Is it better to be a Sr. Director with a small team in a billion dollar company, or a VP w/no current directs in a ~$200M company. Additional color is that upside is limited in the larger company.

Better as defined how? The answer is it depends on what matters to you and where you would be a better fit.

No one can answer that for you bc that’s completely your preference of what you determine as “better”. Some people want a title, some want the prestige of a name brand company. And you could be getting those things but absolutely miserable, so is it really good?

I personally could care less where I work, or what my title is. I care that I have a healthy WLB and good pay.

In addition to the above, levels very at different companies. Eg FAANG companies keep levels and titles low and simple. While others eg banks over title.

As people said, it depends on what you're looking for. As someone who works now in a $300M dollar company with VPs with no direct reports in my eyes, some of them are not true VPs. Not because they don't have direct reports but some don't know how to think long-term & strategically. I work in Tech at a startup & some of these titles are inflated. As someone who has worked in billion dollar corporations, a Senior Director still has the means not only to move up but also cross-functionally & they train you. At the startup, once you're at a VP level you can only do maybe one more jump, maybe 2 if you make it to the executive level.

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A VP with no current directs?
Optimal scenario: i would need the direct FTEs approved as part of my benefits package

I hate when people ask questions like this and it happens all the time on fb. Like why are you asking a bunch of strangers which is better? What value could that possibly have? You obviously have your own thoughts…choose what you want and move forward.

I’d worry about the VP role for various reasons, not only the “true VP” concern expressed by others here, but also by how exposed being a VP with no team could be.

Do you enjoy leading people or do you prefer being a high-level individual contributor?

I agree with the comments that it really depends on your goals and preferences. If your career ambitions are to eventually get to Exec-level leadership or C-suite, connect how the VP role OR the Sr. Dir role would (or wouldn’t) round out your experience to achieve that.

Tbh they seem a bit equal. You don’t really want to be an IC super high up bc what role will they put you in elsewhere?

Also not sure if the revenue of the company matters that much - the work you do would trump the amount the company makes each year.

As someone who went from an Exec Partner role at a F100 to an exec VP role at a Unicorn… it’s up to your risk appetite and WLB. Smalls and Startups are a whole different ball game. The upside however can be huge and your impact immediate and more broad. Large can be comfortable… small can be dynamic but also super risky. Both have opps for growth but only you can say what your willingness to move is. I took a pay cut but the near term upside and the idea to grow something small into something big is exciting.