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.
Jessie Clayton
As a high-functioning autistic female, I have often found myself being “the only one in the room” who looks, thinks, or communicates the way I do, at least that is how i feel. At first, that felt intimidating and put me on high alert hoping i could catch all the social cues and tones! Read More>>
Dr. Julie Lee, LMFT
This has been a scenario that has been all too prevalent throughout my life. When I was 6, I immigrated to the United States with my parents from Korea. Although we were moving to the ‘melting pot’, Orange County was a different story. My brother and I were both bullied for not speaking English and for appearing ‘fobby’. We were ridiculed, teased, and gossiped about. Read More>>
Dashawna Wright
When I first started in this industry, I was working on some prominent network TV shows during the Me Too era, when the business was just beginning to shift toward inclusivity. There were many times as an executive assistant when I was the only Black person in the room, and often the only person of color at all. Read More>>
LIUDMYLA NIKOHOSIAN
When I moved to the United States, I didn’t know what I wanted to do or which direction my life should take. But at one point everything changed — I realized that I wanted to be part of the beauty industry. Read More>>
Ronnie Cruz
Being the only one in the room that looks like me has taught me both resilience and purpose. As a Puerto Rican woman and a sensory-focused hairstylist, I’ve often stepped into spaces where people didn’t fully understand my vision or my background. At first, it felt isolating—but I learned to see it as an opportunity. Read More>>
Holly Hill
When I think about being “the only one in the room,” I go back to how it felt to be the new parent who didn’t know what she didn’t know. When I had my first baby, I was already a nurse, but even my nursing education and postpartum work experience didn’t prepare me for what happened one week after birth. Read More>>
Cyrena Ybarra
Being the only one in the room who looks like me has strengthened my confidence in both my voice and my presence. I’ve learned that preparation is key to success, which is why I dedicate myself to thorough research and a deep understanding of the market and my competitors. Read More>>
Kirsten Nicholson
I am still learning what it means to be the only one in the room who looks like me. To be honest, I have not gotten completely used to it. Read More>>
NaTasha Crain
Being the Only One in the Room There have been countless times in my career where I found myself as “the only one in the room”—the only Black woman, the youngest voice, the one with a different perspective. Early on, I used to question if I belonged. Read More>>
Emily Fiala-Dagnan
In my professional life, I am the only one in the room. As a Private Wellness Chef my clients expect me to show up and do the work. All of the pressure to create menus, and recipes that I can execute properly all my responsibility. Read More>>
Meaghan Beech
This question really appealed to me. Growing up, I often felt like a chameleon, just trying to blend in with my surroundings. I wanted more than anything to be popular and fit in. In high school, I took an elective art class and fell in love with exploring new mediums and growing my creativity. But none of the “cool” kids liked art. Read More>>
Nina Pinidi
My military career has heavily contributed in how I learned to move forward while being the only one in the room. In many instances, I was the only woman in the office. Also, I have easily been the only black person in the room. We are all unique, so I became effective by relying on how my differences made me the best at anything. Read More>>
Jaclyn E.
I spent much of my childhood trying to fit in and often felt like I was falling short. Over time, I stopped trying to blend in and began embracing what made me different. In my career as a piano entertainer, I’ve often been the only young woman in the room, surrounded mostly by male players. Read More>>
Caitlin Labistour
I’ve always been one to adapt to whatever environment that I am in without having to change who I am. Being in rooms with people that don’t look like me gave me the drive to keep going because it allows me to show other people that do look like me that anything is possible. Read More>>
Michal Tapia
There have been many times in my career when I looked around and realized I was the only one – the only Latina, the only woman of color, the only first-generation leader, an introvert in spaces that celebrated extroversion, and a mother balancing family while pursuing my doctoral journey. At first, that reality felt heavy. Read More>>
Christa D’Egidio
Being the only woman in the room as an entrepreneur definitely came with moments of imposter syndrome, but I never let myself blend in or shrink to fit. Instead, I leaned into my voice and perspective, because that’s exactly what sets me apart. Read More>>
