When the Role You Pitch Becomes Real, but Not for You
A while back, I did something bold. I pitched myself for a role that didn’t exist. No job posting, no formal search - just me, seeing a gap, and showing up with a solution.
I laid out the framework. I painted the vision. I identified the opportunities to meet partners where they actually are and not just where brands wish they were. I explored how we could make partners feel seen, valued, and celebrated in an oversaturated, impersonal market.
I showed them what was possible. And it resonated.
My conversations with leadership were meaningful. Energizing, even. I shared my playbook and what I’ve learned over 15+ years in the affiliate and partnerships space. I leveraged hard-won relationships, deep insights, and an understanding of how to activate real, sustained value, not just clicks.
Then something interesting happened, and I was caught off-guard.
The company opened the role. The exact role I pitched.
But they opened it up broadly, to the public, without acknowledging what I had brought to the table. After all the conversations, all the insight-sharing, all the strategy-building… they were excited about the idea, but not necessarily me.
And so, I made another bold decision.
I withdrew myself from the process.
Because I want to align my career with a company that sees me - truly sees what I bring and values it from the start. My experience and relationships aren’t just resume bullets; they’re what drive revenue, impact, and long-term trust. And those things are worth more than gold in this business.
So now, I’m doing something even bolder.
I’m making my plan - the very one I pitched - public. My approach to partner recruitment, activation, and engagement will be available for anyone in the industry to learn from and build on. Because while I may have been shut out of the opportunity I created, I know this: ideas don’t lose power when they’re shared - they grow.
Stay tuned. The blueprint is coming to an upcoming Keep On Learning (Affiliate) With Laura post soon.