I like a metaphor as much as the next woman wrangler (!) but I’ve never been keen on “career ladder” as a description of what goes on inside a business.
Climbing a metaphorical career ladder (or a literal one if you’re a window cleaner!) involves treading on someone else’s fingers in your bid to get ahead, and unless you’re the boss, staring at your rival’s backside. Surely that’s the worst of both worlds…