In this episode of Non-Founder Crew, we’re diving into something that can completely change the trajectory of your career at a startup, and that’s creating your own role.

If you’ve ever felt stuck in your job, waiting for the “right” opportunity or wondering how people land those seemingly custom-fit roles, this episode is for you. My guest, Sam Melnick, the Vice President of Marketing at Postscript, is back to break down exactly how he’s created roles for himself more than once and how you can do the same.

From pitching your own job description to navigating internal politics and proving your value early, Sam and I unpack what it actually takes to carve out a role that aligns with your skills and ambitions. We also talk about why startups reward action over permission and how understanding that can unlock opportunities much faster than you think.

If you want to stop waiting for a promotion and start building a role that actually excites you, this episode will give you the mindset, strategies, and real-world examples to make it happen.

Highlights:
(00:12) Why creating your own role is a hidden advantage in startups
(01:45) Sam’s first experience pitching a role that did not exist
(02:54) Why focusing on what excites you matters more than title or pay
(03:30) How to pitch your own role with a real business case
(04:10) The internal reactions and politics of creating something new
(05:35) Building momentum early and proving value in week one
(06:20) Why startups reward people who take action without permission
(07:13) The risk of pointing out problems and owning them
(08:14) Why your idea needs business context, not just creativity
(09:43) Alicia’s story of moving from admin to marketing
(11:57) The tradeoffs of niche titles versus broader roles early on
(14:18) How roles evolve by taking on more responsibility over time
(16:22) What Sam wishes he had done earlier in his career

Resources:

• Follow me on Substack: https://nonfoundercrew.substack.com/
• Connect with me on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciarosethomas
• Non-Founder Crew’s website: https://www.nonfoundercrew.com/