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.
Lovely Marshall
Being the Only One in the Room: How I Learned to Thrive & Lead
I have always been the only one in the room—but not just in terms of race. Sometimes I’m the only enthusiastic person, the only person who believes in a project that others want to shut down, or even the only person who believes in myself when no one else does. Read More>>
Alexander Greer
It’s stems from confidence in you and your ability and or the product your providing. If you feel your best and know you have the best product on the market you’ll live in that manner Read More>>
Nathalie Heywood Smith
I learned to lean forward based on my talent. I learned early on how you deliver a message is as important to the message you are delivering….especially when you are the only one in the room. And, it’s that competency displayed is how you make room for others like you to enter the room and then you are no longer the only one. Read More>>
Chelssie Baker
Oh, this one hits hard.
For 15 years, I lived all over Asia—often the only one from a different country and background. People would turn their kids’ heads just to get a look at the foreigner. I was different, but I didn’t feel it inside. After years of learning the language and customs, I felt like I blended in. But when I’d get the looks, I realized—I didn’t. I was always going to be different. Read More>>
Molly Polus
Being the only one in the room who looks like me is a reality I’ve known most of my life. Growing up as an Asian adoptee in a predominantly white city in Texas, I became familiar with navigating spaces where I stood out. Over time, I’ve come to see my presence in these rooms as more than just a personal challenge—it’s an opportunity to create change and expand what’s possible. Read More>>
Lee Aven
As an androgynous person it is impossible for me to blend in to a room when i step in; In the beginning of my self love/healing journey this attention made me fell painfully percieved and judged. Now a days i have decided to thrive in this type of situation and be a rainbow in a sea of vanilla. Being unique and different is what drives because it’s incredibly empowering. Read More>>
Michelle Miguel
‘ve learned to be effective and successful by first accepting myself for who I am, embracing my uniqueness. The second step was learning to be okay with being different in my own way, knowing that it doesn’t diminish my worth. Read More>>
Brey Yosemite’s Golden Photography
To truly stand out in photography, you need to be more than just skilled with a camera. You need to be real. For me, that means being authentic, bold, and confident – qualities that come from facing life’s challenges directly. Read More>>
Sofia Kirkman
I started my company at the age of 19, in my dorm room, driven and determined, because I knew that I wouldn’t be able to do what I love as a girl who didn’t fit into the typical “Princess” mold. Read More>>
Sasha Henry
There’s one Thing that I learned on my journey from being my own boss and trying to be the best I can be ! And that is realizing it’s OK to be different from everybody else you don’t have to do what everybody else is doing and if you’re craft is taking a little longer to takeoff, that’s OK too ! I’ve grown to realize that I often used to compare myself to others on my journey of working for myself in my craft . Read More>>
Sara Cravens
In my line of work, I have found authenticity to be the magic key. Without me being my authentic self, I do not believe I would have the career I have now. It’s one of my favorite things to talk about on panels or with students. Read More>>
Moreno Taylor, Ii
I was forced to adapt early on and had to learn how to get comfortable being uncomfortable. I’ve always been aware of my environment and how my presence impacts those around me thanks to a professor at Eastern Michigan University who introduced me to the concept of “Emotional Intelligence”. Read More>>
Stacey Patino
Being the first in my family to pursue a career in the arts came with many challenges including imposter syndrome. This would come as a result of being the only one in the room that looked like me and the only one that came from my circumstances. Read More>>
Jikun Neil Hao
Film is an art form that requires collaboration within a team, sometimes it could be a huge team. Though the most common terms usually mentioned are communication and flexibility, I would love to highlight the importance of thinking critically, not only following others’ ideas, and making bold decisions. Read More>>
Stephanie Finoti
Growing up I was often in spaces where I was the only woman with a diverse ethnic background or even the only one who struggled in poverty, whether that was in the world of ballet or the STEM field. Read More>>
Khanh Nguyen
Being an Asian American in the entrepreneurial sphere and the field of psychology can be isolating and lonely. It is rare that I meet someone who looks like me in the professional world, but I think it’s what makes me powerful and unique. Read More>>
Cristina Melendez
I’m not great with putting written words together about things like this but for me I’ve always had to work ten times harder than your average male DJ, or your typical model DJ you would find on apps like TikTok. Read More>>
Benjamin Coy
Being the only one in the room has never been a choice—it’s been a reality. Whether I’m the only Black body and/or queer body–I’ve grown accustomed to being the only one in the room, the stares, the questions and even the negative pushback. Read More>>
Kiyana Mcclellan
I have learned to be successful despite being the only person in the room that looks like me by being authentic to myself and my feelings at that time. I feel like we are often entering rooms, trying portray our best selves to others in order to be liked. Read More>>
Carolina Palhares
I remember the first time I walked into an audition room in the U.S. With fluorescent lights humming over a row of actors who all seemed to fit the mold, effortlessly blending into a system they had grown up in. Read More>>
Rory Lipede
As a biracial woman, I have often found myself as the only one in the room who looked like me whether as a professional ballet dancer, an entrepreneur, or an advocate for social causes. Rather than seeing this as a disadvantage, I have learned to turn it into a source of strength, innovation, and purpose. Read More>>
Shana Adams
I’ve learned that being the only one in the room who looks like me is not a disadvantage it’s an opportunity. Early on, I realized that my presence in those spaces wasn’t just about me; it was about representation, breaking barriers, and proving that excellence knows no boundaries. Read More>>
Grace Simmons
You have to be intentional about knowing yourself, understanding your values, and keeping an open mind. When I was younger, my mom, a Liberian woman full of wisdom, would always say, “Goat’s luck is different from sheep’s luck.” In other words, mind your business and don’t try to emulate others—especially if they’re taking shortcuts or ignoring the rules. Read More>>
Kaylan Maloney
I am often the youngest, or on that side of the scale, in professional settings. I was never intimated because I knew what I knew. I appreciate more knowledge, insight, and perspectives so that’s how I see these spaces. Read More>>
Ariel Brinkley
I’ve always been used to being the odd one out. Growing up, I attended schools where I was often the minority, and when I played basketball, I constantly heard boys tell me I wasn’t good enough simply because I was a girl. Read More>>
Erica Reed
Being the only woman /Black woman and many times the only person of color in the room in the construction industry has been both a challenge and an opportunity. I’ve learned that my effectiveness and success don’t come from blending in but from standing firm in who I am and what I bring to the table. Read More>>
Persephone Shelton
There were numerous times that I was the “only one in the room” that looked like me, that sounded like me, and that had gone through the challenges that I had gone through in my youth and adulthood. Read More>>
Barbara Hoover
For me, resilience has never been a choice—it’s been a necessity. Growing up as the youngest of four to a hardworking single mom in California, I didn’t realize at the time how much we went without because it was simply our normal. Read More>>
