This starts with having good grades,relevant work experience, and active participation in the academic community or local community. There are also other traits that cannot be communicated on the resume. This is the personal qualities that the interviewee can bring into a dynamic team and organization. The first reason why we don't have more is because it takes a minimum of 10 years on the fast track to be qualified for an associate partnership with the firm. Andersen Consulting was established in 1989, so that's 11 years ago.
Time is one important factor here.
It takes a different mindset and a different career aspiration to pursue senior executive position. Being in the right place at the right time and meeting the right people definitely helps. The competitions for senior executive positions are fierce. If at first you don't succeed, try and try again. My personal criteria for being successful is that you must have failed at least once.