Inevitably you will find yourself in a room where no one else is like you. They might not look like you, speak like you, pray or love like you or think like you. Managing to be effective in all contexts is an essential part of your journey towards reaching your full potential and so we asked some brilliant members of the community to share their stories and advice.
Amanda Bach
Navigating a situation where you are the only person in the room who looks like you can be both challenging and rewarding. Thriving in situations where you’re the sole representative of your background can pose both challenges and opportunities for personal and professional growth. Here are some strategies to excel in such scenarios: Read more>>
Lily Malm
I think it all boils down to knowing you’re worth more than being excluded. Navigating an industry as male-dominated as Hollywood can be intimidating, but when it comes to being the only lesbian in the room, I’ve had years of practice. I grew up in what’s now a pretty radically right-wing small town in the south of Sweden, where I never saw myself reflected in the world around me. Read more>>
Anthony Joshua
As a Black Licensed Psychotherapist, I am one of approximately 4% in the industry. As a Black man in the industry, I am part of an even smaller percentage. During my schooling, training, and while gaining work experience, I had to get comfortable being in rooms where I was the only person who looked like me. I quickly recognized that my presence in those rooms was rare and I had a unique perspective to offer. I learned that my differences are what set me apart and that I would be able to make an impact on underserved and overlooked populations in an unorthodoxed way. Receiving praise for being in this industry was a confidence booster also and reinforced my decision. Read more>>
Rebekka Lien
I’m Asian, I’m Taiwanese and many times I am the only one in the room, everyone else is not Asian. I try not to look at my race or my skin color, I try to see everyone as human, but there are times I feel like people talk down to me because I’m Asian or especially an Asian woman. I don’t think they realize it, but innately they are racist towards me because they think I won’t speak back. I feel their eyes looking down on me, I see it in the way they talk to me, they are condescending. I’m not talking about everyone, I’m talking about a few people. Read more>>
Racquel Dozier
When I was diagnosed with lupus, I couldn’t help but notice that I couldn’t find anyone in my town that looked like me. Although lupus affects more Black women, I seemed to be the only one I would see when diagnosed. The feeling of being in spaces that did not include people like me was scary. Out of the necessity of wanting to know more about my disease, creativity came into play. Read more>>
Yuanyuan Zhou
Being a Asian female artist with STEM background, I don’t fit in the stereotype of an artist, I don’t share a lot similarities with my cohort when I was a grad-student and with my colleagues when I am working as a lecturer in college. Stay true to myself, keep the creativity and originality and to be empathic, resonate with people have helped me went through most of my difficult times, and all the way to be a illustrator and educator. Read more>>
Jorge Ameer
There’s been many ocassions when I’ve been “the only one in the room” – and this started from small. I was the only one in the room obsessed with movies from a very young age, so much so that my mother would drop me off at the movie theatre as soon as the cinema opened abc she would pick me up after the last show. I would go on movie marathons when I was in my early teens not realizing this would prepare me for a career in film as now a grown man I go to the some of the biggest film festivals in the world scouting for the best films for acquisitions. Scouting for film you have to have the movie marathon mentality like I did when I was young. Watching movies all day, all night and still keeping the passion of watching every movie as if it was your first. Read more>>
Dr. Rita Renee’
Title: Thriving in Uncharted Territories: A Black Professional Woman’s Perspective As a black professional woman navigating various professional landscapes, I have often found myself as the only one in the room who looks like me. While diversity and inclusion are meaningful conversations, focusing on character and skills has been pivotal in my journey to success. In these situations, I’ve learned to embrace my unique perspective and leverage it as a strength rather than a limitation. My character is crucial in building connections and fostering a positive work environment. Read more>>
Yuriko Shibata
As a Japanese composer making her way in the American musical theater world, I’ve faced my fair share of moments where I felt like the only one who looks like me in the room. Navigating through the American theater scene as a minority hasn’t been a walk in the park, let me tell you. When I first landed in the U.S. from Japan, the cultural switch-up was like going from sushi to hot dogs – quite the adjustment! Entering NYU in 2021, I was the lone Japanese soul in that class, wrestling with English like I was trying to crack a complex code. Read more>>
Noel “DJ TRUE:129 TRUICK
Being the only one in the room: how have you learned to be effective/successful even when you are the only one in the room that looks like you? Having an eclectic background, I often find myself in situations like that. I’ve learned from an early age that you have to go into these situations having a strong sense of self awareness and owning the audience; having a strong sense of confidence but not being cocky, but also listening, and being very aware of the surroundings.Read more>>
Boubacar Diallo
I learned to be effective/successful even when I am the only one in the room that looks like me by just being me and having self love and respect for myself. I feel we all are unique. Last Throne means we all are Kings & Queens and there will never be another YOU ever again. Only one of me will ever exist in this lifetime and I embrace that. Walking into a room I walk in with that type of mentally. I have always been a confident individual. Each person possess their own individual strength and gifts. Read more>>
Delight Dzansi
Navigating spaces where I am often the only one who looks like me has been a consistent aspect of my journey. While it can be unsettling, I ground myself in my identity, purpose, and aspirations. This mindset isn’t exclusive to my business; it’s a reality that extends into various facets of my life. I’ve learned not to be shocked or intimidated by being in the minority. Instead, I use these moments as opportunities to reinforce my self-awareness, maintain focus on my goals, and remind myself of the resilience that has brought me to where I am. In these situations, I draw strength from the uniqueness I bring to the room and see it as a chance to contribute diverse perspectives to the conversation. Read more>>
Rodahina Pasteurin
I am a black woman. I am also Haitian so my soup of life is very different from many other people. Oftentimes, I find that I am the only one in the room that looks like me. This used to make me feel like an underdog and an outcast. That moment was crumbling for me when I realized I was not like everybody else. I used to think being different was a weakness but now I realize that it is one of my greatest superpowers. God made me special for a reason. Read more>>
Mary Keel
Know who you are , the value you bring to the table. If you know your craft then you will be fine. Read more>>
Aundrya Richardson
I spent my entire life being the girl who would stand out in a crowd, no matter how much I tried to fit in and be like everyone else. I was different. Everything from my eyes, hair, skin color, etc. My late mother used to tell me I was born to be different and that I had a greater purpose in life that would never look like anyone else’s. I couldn’t see it the way she did at first. I actually thought I was cursed for being different and looking different. But the one day I got older and my mother’s words began to make more sense. God helped me to no longer see my uniqueness as a curse but a blessing. It took time, but I soon came to a place of accepting what makes Aundrya who she is! Read more>>
Xochilt Garcia
I believe there is beauty and being different from one another. I think that having a uniqueness is important to one’s individuality. I know that a lot of us grew up thinking that being different was negative but truly it’s something that a lot of people don’t embrace. Many still fear not fitting in with one another, sticking out too much, or sharing an opinion that just might turn others against them. But, being different is necessary to create variety and excitement in this world.
It can be scary and lonely, feeling like you’re the only one in the room that’s like you, but in the end, it is the greatest power you could ever have. Read more>>
Jillian Corsie
In the early stages of my career as an aspiring editor in New York, navigating male-dominated rooms was a common challenge. As one of the few women in the editing field, I often found myself facing skepticism about my abilities, inappropriate workplace advances, and even being yelled at for making mistakes. In those moments, I hadn’t fully embraced my feminism, and I adopted the persona of the “cool girl.” I shrugged off sexist jokes and went along with the status quo. I laughed right along with them. Read more>>
Natasha Matalanga
Learning how to exist outside my community as myself was a journey that might still be ongoing. It can be a very intimidating to be the only one with your cultural background in a room full of many. You’re immediately on guard. They don’t laugh at your jokes, they dance to different music and they even smell different. They feel so out of reach. I think, “What can I even say?” But if there is one thing about the human mind – it is that it remains curious. When you are different in a room full of people who are the same, you are a novelty. Read more>>
Charmaine Dantzler
Being that I’m a plus-size, African American woman with natural hair who is very opinionated but also introverted so I don’t speak much unless necessary, I find that I take up a lot of space when I enter into any room. However, I’ve learned to let my gifts, talents and personality outshine how others prejudge me and it has been the most effective in regards to my success. Read more>>
Kayelani Vasquez
As a Latina there have been many times where I have been the only one in the room. One of the ways that I have been effective/successful is by maintaining my authenticity. I find that showing up as I truly am, keeping my integrity and loving myself has shown others who I truly am. Read more>>
LaToya NaShae
Being the only minority in the room has become a commonplace experience for me. My earliest memory of being the “only” dates back to kindergarten. At 38, that seems like ages ago! As an adult, these seemingly isolating environments range from congregations to networking events, conferences, and panel discussions, to name a few. Unlike five-year-old me who didn’t have a say in choosing my classroom, these were places and opportunities I chose to step into. When saying yes to next-level opportunities, being the “only” is sometimes par for the course. Read more>>
Eda Rosa
Resilience Beyond the Bar: Navigating the Legal Realm as the Non-Lawyer in the Room In a world dominated by legal minds and intricate complexities of the law, finding oneself as the sole non-lawyer in a room filled with lawyers and deciding executives can be an intimidating prospect. However, my journey has been defined not by the limitations imposed by my non-lawyer status but by the resilience that propelled me forward. Here we explore how I overcame the challenges of being the only non-lawyer in the room through unwavering determination and an unyielding commitment to creating and seizing opportunities. Read more>>
Jodie Kennedy-Aguina
When I’m the only one in the room that looks like me, I feel more confident. I’m a black woman so I already know the assumptions and questions about me when I walk into any room. I love proving people wrong and giving them the opposite of what they expect and the means giving them my intelligence, grace and mindset. Read more>>
Kiara Luna
This is such an amazing question! As so many individuals struggle with this today. I actually recently did a speaking engagement for AWS where I addressed this topic. I am a firm believer in knowing and believing what you bring to the table despite of being the only one. I have always seen being the only one in the room as an advantage. Because I am the only one, I bring a different perspective, different ideas and thoughts. I hone in what I know, the skills I have acquired that qualifies me to be sitting in that room and also my experience. I keep an open-mind and bring my full self authentically. Read more>>
Meri Tumanyan
I think that facing yourself is one of the most empowering and humbling experiences. To be able to look in the mirror–beyond the mirror–to see yourself for who you really are, accept yourself with all your flaws, your shortcomings, all your fears and latent desires that you’d be too ashamed of admitting or uttering to another is genuine self-reflection. I also believe that we have the power and the ability to constantly evolve, transition, transcend and reshape ourselves into the person we’d like to become. Identity is ever-shifting, and it takes real strength to see which parts of us are genuinely ours and when we’ve usurped the identity of another. Read more>>
Sri Ali
Being the only one in the room, or one of very few, is something I have almost always experienced in school and in workspaces. Growing up, it wasn’t as negatively noticeable as it today but something always felt off. As I made my way into corporate as a woman of color, how I was treated in comparison to others became much more apparent. From the comments people would direct towards me “I love your hair! Is it real?”, “wow you smell like coconut oil”, “is this idea cultural appropriation?” to the simply fact of not being as recognized, appreciated, or seen and because of it having to work that much harder than anyone else in my position. Read more>>
Kyndra Donelson
For a considerable time, I struggled with feeling at ease in my own skin, influenced by societal and familial judgments. However, through my spiritual journey, I discovered my true self and embraced my inner strength. I began to step confidently into my power, prioritizing my purpose over the opinions of others. To achieve success, it’s essential to activate that unique and limited edition aspect of yourself, becoming a catalyst for positive energy in every interaction, regardless of external appearances. Beyond our physical shells, we are all energy, and recognizing this truth is a transformative step towards personal empowerment. Read more>>
Jeff Osuji
I navigate the challenge of being the only one in the room with a combination of resilience, adaptability, and strategic approaches. I leverage my unique perspective, cultivating confidence in my individuality, and view it as a strength that brings a different viewpoint to the table. Network building is a priority, fostering connections with diverse individuals, mentors, and allies who understand and support my journey. Effective communication, continuous learning, and the ability to lead by example are key elements, ensuring that their voice is heard, expertise is demonstrated, and setbacks are viewed as opportunities for growth. Additionally, I actively advocate for diversity and inclusivity, contributing to a culture where everyone can thrive in both their organization and the broader industry. Read more>>
Natalie Zeta
I suppose I grew up being the only one in the room that looked like me. I’m a white-passing bi-racial woman, raised by my black father and white mother. Even in my family, there wasn’t a true figure that I felt encompassed and represented my physical being. I dealt with racial biases and ignorance on my mothers side and didn’t have much access to my father’s side of the family. I didn’t quite look like my father-he was much darker than me with tighter curls. Read more>>
Maverick Turner
This might be the best question I’ve received in a very long time and I will try to keep it short as possible, because I could speak forever on this subject. In my field I am usually one of if not the only black man in the room and with Locs it draws a lot of questions and concerns at times. You need to be resilient, because People will test you and you have to overcome every obstacle while still being yourself and maintaining the confidence and courage to do the things that got you where you are today. You have to be very strong and confident within yourself that you are the best and you wouldn’t be here if you weren’t. Read more>>
James and Khadijah Dawkins
We are absolute, meaning, we are not dependent upon external conditions for our existence. We remain authentic, and genuine regardless of our surroundings. There were times in the past when we used to try to adapt or reconfigure our image and persona in an effort to make others in the room more comfortable. Those times have long since passed. Over the years, we began to recognize the importance of remaining true to ourselves. There is no need to be real in one room and conform in another. If you are in a room where you feel you won’t be accepted unless you transform your identity, then you’re in the wrong room. Read more>>
Dr. Monique Ekundayo
Being the “only one” in the room is an aspect of life I have become accustomed to very early on. I am a black female from southern California, so this fun fact alone creates an illustrative baseline that paints the picture for the landscape that, per my demographic, by default, sets an “only one” in the room stage. Imagine being bused out to an elementary school in the suburbs and, because of your wit and tested aptitude and ability, being assigned to the academically advanced classroom with students who, from an outward appearance, look nothing like you or your neighborhood peers. Read more>>
