If you want more like this, I share deeper breakdowns on my Substack.

In this episode of Non-Founder Crew, we're diving into something nobody ever tells you when you join a startup: the unwritten rules of titles.

If you’ve felt stuck in your career, unsure of how decisions around titles get made at the leadership level, then this episode is for you. My guest, Sam Melnick, the Vice President of Marketing at Postscript, is here to share his stories & experiences with navigating job titles and career growth in startups to help you break free from this common frustration.

From founder alignment to understanding your own career goals, Sam and I unpack the challenges of advancing in a startup, especially when titles and promotions seem elusive. He’ll talk through why titles are often more about timing and company size. And why understanding the unwritten rules is the key to understanding the dynamics happening inside your organization.

If you want to understand how decisions often get made regarding titles, promotions, and compensation changes, this is a great episode to give you context at the leadership level from someone who's been on the other side of the table as a manager and leader.

Highlights:

(00:00) Introduction to the episode and why titles matter at startups
(01:00) Introducing Sam Melnick, his background and career journey
(03:00) The unwritten rules of startup organizations: reading the room
(04:35) Why being clear on what you want is critical as a non-founder
(06:00) How founder alignment shapes your career opportunities
(07:30) The pitfalls of leveling too early, how titles can box everyone in
(09:00) Understanding the "why" behind chasing a title
(11:00) Why the Senior Manager to Director transition is a common pain point
(13:00) Titles vs. comp vs. equity: how to stack rank your priorities
(15:00) Creating your own role at a startup and the ego hits that come with it
(16:30) Why "titles don't matter" is easy to say once you've already made it
(18:00) How Sam navigates title conversations with his own team
(20:00) Does the company actually need that senior role? Thinking like a manager
(22:00) Putting yourself in your manager's shoes, the layers behind every promotion decision
(25:00) Navigating layoffs, AI disruption, and knowing your market value
(29:00) Negotiating for coaching and other non-title career resources
(31:00) Survive and Thrive Toolkit: keeping your equity platform info up to date

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/