You're clearly correct. If you look at almost any organization, the people that move up are the ones that are most like the people already at the top. The hirin

You're clearly correct. If you look at almost any organization, the people that move up are the ones that are most like the people already at the top. The hiring process at most companies STRONGLY incentivizes hiring people who are near clones of the people doing the hiring. The people hiring almost always assume an air of "I am the ruler by which all things are measured" and since I represent the prototype of a perfect and desirable employee, I would expect someone I hire to have very similar properties. It's human nature. It's also why, if you don't look, behave, and share a lot of commonalities with the upper executives, you will likely never get invited to be an upper executive. And make no mistake, the upper level is a club, and they are really choosing the people they want to be in the club.