Dear gmatbschool,
There is not a right path or best path--only the right path for you. What matters is that you succeed in what you do, can show progression over your tenure (not necessarily in title but in responsibility), and a deep knowledge of your field. I would suggest picking the path that you are most passionate about and/or most interested in pursuing at this point in time. People do well in jobs they like, so success will follow if you are on the right track. Lateral moves are not bad if they give breadth to your experience and enhance the skills/experiences that will be important for your future career goals.
Good luck,
Lisa