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.

Jori O’Neale

You know, being the only one in the room that looks like me — that’s a position I’ve been in more times than I can count. I grew up on the South Side of Chicago where everyone looked like me, but stepping out into different rooms — from classrooms at St. John’s, to publishing masterminds, to writer’s circles — I quickly realized, oh, you stand out here. Read More>>

Jasimen Phillips

I think what’s allowed me to become one of the most recognized female painters, and find success in the art world is learning to be myself and stop searching for validation outside of me. The funny thing is, once I started validating my own artwork, others began to recognize and validate my work too — not the other way around. And the spaces where I didn’t see myself reflected were often the same spaces that wanted what I had to offer. My style, my perspective, my presence — they weren’t just different, they were needed. Read More>>

Daniella Vazquez

Being the only one in the room has never felt unfamiliar to me. As a first-gen Latina, a nurse, and now a founder, I’ve often been the quietest, the youngest, the most underestimated. Never the loudest voice—but always the one who felt everything. For a long time, that made me question whether softness had a place in rooms built on urgency and ego.

But softness is not weakness. It’s awareness. It’s power. The way I noticed what others missed, the way I led with heart instead of noise—that became my edge. And eventually, I stopped shrinking to fit. I started standing in who I was. Read More>>

Courtlyn Jones

Being the only one in the room is something I’ve grown used to—especially as a Black woman navigating the creative industry, the wellness space, and now, the fitness world. It’s never easy, but over time I’ve learned that my difference is not a disadvantage—it’s a depth. It’s a lens, a lived experience, and a strength that brings something to the table no one else can. Read More>>

Stef Salcedo

Being the only one in the room has never been easy but it’s made me sharper, more intentional, and rooted in my ‘why.’ As a Latina woman running a market in spaces that have traditionally been male-dominated, or simply not built for people like me, I’ve had to learn how to take up space without apologizing for it. I stopped shrinking to make others comfortable. I learned to lead with clarity, build community from the ground up, and let the results speak for themselves. Read More>>

Cherri Cheeks

Walking into rooms where I’m the only designer offering inclusive sizing has become a familiar experience and I’ve allowed it to become my motivation. Understanding the responsibility I carry, while also knowing there are models and audience members looking for representation that often isn’t there ignites a fire in me. My goal is to make space for every body type and celebrate every style with intention. From carefully styling each swim look to hosting runway rehearsals that build confidence and poise, I pour into every detail to make sure my models feel seen, celebrated, and runway-ready. Read More>>

Diana Quintero

Immigrating from Mexico at just five years old and growing up in a small town, I quickly became familiar with what it feels like to be “the only one in the room.” Whether it was the only one who spoke Spanish at home, the only one with a different cultural background, or now, the one with a unique creative vision in a professional setting. I’ve always known what it means to stand out. Read More>>

Sheena Bilonn

It’s a weird to assume this but I always think that I am the only one in an event room but at the same time it helps me prepare myself. I usually start off with creating my outdo look because it helps jump start my confidence. I do a deeper research of the event so that I can be intentional of how I receive the information and prepare myself to meet at least 2-3 people and exchange information with 2-3 people. Read More>>

Haley Macciomei

Being successful and effective can look so different for each individual. Success to me looks a lot like creating a safe space for my family, living within our means and being able to provide for them. Why I feel I have become successful in this business is because I am very passionate about what I do, I found something I loved doing and never stopped trying to master my creativity and craft. Photography goes way beyond just a pretty picture. Read More>>

Ivory Thierolf

There are many moments in my life where I’ve felt like the only person in the room. Over time, I’ve come to understand that I was never meant to conform to anyone else’s standards but my own. Growing up in a diverse environment—through my education, friendships, and family—I often found myself navigating spaces where I felt out of place. Early on, I developed imposter syndrome, believing I wasn’t worthy of success or capable of achieving my goals. That, however, was the greatest lie I ever told myself. Read More>>

Kevin Sievert

I think this is a wonderful question. As a black man who grew up in primarily white spaces, I was often and easily singled out. I either “sounded white” or “wasn’t black enough”. I spent a majoirty of my young adult life desperately seeking a niche or a place where I fit in. While I was lovingly brought up by my parents who adopted me when I was a baby, they were white and did not always have the tools or the right thing to say when these problems would arise.  Read More>>

Cynthia Feng

In many rooms — especially in entrepreneurship, design, or business — I’ve often found myself being “the only one.” The only one who didn’t come from a traditional business background. At first, that could feel isolating. But over time, I realized that being different was not something to overcome — it was something to lean into. Read More>>

Diego Tapia

As a Peruvian working in the entertainment industry, I’ve often found myself as the only Latino in the room — whether in meetings or on Zoom calls. Early on, that reality made me feel self-conscious. I didn’t see many people who looked like me or shared my background working as producers in Hollywood, and that created a sense of doubt. But over time, as I gained experience and confidence, I came to understand that what truly matters is the value you bring. Good ideas, strong work ethic, and a collaborative spirit transcend appearances. When you show up prepared and capable, people notice — and they listen. Read More>>

Roland Wiley

Years ago I went to an audition in North Hollywood for Disney’s California Adventure’s new Aladdin live action musical, and the line went around the location and down another block. I hadn’t auditioned for something on this scale before, though I had already had years of musical theatre experience for local theatre performances. What made this challenging for me was while I was waiting I overheard the conversations in the line. Most of the people either in front of me or behind me had already known each other from previous auditions at the same location. Read More>>

Chau Nguyen

It’s definitely been a lonely journey at times—especially as someone who chose a path that many people around me didn’t fully understand. I come from a traditional Vietnamese background where pursuing art or handmade crafts isn’t often seen as a “real” career unless you’re extraordinarily gifted. So when I left my stable tech job to build Klaily—my handmade jewelry business—I often found myself surrounded by love, but not by people who shared my vision. Read More>>

Angela Miller Kumar

In this profession, it isn’t always fun to be the only one in the room who looks like me- a 57-year-old redhead with green eyes. Entering a modeling gig or influencer soirée that is a sea of twenty somethings is like being a rare vintage wine at a pop-up rosé party: singular, splendid and just a tad out of context. I dance with this uniqueness armed with statistics, wit and a sprinkle of Southern charm. Read More>>

Herman Armstrong

Honestly, it’s something I’ve had to learn over time; how to stay grounded and purposeful in rooms where I stand out. This is something I’ve dealt with extensively coming out of north St. Louis and venturing into the professional world. Early on, I used to carry the weight of that difference like it was a disadvantage. But over the years, I’ve come to see it differently. Being the only one in the room who looks like me means I have a perspective no one else can bring; and that’s powerful. Read More>>

Juliet Sea Chen

Turns out, looking different my whole life gave me the exact superpowers I needed – when you feel like an outsider, you’re positioned at the perfect vantage point to observe and learn.

I grew up in Michigan in the ’90s and early 2000s, where I desperately wanted to fit in—but fitting in definitely didn’t look like a nerdy Asian girl with glasses and braces. Later, in real estate PE, I was often the only woman, the only Asian, and definitely the youngest in the room. Read More>>

Tzulun Huang

I still remember sitting in a design studio during my academic years, surrounded by peers from diverse fields—electrical engineering, linguistics, anthropology, industrial engineering, and more. Each of us was the only one in the room with our own unique background. At a science- and engineering-focused university, we were all there to learn how to convey artistic intention through our individual projects. Read More>>

Jasmine Tang

When I started STArt Film Studio, I had no formal film training. I didn’t go to film school. My day job is as a software engineer—like many immigrants living in Seattle who balance practical careers with creative passions. Walking into rooms in the film world—or even nonprofit arts spaces—I often felt like I didn’t quite belong. I was the only one who looked like me, spoke like me, or came from my path. Read More>>

Andrea Burke

Early in my career, I was often the only young female professional in the room without an MBA. Later, as I stepped into leadership roles, I was still the youngest—and frequently one of the only women—at the table. Even when I wasn’t trying to be different, I was. And that quiet reality forced me to build confidence, not by blending in, but by learning to stand out with intention. Read More>>

Christine Hettinger

In situations where I am the only one who looks like me, I have learned to embrace my uniqueness as a strength. First, it is essential to cultivate self-awareness and recognize my own skills and experiences. I have also learned to actively listen and ask questions to build better connections with others and understand their perspectives. Read More>>

Jesse Switters

Im a Lakota comic artist and illustrator. I was adopted and raised outside of my tribal community. Growing up there was a strong emphasis on respect- for people, spaces, and reverence for what came before you. In that environment my brothers and I learned not to speak too quickly. We learned to carry ourselves with a kind of restraint. I didn’t understand it at the time, but that way of navigating spaces has stayed with me. In some ways it has made an introvert, but in other ways I have been able to appreciate and connect with my community in a deeper way. Read More>>

Adrian Owen Jones

I’ve spent much of my career being the only woman in the room, and while it happens less frequently now, it still occurs regularly. Just last week, I was advising a group of senior executives – all men – on a complex issue. They listened carefully and took the recommendations to heart. I found myself reflecting on how much my approach has evolved. Read More>>

William Graves

I’ve learned the most by keeping my mouth shut and just listening. I think our gut instinct in most situations is to try and speak up and fit in but there is solice and peace in being the only one like you. You don’t have to fit in because thats the gift that made you, you! That is what is going to make you effective and successful. It’s like my grandfather always says to me “People do business with people they like, and people do business with people who are like them.” Read More>>