In the corporate world, it is rare to find executiveswho say they're happy to stay in their current job. Assistanttreasurers long to be treasurers, treasurers hope to be CFOs, andCFOs have their eye on a CEO's corner office. That's not the casefor Sally Curley, though. The senior vice president for globalinvestor relations at Cardinal Health, a $103 billion drugdistribution company, says she sees herself as a “pro inplace.”

“A lot of investor relations people see this job as a steppingstone, and it is true that many investor relations directors movethrough finance and—if they get treasury or controllerexperience—can move up to CFO,” Curley says. “You definitely needinvestor 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 anexciting, challenging tenure, “and a high-stress one,” shesays.