What does the Solutions Architect career path look like?

I’ve talked to a number of solution architects over the years and one thing that I always try and figure out is why they are where they are. On the consultant side of things they typically work for well recognized bodies that deal more in a pragmatic implementation style versus a heavily padded implementation model. They understand the business problem, are effective communicators and can normally create a solution that hurdles many obstacles to achieve a mutually accepted notion of success in terms of project delivery. Their diverse project landscapes afford them the opportunity to understand many different industries and synthesize their own style and notion of what it takes to realize an effective solution.