IC reports to tech lead manager (link 1). TLM reports to senior manager (link 2) senior manager reports to other senior manager (yes, this happens, link 3), senior manager reports to director (link 4) director reports to senior director (link 5), senior director reports to VP (link 6) VP reports to SVP (link 7), SVP reports to C level (link 8) C level reports to CEO (link 9). I saw these reporting chains when I worked at FAANG, and I can imagine its pretty easy to stuff 3 more links in here to hit 12.

I have seen such chains at Amazon. IC -> Manager -> Sr Manager -> Director -> VP -> SVP -> CEO of AWS -> CEO of Amazon.

That's only 7, but some links repeat. For example, I have seen Sr Manager report to another Sr Manager. Likewise, a VP report to another VP, and a Director report to another one.