid evolution of technology and data-intensive solutions, you'll have to be a lifelong learner. There will never come a day when you've learned it all and can totally relax.

Also, just because you're a Data Leader doesn't mean you can totally avoid all the detailed implementation stuff, either. To get hired for top Data Leader jobs, you'll want to keep updated in your knowledge of relevant data implementation requirements. Most Data Leaders who go the distance to land the big-wig jobs... They've taken the time to educate themselves on how to do data science, as well as how that work actually fits in with the businesses "big picture"... In other words, to get to the top, you want to at least understand how to implement data solutions so you can fully gauge the ramifications of what your developers and data implementation people are telling you.

Lastly, never underestimate the power of relationships. You don't have to go out and be a "Limelight Larry" (yes, I just made that up), but you should be spending some energy in building your professional network. Why? Well, because in most cases, those are the people who will be able to help open doors for you at the very top. Half-a-million dollar plus salaries seldom go to people who work in the dark and that no one knows. Spend time chatting with co-workers, making friends in the field on LinkedIn, and giving talks over on Clubhouse. This sort of thing can open WAY more doors for you than taking yet another online course on how to manage X, Y, Z data project thingy.