In short, you’ve already proof-tested the answer for years. Building a creative career is mainly driven by experience, skill, and self-study. In fact, that combination you’ve outlined pretty much mirrors the 70-20-10 model for learning, growth, and career development. It’s a popular, research-driven model which shows that roughly 70 per cent of your professional growth comes from job experiences and problem solving, 20 per cent from feedback and working with others (including role models), and 10 per cent from formal learning. That formal training can range from in-house courses to more traditional routes.
You’ve clearly been proactive with self-study, and it’s already proven to be both effective and successful in holding and developing your leadership skills. Particularly if your teams and organisation are benefiting from your style and approach.
Here’s a test: how would it feel to apply for a structured design course or diploma that serves both your intrigue and your future career well? There are lots of evening courses at brilliant institutions with various studying options. You could choose a discipline that you’re already interested in. Or where you feel you can gain more formal knowledge to help you with your confidence, or further articulate your responses more confidently, especially in cross-functional team settings. If you’re lucky, your organisation will help pay for this training as part of your leadership development.
Dig into this route, and whatever feeling comes up when you’re exploring the right course will lead you back to why you’re asking this question in the first place. But know that the combination of experience, skills and self-study and visibility is proving to be an effective route for your own career progression.