F500 CFO Pipeline?

Say someone had the end goal of becoming the CFO of a large public company. Is it better to start in high finance (IB/PE) or an entry-level corporate finance role? Or is it something completely different, i.e., accounting or consulting?

Has anyone actually looked at the backgrounds of people currently in that position? Curious if the 'pedigree' of banking actually matters or if boards just want someone who has ground it out in controllership and FP&A for 20 years.

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