<p>Grades (e.g. GPA) are very important for determining your potential in your first year or two out of college (because most employers, especially top ones, often won’t realistically consider those below some cutoffs). Also, GPA is very important in grad school applications. In both these situations a “C” student is really going to struggle a lot in the competition for top end positions.</p>
<p>However, once you get more than a few years out from college then your college GPA doesn’t really matter that much (if at all) and your previous track record in your career takes over. Here is would certainly be possible, although statistically unlikely, for a “C” student to be the boss of an “A” student.</p>