In the corporate world, it is rare to find executives who say they're happy to stay in their current job. Assistant treasurers long to be treasurers, treasurers hope to be CFOs, and CFOs have their eye on a CEO's corner office. That's not the case for Sally Curley, though. The senior vice president for global investor relations at Cardinal Health, a $103 billion drug distribution company, says she sees herself as a “pro in place.”

“A lot of investor relations people see this job as a stepping stone, and it is true that many investor relations directors move through finance and—if they get treasury or controller experience—can move up to CFO,” Curley says. “You definitely need investor relations experience to be a CFO!”

“I am not saying I wouldn't be interested in managing a unit,” she adds. “But I like being where I am.” Hers has certainly been an exciting, challenging tenure, “and a high-stress one,” she says.