What do you do when no one else in the company or the meeting looks like you? We asked entrepreneurs and creatives from across industries and geographies to share their experiences and advice.
John “JP” Avila
As an entrepreneur, I’ve worked with tons of people of all demographics. I’m a bald headed Chicano with a tattooed tear drop on my face. I usually look nothing like many of the people at the networking events I’ve done. Looking different could be a super power. The secret is having confidence in what you do. Standing out is something most people want to do in those environments but want to look like everyone else and keep up with the Joneses. I often walk in with a t-shirt and shorts walk right through the middle of the room and scan the room first to see potential people I may want to work with. After one or two of those events people will know you and talk about you. That’s when the work comes in. Read More>>
Calvaniece Mason
I have learned to accept and embrace any room that I am invited into or any room that I am in because I understand that I am just as deserving as anyone else occupying the space that I am in.
My character and who I am as a person will always show up and speak for itself. I have learned that it’s extremely important that I always show up as my authentic self and embrace what makes me you unique and different, those differences are a good things and when I am in a room with others that may not look like me I tap into all of my positive attributes that make up who I am. Read More>>
Zulmarie Gonzalez Rivera
Being Puerto Rican and living most of my life in places where Latinos were not the majority, I’ve found leaning into my culture has played to my advantage. People can tell when you are being authentic and genuine, and they appreciate it. I am very proud of my culture, I love Spanish music, I love that I am bilingual, I love my naturally curly hair. Being the one that stands out and embracing it, I think, exudes a confidence that pulls people in. And if I find myself in a room where those things aren’t celebrated or just not welcome, I immediately remove myself. To put it simply, surround yourself with people who lift you up regardless of what the differences are, and it will always be mutually beneficial. Read More>>
D Smith
Being the only one is the room that looks like me happens more often than not in the nail industry especially offering the services I offer and being a nail instructor. I remember a time when I was teach a class and another person thought that they could bully me while teaching my class. She thought she could take over or bring all the attention to herself. In that moment, I had to think but remain professional because I had a class of over 40 attendees. I gave her the attention but she realized that this was not her moment to teach my class. Read More>>
Dalaise Hickey
As a Black Woman, I have often had experiences being the only person in the room who looks like me, I have learned to be effective and successful through a combination of self-assurance, adaptability, and perseverance. Read More>>
Isaac Mars
As a Theoretical Physicist disclosing the first, public “Theory of Everything” to explain the purposes and properties of time, gravity, dark matter, dark energy, and consciousness itself, I can honestly say that our individual uniqueness carries the keys to our greatest potential. Adhering to the concept of “Occam’s Razor”, reality itself really is quite simple. In “Unity Theory”, the geometrical logic and science of the “Infinity Mirror Proof” illustrates that the only way that the “experience of linear time”, “the existence of free will”, and for “all of time to happen at once” to all be simultaneously true is if there are absolutely, irrefutably, infinite realities (timelines/moments/etc.). Since every perspective of the Universe is always experiencing “now” and never the “future” or the “past”, time truly does not exist. Read More>>
Hamilton Darden II
There have numerous of times where I have been the only African American or the only gay man sitting in a board room or just in discussion amongst different people. I learned that although it can be very nerve recking when your’e the only one of your kind in that room but, there is beauty in it as well. I get to proudly express who I am and what I am thinking respectfully and I believe that’s where much of the success comes from. The confidence that I have built over the past years allowed me to feel that I am just as important as everyone else in the room with me. I’ve earned positions through my hard work and the platform given I’m gonna represent myself, my community and my talent as a proud African American gay man in any room I’m in, even when I’m the only one. Read More>>
Sarah DePasquale
The Unbridled Bar was the first rig based mobile bar company in Jacksonville and I honestly never saw it has a negative thing when we were building. When we were nearing completion I started trying to get in front of potential clients, venues and planners and discovered being the new kid (and concept) in town may be a bit harder then I thought. The wedding industry can feel very small (even though its really not) venues and planners have loyalty to certain vendors. Proving that you are even good enough to be considered an asset in any field is hard but add in a 3,5oo pound horse trailer bar that no one has seen before… It added a bit of a challenge for sure Read More>>
Cassandra Allen – Brown
All of my life I have been the only one in the room who looks like me. With the exception of elementary school middle school and high school, all of my adult career life I have typically been the only one in the room who looks like me. The only one at the law firm who looks like me. The only one in the office who looks like me. The only one at specific events and gatherings and corporate functions and annual holiday parties that look like me. This has been my norm. Read More>>
Daniel Goss
I worked downtown for many years. For several of those years, I operated one of the only breweries in the downtown area. It was a restaurant / brewery. There were talks of some new breweries coming into the area and a reporter came down to get our opinion on what we thought of other breweries opening. Her question wasn’t meant to be antagonistic but in some ways I think they wanted that for the story. Her question was this: Read More>>
Jessica Fritz
As a young women in the construction industry there are many rooms that I sit in as the only female. Not only the only female, but a lot of times the youngest person while being the lead architect on the project. When you are different you can’t try to be like the other people in the room because they will see through your inauthenticity. You really have to show up with humility and get to know everyone’s perspective as well as utilize their expertise, this will allow them to trust you. Once the group trusts you and knows that you are on their team they won’t see you as any different then they are. Sometimes it feels frustrating and you will think that everyone should naturally except you, but it’s important to remember that you are breaking new ground and new boundaries and the ultimate goal is a successful project. Read More>>
Indica Nights
There have been plenty of moments I can think of when I rose to success in an unlikely environment, some even being corporate environments, solely based off my ability learn quickly. Being a young African American woman I already have a disadvantage at everything, that’s just the raw reality of the world. I learned at a young age that I had to work a little harder and smarter if I wanted to succeed in pursuing my passion. Music is my passion, it’s something I’ve grown up with that always fascinated me. Whether it was dancing on the school dance team in grade school or singing songs I made up to the smooth jazz my grandmother would play in my early childhood. Read More>>
Dr. Daphnie Swift
This has been something that I have experienced my entire life. As a child when attending school, I was always the only black girl in my classes. I never understood why I wasn’t in the class with any of my friends that looked like me. It wasn’t until I got older that I realized our classes were divided into below average, average, and above average students, and I was always in the above average classes. I always made excellent grades and excelled in education as well as sports that I participated in. Thus, I learned to adapt to being in environments where I was always a minority at an early age. It also taught me about diversity and learning about other cultures. Read More>>
Aaron Rice
As a professional, I firmly believe that success is not defined by external factors such as appearance, but rather by the skills, knowledge, and expertise that one brings to the table. Therefore, I have learned to be effective and successful in any setting, regardless of whether I am the only one in the room that looks like me, by relying on my strengths and abilities and focusing on the task at hand. I stay focused on my goals and objectives, keep an open mind, and seek to understand and learn from those around me. I also strive to maintain a positive attitude and build strong relationships with my colleagues, as I believe that diversity and inclusivity are key to achieving success in any organization or team. Read More>>
Daniella Green
In order to be comfortable entering any room, you have to be very clear on who you are & what you bring to the table. This is imperative because you won’t ever have the feeling you have to feel the need to “change”, “tweak”, “act” or “be” ignored to succeed or be seen and heard. When I notice I’m the only woman (which is the story of my life) or the person of color in the room I carry my ancestors with me, my grandparents who raised me and I see the people in the room as very fortunate that they get to embrace that & learn from encountering me. I know that my presence matter & my performance creates the experience for the next woman of color behind me. Read More>>
Dustin DAB Bowie
Being the only one in the room that “looks like me” is a situation I thrive in. Being from Alabama and dealing with all sorts of prejudices and discrimination, I’ve learned being different puts the attention on you and allows you to really grab people’s attention. Also more than likely, because I’m “different” people are interested to hear my opinion and potentially learn something new that they may not have had the perspective see before. Read More>>
Shay Stanislas
I have faced numerous challenges as the only individual in the room who shares my unique characteristics, such as being a minority as an African American, the youngest person, and a woman. However, I have learned that one’s talent, resilience, and drive can help them succeed among their peers. Even if you feel like you don’t belong, it may be your destiny to claim your rightful place in the room. My advice is to always move forward and show up with confidence. Read More>>
Lea Tran
At many gatherings, I realized I was the only Asian in a room full of Caucasians, African Americans, and Hispanic Americans; I felt lost. Being the only person in the room who doesn’t resemble anyone else can present an unspoken challenge. As a Chinese minority born in Vietnam and having arrived in America as a young adult, I did not see myself fitting in any box, nor did I have a strong foundation to anchor my identity. I was the one-girl island. Read More>>
William Pierre
Ive learned that having a open minded mindset can take you far in this life. Usually people get very uncomfortable when they’re in spaces without people with similarities. I tend to personally thrive in these environments however because I see it as a oupportunity to share my experiences with folks who might never have experienced what I experienced. Moreover it becomes a unique space where I get to learn from them as well an obtain new perspectives on things as well. Read More>>
Andrea Ward
Bring bold, brave, confident when I enter any room because there’ isn’t anyone else like me or can attempt to duplicate my gifts and talents. Just remembering where I first started at the beginning of my career versus now means there’s been a lot of growth, resilience and knowledge with a skill set of my capabilities. Even though there maybe very few rooms with people that look like me but that’s actually One of my super power and strengths about me & why I inspire so many in this industry. In stead of trying to fit in I’d rather fit out is what makes me successful. Read More>>
Quince Coffee House
Physical space is a key component of community organizing and coffee houses have a long history of being the meeting place for social change. Physical space is also a key component from which our populations have been denied, restricted, and forcibly removed. It’s essential to be able to say “this is our space. You are welcome here. You are not the only one in the room”. To the question, in order to be effective as the only one in the room, we may have to unlock doors, invite others in and eventually tear down the room and make something bigger and better for all of us. Read More>>
Lisa Hardwick
When my book was first published in late 2020, I spent a lot of time networking with a variety of long-time business owners and budding entrepreneurs. I wanted to get my name out there, and get my book out there, and I was willing to talk to whoever would listen. Read More>>
Alyse Tatum
More often than not, I’m the only person who looks like me at events where content creators or creatives are invited. So if there’s a plus one, I’m always sure to bring another Black creator with me. It helps get them more exposure and show whoever is throwing the event that it’s definitely ok to invite more than just blonde women with the exact same aesthetic. Read More>>
Vera Lotus Onatah
There where many times when I worked in finance that I would be the only melanated woman in the room. Being that I grew up in a multicultural environment I was accustomed to sharing space with various groups but the energy of a boardroom was different. When ever I would feel uncomfortable I would remind myself that I earned and deserved my right to be there. I would allow my knowledge and experience to be my armor whenever others would try to undermine my position and I would never hold my tongue when I had something to say. Read More>>
Keith ‘Klep’ Napier
In this industry (Media/Journalism), being the “little guy” or small fish in a room full of sharks, its almost expected that we’re probably less than or don’t exactly have the reach to touch the masses. So My thought process has always been that if you want to make an impact or stand out, you have to bring a level of professionalism, research and production value so when they (audiences) see you working a press junket or red carpet next to say, an ABC, Variety or Comicbook.com no one questions whether or not you belong in that room. Do the work before tho show up. Read More>>
Natyana Gonzalez
Being yourself 112%. One ting about me, I am one outgoing, funny, vibes type of person! I genuinely love to catch vibes wherever I go while creating content to help businesses grow. Read More>>
King Judah
I have always been a firm believer that we are all bestowed gifts from YHWH the Most-High and we thrive when we lean into what makes us unique. It’s easy to get lost into the commonalities and stigmas to which society considers a standard. More often than not, it is acceptable to fall in line with these attributes rather than searching for originality within us. Therefore, creating an identity crisis. My experience with this peaked while in college. Read More>>
Sherri Starr & Jessie Cox
And yet, somehow, it happens to us all the time. When we enter a room, people tend to stop what they’re doing and pay attention—and it’s not because we’re really loud or anything (okay, maybe sometimes). We just have this weird ability to stand out in a crowd. Read More>>
