I mean look at some of the Linkedin histories.
Some people start off as a low-level employee and then suddenly it's 1 year in a Director role. Instant promotion. 1 year in in a Sr. Director role. Instant promotion. 1 Year in VP. Instant promotion. 3 years in VP.
LEAVES TO VACATION
1 year in VP. Instant promotion. Now an EVP.
Meanwhile other hard-working employees with experience: oh yeah we can't promote you due to budgets. (well actually we're hiring 2 new US based VPs of Product and promoting who we want to in sales but don't look at that!!!)