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.
Jade Patton
Make mistakes. Make as many mistakes as you possibly can. Not only is learning from yourself can be the best teacher once you can become to embrace it. It can either make or break you. Perfection only exists in fantasy, in my opinion. If I were to have a ‘perfect’ day, then I wouldn’t want for it to end. Read more>>
Lakin
Ever since I was little, I have found myself drawn to spaces that just happen to be male-dominated. Sports were virtually always a big part of my life and that continued into my adult life. However, it was music that ultimately became my greatest passion. Read more>>
Kacie Anderson
I have always looked at every negative or uncomfortable situation as a challenge. When I’m placed in rooms where I am the only one that looks like me, I see it as my time to shine! No one is me regardless of what they look like, so I really try to own my unique perspective and I always exude confidence and self-assuredness by knowing myself and knowing what I bring to the table. Read more>>
Ashley Mitchell
Any room I walk into I always over prepare I move and speak with purpose. I understand that my point of view, experience and opinion is needed in these spaces. Regardless of how it is perceived i will be genuine and authentic. Read more>>
Shaun J Stone
I learned to be effective and successful, especially as the only one in the room who looks like me, through a combination of determination, continuous learning, and a commitment to inclusivity. It all started when I attended a continuing education event shortly after obtaining my mortgage loan origination license. In a room of over a hundred people, I noticed that there were only a handful who looked like me. Read more>>
LaKesha Veney
As a black women in the wine or speciality foods industry, I am the only one that looks like me on many occasions. I do not choose to focus on the color in the room, instead, I focus on my passion, purpose, and the opportunities in the room as I go around and introduce myself to as many as I can. I always feel there is something in a room that I need to know and I wont find out until I talk to people. I firmly live by the motto ” You learn something new everyday”. Read more>>
Jazmaine Norris
A motto I’ve learn to have is, “I just look like this”. Putting myself in rooms that speak louder than me has probably been the most unhinge yet exhilarating experiences thus far. I’m naturally an introvert, so my responses or approach with things can come off socially awkward. I try to fight that tight throat feeling with a confident handshake. While doing so I feel like it gives the acquaintance a sense of I’m small but mighty. I too deserve to be here. Speaking with knowledge when the opportunity presences itself and overall just being Jaz. Read more>>
Tracie Collins
I truly appreciate this question. Succeeding as the sole individual in a room who shares my unique background as a Black Woman has been a journey rooted in recognizing the richness of my distinct life experiences, education, and career path. Embracing the understanding that my perspective carries immense value has been pivotal. Consequently, my presence in environments like this is not only warranted but absolutely indispensable. Read more>>
Sunnie Ward
Being the only one in the room is not something new for me. Should it have been the norm? Absolutely not! I grew up in a small town where the demographic wasn’t very diverse and beginning my tech career in my early 20s as a Software Engineer was no different. I can even think back to college where I was maybe 1 of a handful of other Black people in my college classes, but for the most part, I was almost always the only Black woman at my PWI. Read more>>
Rochel Marie Lawson
Being the only African-American woman in the room, especially in the telecommunications installation industry, initially posed its own set of challenges. However, over time, I’ve realized that my uniqueness can be an advantage. Here’s how I’ve approached these situations and learned to be effective: Read more>>
Dr.Yeni Abraham
believe that once you’re “in the room” you deserve to be there even if you don’t have a reference point for anyone who has ever looked like you before. I see so many people shrink back when we are called to take up space. I can admit that taking up space has not always come naturally to me. Navigating feelings of inadequacy and the desire to find guidance often made me feel like I was “ready” for the opportunities that came my way. Read more>>
Kyza Williamson
I feel like I have always not played into culture or gender roles. Since I can remember I have been doing my own thing. I think when you are doing what makes you happy and you’re proud of the work you do, other issues that would affect other people just didn’t affect me. Read more>>
Ash Navaratnam
You have to fully understand your worth so you can internalize it & speak it into existence. As mundane as it sounds, if you don’t think what you have to bring to the table is valuable, then others won’t buy it. As a young Sri Lankan-New Zealand female entrepreneur, I am quite literally always certain that I will be the funkiest crayon in the box. Read more>>
Rhajaé Carroll
I was born and raised in Wyandotte County of Kansas City, Kansas. My family celebrated Kwanzaa as I was growing up and we played a big part in the “Know Thyself Festival” every year at Big Eleven Lake where super successful and local music artist, Janelle Monae, used to perform. I was raised to be proud of my cocoa buttered skin and kinky hair. The area that I grew up in began to change demographically and we became an area of Black and Latino students. Read more>>
Corissa Sutton
Before I became a real estate professional, community leader and business owner, I spent over 20 plus years climbing the corporate ladder working in banking, finance and financial crimes. I began working in banks when I was just seventeen years old, so I essentially grew up in the business and I was able to learn from the bottom up. In doing so, I have worked in many roles where I was the youngest person on the team, the only person of color on the team and/or sometimes the only woman in the department as well. Read more>>
Reggie Jackson, LSCSW
Many of the skills I need for this is confidence in oneself and self-awareness. I have to credit my parents and older brothers who instilled healthy self-worth and value into my personal belief system. My parents always encouraged all their kids to believe in themselves and to work hard. I believe when you have that as your foundation, you create a journey of being an individual who stands out for whatever reason in many environments. Read more>>
Yolanda Roary
I have learned to be successful being the only African-American woman in the room by gleaning. Entering a room does not always mean speaking. I have learned how to watch and listen carefully. I ask myself who can I learn from, what are they doing effectively, and how can I help? I am a firm believer that your gift will make room for you. When it’s my time, I know it. Read more>>
Delilah Jenkins
Navigating spaces where I am the only one who looks like me has been a significant aspect of my journey as a Puerto Rican woman of Taino, Spanish, and African heritage. Growing up in a multicultural family, where my mom is Puerto Rican and my father is African American, has given me a unique perspective on diversity and inclusion. To be effective and successful in such situations, I’ve learned the power of embracing my cultural identity while also emphasizing our shared humanity. Read more>>
Kiana V. Ware
Moving from a predominantly black county to a predominantly white county as a child started the pattern of resilience and taking up space that I still carry with me to this day. My grandmother, who I named my company after, always used to tell me ,”People will judge you from the moment you walk in the room, that’s why it’s important to always dress the part – whatever that part is to you. They will make their assumptions about you. But from the moment you open your mouth, you either prove them right or prove them wrong.” Read more>>
Play Simone
“I don’t have a twin”! Most people bear similarities exhibiting some of the same charscteristics as I come across them but our thought processes and patterns, and our beliefs, makes us all uniquely different. I lead with authenticity trusting myself to be me thus making it easy to work any room. My mantra is simple, “Be who you are”! Read more>>
Crystal Crisp-Wooden
I have learned to be effective/successful even when I was the only one in the room because as a child, I was literally the only one in the room!! Lol I was the only child raised by a single mom who worked constantly, I was left at home often so being alone was truly all I knew. So, as an adult I have always felt more effective alone. Read more>>
Kymberlin Martin
I choose to hone in on the fact that I am a unique individual that brings something unique and different to the table. Owning your uniqueness is one of the main reasons people choose you. I’ve applied this mindset to my own business and it’s brought me some of the best moments in my career. Never underestimate the power of you! Read more>>
Tonliya Ziyad
Being the only one in the room, the only one that looks like me? I’ve learned to be effective/successful in these scenes by being myself & not trying too hard to fit in. The fact that I’m the person standing out in the bunch. Knowing my power & genuinely loving who I am attracts people. Now I’ve turned the room into my room because I’m somewhere people don’t even pick them from. I’m always loud about who I am & fearless. Read more>>
Amy Schromm
That’s an excellent question! Many times, I’ve arrived on set as the sole woman, but once I immerse myself in my work, it doesn’t faze me at all. We’re all there to collaborate and deliver our best, and gender becomes a non-issue. These days, my team is wonderfully diverse, and we’re united by our shared passion for our craft and our commitment to delivering top-notch work Read more>>
Mia Rio
I don’t tend to focus on being the only one like me in the room. That matters very little to me. I am confident in who I am as a competent and intelligent individual. Validation or affirmation from others is, oftentimes, irrelevant to me so being the only one of my kind doesn’t intimidate me. If I am in the room, it is because I deserve to be there. I either belong in the room or I am there to bring about change. Read more>>
Tyler Sarter
To excel in environments where you might be the sole representative of your background, it’s crucial to consistently present your authentic self at its finest. Read more>>
Deon Robertson
Because of my fearlessness and my confidence, no matter what room I’m in I automatically know that I’m the best in that room when I walk in regardless of who’s there. Read more>>
Carmelisse
From a very young age, I’ve always felt out of place. I was born in the Philippines, but grew up in LA. I was neither Filipino enough nor American enough. So naturally, I knew that I had to work 10 times harder to prove my worth especially as an asian photographer in a predominantly white field. Read more>>
Cassidy Thiesen
My background and experience in retail + marketing is one that is all self-taught, hands-on, and service focused. I grew up in retail and have a very unique understanding on how my clients retail businesses operate and how we translate that into an online presence that works FOR them. It’s not very often a brand + website designer with the creative & technical genius that has an extensive history in retail too…. these 2 go hand in hand and my clients see that and value my expertise on both of these areas of their business. Read more>>
Glahnnia Rates
Being the only one in the room who looks like me has been a recurring experience throughout my career as an epidemiologist and as the President of the Black Community Health & Wellness Association (BCHWA). It’s a challenge I’ve learned to navigate with a combination of resilience, strategy, and a commitment to my mission. First and foremost, I’ve always believed that knowledge is power. Read more>>
Sunni T. Connor
I’ve learned to embrace who I am in any situation. It wasn’t always easy to remember that I was worthy of all I was destined to be. In many situations being the only black woman in a room was inspiring and if anyone in the room was uncomfortable it wasn’t me. As far as success is concerned, I’m my only competition. I am the only one who can hold myself back and try to remind myself that daily. Read more>>
Sakiyna Jones
In my college years, I had my first taste of “being the only one that looks like me” in a room, where my skin color didn’t quite match the crowd. I won’t deny that this often led to moments of self-doubt, making me question whether I truly belonged there. However, as time went by, I started to realize that I was in those places for a reason. Read more>>
China Givens
What I find works best in any room is being myself. I’m naturally a people person, but can sometimes come off somewhat shy at first because I like to be observant and I do think reading the room is always important. Outside of that, me exuding positivity, confidence in myself and what I’m there to do and letting everyone around me feel the good energy I put out into the environment that I’m in always works best for me. Read more>>
Steven Cuoco
Good question. Embracing being the only one in the room has been both a challenge and an opportunity for growth. I’ve learned to harness my confidence as a powerful tool. Confidence isn’t about being louder than others and believing in my abilities and contributions regardless of external perceptions. Read more>>
Elena Tushina
Being the only one in the room can be a challenging experience, especially when you are the only one who looks like you. It can be easy to feel isolated, misunderstood, and even intimidated. However, it is important to remember that you are not alone. There are many people who have successfully navigated this experience, and there are things you can do to be effective and successful even when you are the only one in the room. Read more>>
The Tia Bolden
People will give up on you every day, you just have to make sure you’re not one of those people. This profession has taught me that nothing is guaranteed, everything is earned. The people ate the top are not there by accident. God gave us two hands to work, not to wait for handouts and the only place success comes before work is in the dictionary. Read more>>
Dylan Dent
Growing up, I was a black homeschooler in southwest Virginia. So being the only person that looked like me was basically the standard experience. One things I found to be most effective for navigating those space was having a strong sense of self. When you really know who you are and what you’re about, you aren’t as reliant on seeing yourself reflected in your environment. I know my skill set, I know my worth. That knowledge allows me to walk with confidence no matter what room I find myself in. Read more>>
