Even as there is a growing recognition for the need for representation, there are still many cases where folks will find themselves as the only person in a room representing their particular demographic – and often there is pressure to perform in such contexts to prove competence not just for yourself but for everyone who is like you. The burden and the stress of being the “representer” is real, and so we wanted to create a space where folks can discuss who they go about ensuring they are effective and successful even in contexts where no one else on the team or in the room is like them.
Sarai Maya
Over time, I’ve learned to remain focused and intentional, even when I find myself as the only one in the room who looks like me. I’ve come to understand that success is deeply personal and can take many forms. For me, it means setting goals, embracing the learning process, and finding purpose in the work I do whether that’s completing a project or developing a new skill. My greatest accomplishments are the ones I’ve achieved through consistent effort over the past few years. They serve as a reminder that growth and fulfillment often come from within, regardless of the environment or circumstances. Read More>>
Wendy
I have learned to be effective and successful when I am the only one in the room because I come from a large family of four brothers and two sisters. The same was expected from all of us, were always treated the same. There were no differences even though I was the youngest one, we all had to give and behave the same way. Therefore, as a grownup, I never thought that I was different from anyone else specially through challenges. Read More>>
Roberto Garcia
Being the only one in the room—and the only one who looks like me—has been both a challenge and a source of strength. I’ve learned to be effective and successful by grounding myself in unwavering self-belief and the confidence that I’ve earned my place through skill, preparation, and resilience. I didn’t arrive by accident; I created the opportunity through hard work, focus, and intention. Read More>>
Amy K Merriam
At one point, I thought I had to follow a specific path to success, like everyone else around me. I saw people climbing ladders and ticking boxes, thinking that was the only way to achieve success. But the more I followed that route, the more I felt like I was losing myself.
The truth is, being different from those around me whether in terms of my background, my journey, or my perspective has become powerful to me. I’ve realized that my success doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s, and that understanding has made all the difference. I stopped measuring my worth by the world’s standards and chose to define success on my own terms, aligning it with the discovery of my true identity. Read More>>
Ralyn Barker
That is precisely why I’m effective and successful, very few who live in my town look like me. I stand out for a reason. It can be isolating at times and feel like I’m carrying v the weight of representation, but I rise to the challenge. It’s taught me how to own my voice, stand confidently in who I am, and navigate spaces with both strength and fortitude.”I always get told, “I could never pull that look off, you’re brave, gutsy, etc”. I love to reply with, ” whether you believe you can or believe you can’t, you’re right. ” it’s all in your belief in yourself. Read More>>
Matt Janson
I think I may answer this question in a slightly different way than intended. However, I think my answer is one of the more important considerations for any artist.
Throughout my life, I’ve been told that I see the world in a different way than most people. Less tactful people have called me, “weird.” I haven’t always appreciated the associated monikers, but I have learned to embrace the sentiment. Read More>>
Ruta Swanson
I’m originally from Lithuania, and when I moved to the U.S., I quickly realized how different I was. I became aware of just how much my culture had shaped me – how I communicated, what I believed and what I valued. I was often the only one with an accent, and the only one who didn’t grow up in a system that teaches you how to sell yourself loudly. And honestly, I felt like I didn’t measure up. Read More>>
Haley Carbajal
The answer lies in the question: I am not the only one in the room.
There is an intelligence within all of us that witnesses all that our personhood (or personal identity) is going through. When we believe in the seductive, fear-based thoughts of the mind that are connected to personhood, we forget who we truly are: that higher intelligence. Read More>>
LaDyra Lyte
Every room I walk into, I know that I am called to be there. my faith in God is the foundation of everything that I do, and I follow Him wherever He leads me. I am living in His plan for my life, not my own. Because I know He’s intentional, even in moments when I feel out of place, I trust that His grace has already made more than enough space for me. At the same time, I’ve put in the work; educating myself and gaining real, high-level expereience in my industry. Read More>>
Lebo Goad
Being the only one in the room can be challenging, especially when you are someone like me; an African woman living in a 88.6% white demographic Utah. If anything, 9 out 10 times on a daily basis, I am the only one in the room that looks like me, which makes it even more so necessary for me to take up space. One of the most effective ways I’ve learned to navigate these situations is by embracing my identity and leveraging it as a source of strength. Read More>>
Thumali
This is such a multifaceted question! Being a Queer Saudi-American, I’ve always felt like I was the only person like me in the room. I’ve struggled all my life when it comes to fitting in with my peers, to the point it really had an impact on how I viewed myself not just as an artist, but as a person in general. Read More>>
Kris Jennings
My consulting practice involves complicated technology programs. Often, I’m the only woman in the room. In one recent project, the leadership team consisted of six men….and me!
Earlier in my career, being an outlier used to intimidate me. I’d stay quiet, waiting politely to be asked to contribute to the discussion. I knew that my observations were different, and I held back because of that. Read More>>
Andrea González Román
I’m a dancer who started at the age of 6, and of the disciplines that I have focused more it was ballet, It wasn’t until I was between 16 and 18 that I began to understand the rules of the industry and how they define who is a success dancer and who doesn’t even have a chace. I realized that there was something different in me by seeing the reaction of the others. Initially, I thought this would be an obstacle, and honestly, it has been one. However, my perspective has empowered me to challenge the ideas that others have about people who look or are like me. Read More>>
Arica Rucker
My Success and being effective is still a work in progress! However, It all begins with my faith and a level of confidence that I’ve inherited. We are all born with unique gifts, one of mine just happens to be the gift of discernment. With that, I’ve learned to read a room. Or, should I say people in the room. I am not always quick to engage which could be intimidating to some, but to be effective you have to learn who you are around. Read More>>
Rudy Larson
It’s all about choosing to do something that inspires you and then finding like-minded people that are interested in the same thing- finding your audience. When I started naturally dyeing, there weren’t many others in my craft who were showcasing their art on social media. It definitely felt like I hit a very specific niche and that got me really excited. I was doing something different that a lot of people hadn’t seen or even heard of before and I really leaned into that. Read More>>
Nao Kobayashi
The sensation of being an outsider, of being the ‘only one,’ has been a familiar experience throughout my life. Whether encountering cultural shifts between Japan and the US as a child, finding my place as an international student, or entering a new community as an artist, I often found myself in rooms where I felt different. Sometimes I was in places where I had no clue about their customs or languages, which led to a tendency to listen more than speak. Read More>>
Angela Sulai Kaeser
Though I had to build a lot of resilience from a young age, as brown skinned girl in a white family and country, it was a long journey to learning how to navigate life and work as the only one in the room that looks like me, that was healthy and not based on unsustainable coping mechanisms. There were two parts that played a role in this evolution. Read More>>
SUNGJAE LEE
I started to make performance art in 2011 in Seoul, South Korea. I was a sculpture major, and ironically, I got sick and tired of its traditional privilege as I studied it more. My art practice visualizing minoritarian subjects did not go along with the sculpture medium, which materializes their existences, transforms them into tangible forms, and displays them on a podium of white cubes in a gallery. Read More>>
Megan Hayden
Being the only one in the room—that’s nothing new to me. In fact, I’ve built a brand around it. I’m The Land Lady.
I’ve learned that when you’re the only woman—or the only person who looks like you—in a room full of decision-makers, developers, or brokers, you don’t shrink. You own your space. Read More>>
Preeti Shridhar
Being the Only One in the Room: Turning Isolation into Impact
I’ve spent a lifetime being the only one in the room who looked like me—and I’ve learned to turn that spotlight into a force for change. Being the only Indian woman at the table wasn’t a setback—it became my superpower. I’ve always had to work twice as hard, think sharper, and carry more. But grit alone isn’t enough. To truly rise, you have to be bold. You have to be unapologetically different. You have to stand for something that matters—not just for yourself, but for others who don’t yet have a voice in the room. Read More>>
Lorri Lofton
Being the only one in the room can at first seem intimidating. We often gravitate to what’s familiar, but how does that work when you don’t see familiar? This starts from within. I have learned to do the work of ridding myself of any doubt, insecurities, or negative thinking. If you’re in that room, someone saw fit for you to be. No matter if you’re in the room to be a spectator, speaker, or just to network – do it with intention. Read More>>
Lily Ma
There have been many moments during my time in the U.S. when I truly felt alone. As an Asian girl studying in a completely different culture, the adjustment was hard—socially, emotionally, and academically. Just when I was starting to find my footing, the pandemic hit, and everything shut down. Read More>>
