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.
Miaq Kruspe

I have learned to be successful as the only one that looks like me in the room by staying true to myself. I try to focus on the things I can control and ignore the things I cannot. I concentrate on what needs to get done and not on the differences at hand. Read More>>
Ammoni Isby

Being the only one in the room who looks like me hasn’t always been easy, but it’s taught me how to carry both grace and power at the same time. I’ve learned to see my presence as a strength, not a disadvantage. My voice, my perspective, and my lived experiences are valuable, even if others don’t immediately understand them. Read More>>
Donnisha Davis

Being the only one in the room has been a pattern throughout my life. I have felt it in classrooms, leadership meetings, federal agencies, and now as the founder of a tech company. I am a Black woman from Southeast Washington, DC, raised in public schools and trained in engineering before transitioning into design. I know what it feels like to walk into a room and wonder if people see you clearly or only see what they expect. Read More>>
Yuelin Li

I was born in Beijing and received my BFA in Art and Technology from Tsinghua University. Later, I moved to New York to pursue an MFA in Design and Technology at Parsons School of Design. During graduate school, I found my direction in kinetic sculpture and installation, working primarily with metal. I was the only student in my year creating art with this material. To me, metal is more than a medium. It holds emotion and speaks in a language that unfolds slowly. Read More>>
Lenajah Gaither

Honestly, it hasn’t always been easy, but it’s been purposeful. As a young Black photographer, I’ve often found myself in rooms where I didn’t look like anyone else, whether by age, race, or style. But I’ve learned not to shrink in those moments. Instead, I lean into the fact that I’m exactly who God created me to be, and He didn’t make me to blend in He called me to stand out. Read More>>
Amber Calloway

Being the only one in the room has shaped me more than it’s hindered me. I grew up in an affluent, white community where I often stood out, not just because of how I looked, but because of what I represented. My family and I faced racial discrimination and other obstacles that could have easily broken our spirit. But, instead, they fueled our drive. My family is rooted in love. We take care of each other and those around us. Read More>>
Latricia Powell

Being the only one in the room who looks like me is a space I’ve occupied more times than I can count — as a Black woman, a mother, and a leader with unconventional power and presence. I learned early that visibility can feel like a spotlight and a microscope at the same time. Rather than shrink, I chose to master awareness, language, and purpose. I learned to walk into every room with deep preparation and even deeper conviction. Read More>>
Jazz

As a Black , Gay , Female in the security industry I am most often the only one in the room, in the meeting , in the security walk throughs etc. You would think that would be something that would discourage me or intimidate me but instead I use it as a super power , a bargaining tool, a motivation to conquer. There is truly only 1 you so why not embrace that and create a path for others, or build a bridge or relationship that can impact those to come. Read More>>
Sara Davila

I’ve learned that being confident and knowing your worth are the key to being successful in any setting, even more so when I’m the only one that looks like me. I moved to the US when I was 15, which is already a hard age to find yourself. But the older I get, the easier it becomes to be confident in what I know and truly believe that I worked so hard for what I have now. Read More>>
Joni Elaine

I look at the people from the past who are known now for what they brought into the world. History is a huge reason as to why I am devoted to the arts. I think about how life on earth is temporary and it is what we leave behind that matters. For many artists, having a role model or some type of representation matters. It’s a form of motivation for those who need someone to feel inspired by. To me, representation goes deeper than what meets the surface like skin color, familiar faces, etc. Read More>>
Sophany Sor
For me, success begins with deeply understanding myself — knowing who I am, what I believe in, and what I want to create in this world. Before we can face external challenges, we must first conquer our own doubts and fears. Read More>>
Kez Sinoro

Being the only one in the room who looks like me is something I hold with pride. It’s a powerful opportunity to represent women of color, especially Filipinas. For me, it’s never just about saying the right words, it’s about speaking and acting in alignment with my authentic self, while staying grounded in my intentions. Read More>>
Frankie “ Vaughny” Vaughn

I’ve learned to walk into every room with authenticity and pure intentions. I don’t lead with insecurity or try to mold myself to fit into a space — I show up as me.
My focus is always on who and what I am in alignment with, not who I’m not. I believe in showing up to serve, to inspire, and just as importantly — to learn. I stay a student of life, no matter how much I grow. Read More>>
Lauren Hughes

Moving up in the brewing world as a queer identifying woman can be a little bit tough – you have essentially two bias against you. One that I might not be able to the job or as well, as some of my male counterparts, and two, that I am different because I identify as queer. I’ve felt both of these in my career many times, but I think I was still successful because I didn’t let their ideas of what I could and couldn’t do hold me back or bring me down Read More>>
Jay Ariean

I believe that uniqueness is a superpower. You have your own individual perspective and point of view that no one else in the room will be able to speak or create from. As a black, queer artist, I often feel like a spectacle but embracing those differences and learning how to be comfortable with sticking out was the key to unlocking my potential. It’s a gift to stand out in a world where most people feel like they have to blend in. Read More>>
Urmi Hossain

I’ve learned that sometimes, being effective simply starts with showing up.
As a woman of colour and a woman in finance, I work in an industry that’s still very male-dominated. Many times, I find myself in external meetings with multiple stakeholders, and often, I’m the only woman or the only person of colour at the table. Read More>>
Melody Caban

Being the only Latina in the room isn’t a new experience for me. In fact, it often highlights precisely why my presence is so important. I’ve learned to lean into the understanding that no one else will be exactly like me, and that’s not a weakness – it’s a powerful asset. My unique background and point of view are an integral part of the value I bring to any project or discussion. Read More>>
Annie H. Hoffman

From day one, I’ve leaned into confidence—because I had to. My journey started when I broke into sports broadcasting at just 18 years old, one of the very few women doing so at the time. While still in college, I was already working for ABC Sports, CBS Sports, and ESPN. At just 19, I was stage managing Monday Night Football, and working the live productions of everything from the Super Bowl to the Indy 500, the Kentucky Derby, and the MLB All-Star Game. Read More>>
David Rucker

When you’re the only one, there’s an unspoken pressure to overperform just to be seen as equal. I turned that pressure into fuel by being overprepared, by knowing my subject matter, and by speaking with clarity and purpose. I’ve also learned that representation isn’t just about being in the room—it’s about having a voice in the room. I don’t shy away from offering ideas or asking hard questions, especially when I know they bring value. Read More>>
Bernardo Di Marco

What truly matters today is forging a distinct style —a new one— that speaks to the particular moment we are living in history. If we consider the last century, it was defined by the era of the masses: of mobilized collectives, where the individual often dissolved into the group and became unseen. In many ways, the 21st century arises as a response to that phenomenon —an age of personal stories, of individual quests, of inner exploration rather than collective belonging. Read More>>
Cooper Swartzentruber

Coming from an EXTREMELY small town called Damariscotta, Maine, I’ve often found myself in situations where I’m the only one without a big-city background or a connection to a major music scene. At first, that made me feel like I had to prove myself twice as much — I didn’t have access to the same mentors, jam sessions, or early exposure that a lot of other musicians around me had. Read More>>
Aditya Tyagi

Being the only one in the room who looks like me has been a challenge I’ve faced in many parts of my life. Whether it was stepping onto the pool deck where no one else shared my background, joining leadership councils where I didn’t see anyone with similar life experiences, or presenting my nonprofit’s work in professional spaces where I was often the youngest by years—I’ve learned to navigate these moments with purpose. Read More>>
Bryan Little

You know, I’ve been in those rooms more times than I can count – whether it’s high-level IT strategy meetings or filmmaker meetings where I’m literally the only person who looks like me. Early on, I’ll be honest, it was intimidating. I’d walk in and feel like I had to prove I belonged there before I could even contribute. Read More>>
Siming Lu

I often move between different contexts—across countries, disciplines, and artistic traditions. I came from China to the U.S., from theatre to visual art, from contemporary performance to classical East Asian forms. Now, at NYU ITP, I’m surrounded by programmers and designers. I’m often the only one in the room pursuing something entirely different, and to be honest, I’m often in spaces where no one really knows what I’m doing. Read More>>
Keisha L. Blair
Being the only one in the room is not new to me — it’s been my reality for most of my 30-year career. I started as an electrician when it wasn’t just rare — it was almost unheard of for a woman, especially a Black woman, to be on the jobsite, let alone running one. But instead of shrinking, I learned how to own the room. I’ll be honest: most days I barely noticed I was “the only one.” My focus locked on doing the job— Read More>>
Faith Karokatose

When I moved to Canada, I went from being surrounded by familiarity to being completely unknown in a new city, a new system, and a new business. I launched my brand with no connections, no mentors, and no one to call for help, just instinct, grit, and faith. Read More>>
LaNese Brown

Often times when we think of being the only one in the room that looks like “YOU”, two of the things that comes to mind first is race and or gender . To me those things are secondary as it is the most common thing to identify as, but for me personally in today’s society AUTHENTICITY is somewhat more of a peculiar attribute to have! When I walk in rooms showing up as just myself… no facades, no walls, no pretentious persona, it tends to have a dual effect. Read More>>
Cornelius Turner

It was difficult being in a room when I was the only one that looked like me in my earlier career. I would try to keep quiet and speak like everyone else. Doing this truly dimmed my beautiful light, creativity, and originality. One day the Lord spoke to me and told me to be myself. In that moment, I realized that I do have a voice and valuable thoughts because I’m the only “Me” in the room. Read More>>
Bailey Morris

I’ve always felt like an odd ball out amongst other people, especially those in my age group. I can’t focus or think about what other people are doing. I had to learn to not compare but stay in my own lane and work on the things I can control. I think many businesses fail because they are focusing too much on what other people are doing, and less on what makes their business unique and putting energy into that. I have to keep my values and goals at the forefront on my mind and remind myself of how far my business has come. Read More>>
Maria Battista

Probably the only way to be successful as an artist is precisely to be the only one in the room that looks like you! In a very real way, it’s impossible to be anything other than oneself, right? Long ago Susan Sontag wrote that there is no such thing as style. I think what she may have meant by that is that any affected attempt to have a “style” is destined to fail and to be unconvincing. An artist’s individual definition emerges without artifice in an organic way. Read More>>
Benni Harding

As a child, I faced severe health challenges from epilepsy to life-threatening allergies. Because of that, I often found myself alone while others went to sleepovers or amusement parks. At first, being the only one in the room made me feel sad. But over time, I got tired of feeling sorry for myself and decided to channel that energy into creativity. Being alone became my superpower. I could sing, dance, and express myself freely without fear of judgment. Read More>>
Giorgio Haddad

Being the only one in the room who looks like me has taught me how to lead with both confidence and self-awareness. At first, it was intimidating — I questioned if I belonged or if I’d be seen. But over time, I realized that my difference is also my strength. I’ve learned to speak up even when my voice shakes, to represent not just myself but the people who don’t have a seat at the table yet. I prepare thoroughly, I show up with pride in who I am, and I let my work speak for itself. Read More>>
Samin Sarwar

Being the only one in the room who looks like me has never been easy, but it’s pushed me to lead with purpose and resilience. Coming from a background that’s underrepresented in both tech and education reform, I realized early that visibility comes with responsibility. I learned to stay grounded in my work, build credibility through consistency, and communicate with clarity—even when I had to work twice as hard to be heard. Read More>>
Ken Westrick

When you’re the only one in the room with your lived experience, you kind of have to advocate for ideas others might not see. That doesn’t mean being the loudest—it just means being confident that your instincts are valuable and having the ability to articulate them clearly.
I used to be the quiet one in the room for sure; not one to raise my hand in class or to challenge an idea, but these days I try to remember that if I’m in the room, it’s for a reason. I don’t need to mold myself to fit the space. I’m here to help shape it into something more interesting. Read More>>
Taylor D.
Being the only one in the room” has been a theme throughout my life—even from childhood. As an only child with a learning difference and ADHD, I often found myself navigating environments where I felt fundamentally different from those around me. I attended a specialized school that helped me understand and work with my learning differences, but even then, I had to learn to adapt, self-advocate, and find my own rhythm. Read More>>
Team 17062: Techalongs

We are proud to be the only all-girls robotics team in the state. When we first formed, our members were all in middle school, and in a room full of high school boys, we initially tried to downplay our identity. As we have grown—both as individuals and as a team—we have made the conscious decision to embrace who we are as young women in STEM. Read More>>
Rev. Christopher Scuderi

There have been many instances throughout my entire life, especially as a young child, where you could sing that song from Sesame Street, “one of these things is not like the others…” and know that it had to be about me. While that is absolutely still true to this day, I have learned throughout the intervening years how to better navigate such circumstances. Read More>>
Elvira Zamora

I’ve learned to breathe in power and not the intimidation when I am the only one in the room that looks likes me. I do not make myself smaller but instead I speak in my strong tone, I do not hide my attitude but amplify my voice because I am not a robot, I am not an actor, I am a real person that is fueled by passion. The projects that I take on this days are all fueled by passion, motivation and intentional. Read More>>
Dr. Angela Butts Chester

For me, the distinction has never been just about appearance — it’s been about spirit. Often, I find myself as the only one in the room who carries a Kingdom mindset. I walk in as a person of faith, as a woman who leads with Scripture in one hand and strategy in the other. That kind of presence can feel unfamiliar in rooms that prioritize performance over purpose, or visibility over values. Read More>>
Tanya Wilson

Being the only one in the room that looks like me? I’ve stopped seeing that as a disadvantage and started seeing it as my superpower.
When I first stepped into the septic industry, I didn’t just walk into a room full of men—I walked into an industry that didn’t even have a seat for someone like me at the table. So what did I do? I built my own damn table. I went from nothing—no fancy investors, no blueprint— Read More>>