Ambition has long been heralded as essential for career success, yet few researchers have explored this concept empirically. Management scholars have primarily defined ambition as the desire to get ahead, an extrinsic goal. Based on the changing nature of careers, the theory developed here explores the concept of ambition from a social cognitive perspective. The study investigates the dynamics of individual differences and developmental (mentoring) relationships with ambition and career success. To test the conceptual model, ambition is operationalized as both intrinsic and extrinsic...