I'd request a private meeting. If he insists on doing it informally in the hallway, I think that would be something to take up with HR. Just know that might reflect badly on you with your new boss if he's vindictive.

My last couple reviews have been pretty good and I'm interested in what it would take to reach the next level but the company hasn't defined it yet. The current people at the next level are good but they're either relatives of the partners or people that have probably been promised a promotion quietly.

They've incentivized me to stay in other ways but not having a clear road to the next level has me contemplating going out on my own again or teaming up with some other friends that run similar businesses and have asked me to help them expand into my field.

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