Being a Leader does not always mean managing positions.

Be an Initiative Leader, as recommended by Anemari Fiser, don’t wait for your manager to assign it, if you think you can add value, go for it.

This is a strategy I often recommend when mentoring, find other ways to become a leader, finding a initiative that is lacking in ownership and someone to drive it, is one of the best, but not the only one. You can also become a process leader, a thought leader, etc..