During dinner with three fellow designers, we discussed our careers and what happens after managing others. We came up with a metaphor for the phases of a creative career: Apprenticing, Mastering, and Master. After managing others, we considered the idea of a “Post-Mastery” phase for designers ready to move on. We explored how to influence creativity in a company without managing others and suggested different paths, such as moving up the corporate ladder, finding new ways to influence creativity, or starting a business. Ultimately, what to do after reaching mastery and experience depends on personal goals.