Leading Without a Title: Influence Beyond Job Descriptions
I’ve never been one to chase titles. But let’s be real—when you’re the only one in the room without “manager” next to your name, it makes you think.
On my current team, I’m the only one without the title. No “manager,” no “senior,” no obvious label that signals authority.
And yet, I’m driving strategy. Influencing direction. I've held influence in rooms where my title said 'support' but my presence said 'anchor.' I've established trust, impact.
For a long time, I downplayed that. Told myself I was just “helping out” or “filling a gap.” But when the gaps become your lane—and everyone starts depending on your lane to move—that’s not filler. That’s leadership.
What I’ve come to understand is this: leadership has never been about the title. It’s about the trust. The weight of your influence. The way your presence shifts a room—even if you’re not sitting at the head of the table.
And this isn’t new. Especially for Black women, first-gens, and immigrants, we’ve been leading from the margins for a long time. Building teams. Shaping culture. Anticipating needs. Holding things down. Quietly.
We’ve done the work. Without the recognition. Without the raise. Without the job description that reflects what’s really going on.
And I’m not saying titles don’t matter. They do. But they’re not the full story.
You can be a leader before the title catches up. You can move strategy without being on the org chart. You can influence outcomes without being called “the lead.”
And if you do want the title to reflect your impact? That’s valid too. You don’t have to shrink just because you’ve gotten good at leading from behind the scenes. Sometimes, claiming the title is part of the work. Sometimes, you’ve got to let people know exactly who they’re working with.
So if you’re showing up every day and carrying the weight of decisions, direction, and outcomes—but your title still says “associate” or “coordinator” or “assistant”—this is your reminder:
The title may not say it yet, but you’ve been leading.
Your work speaks. Your impact speaks. You speak.
So keep building. Keep showing up. Keep using your voice, even when the title doesn’t match. And when you’re ready—don’t be afraid to fight for the title that does.
‘Cause wah fi yuh, cyaan un fi yuh.
~Meisha
