Don't despair. I work for a FAANG and have previously worked at startups. Title inflation at startups is a huge factor. In fact, titles are not equivalent betwe

Don't despair. I work for a FAANG and have previously worked at startups. Title inflation at startups is a huge factor. In fact, titles are not equivalent between any two companies. I have seen startup CTOs (even series A) transition to senior engineer IC roles at a FAANG. As you identified, location is the next big factor. If you are still in Europe, my advice is to leave or to start your own company there. If you are working for primarily US based companies in Europe there will always be a limit to the level of exposure you get to leadership and to how fast you can rise up the hierarchy. Finally, don't discount Eric's profile. Through some combination of his public profile and professional work, he's established a reputation and following. That is just as important as any hard engineering work in securing a senior/leadership role.