This is well-put although reliance on the word 'elite' may rub the wrong way. My experience of large corporations is that senior execs spot and groom a few ear

This is well-put although reliance on the word 'elite' may rub the wrong way. My experience of large corporations is that senior execs spot and groom a few early-career candidates to go through a well-laid path. They are placed in various sides of the business for 12-18 month stints, declare successes, and then compete down the line at the subsidiary Director/VP level for equivalent corporate spots. From there they will compete against one another and executive search for the Corporate Policymaker slots and these then are in consideration for the CEO slot. The culled along the way usually leave the firm. There are formal mentorship programs of varying quality that will be advertised to recruits and new hires but these are for people destined to top out at the high end of middle manager. I think it is also true that execs like anyone else in the hiring chain select those that resemble themselves. Addendum: Just read the Gervais Principle referenced elsewhere. Wow. Killin' me softly with its song! (Not so softly, actually.)