This post is basically an example of a survivorship bias and the rationalization of it. What is missing is the statistical insight into internal moves to the VP positions vs the external ones.
I would say it is extremely hard to get an internal move to a VP position, either it is a startup or a big corp. Startups need to succeed and big corps require you to put in years and develop good political relationships.
The easiest way is to start hitting the top roles early in life and do it constantly instead of thinking to start at the bottom. If you cannot make it into the top in the existing company then build your own. If you start at the bottom then you remain there because your skills are not valuable in the top leadership roles.
I would say it is extremely hard to get an internal move to a VP position, either it is a startup or a big corp. Startups need to succeed and big corps require you to put in years and develop good political relationships.
The easiest way is to start hitting the top roles early in life and do it constantly instead of thinking to start at the bottom. If you cannot make it into the top in the existing company then build your own. If you start at the bottom then you remain there because your skills are not valuable in the top leadership roles.