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.
Phoenix Sohl
In navigating environments where I stood out due to my identity as a woman of color and a free thinker, my journey towards success was anchored in embracing my differences with courage. Being the only one who looked like me often meant confronting perceptions and expectations. Read more>>
Tiana Littlejohn
I’ve never let anyone play with my potential. When my parents divorced; My mom, my sister and I moved in with my grandparents. I had to switch schools and I ended up at a predominantly white school. I survived middle school but once I got to high school I encountered something that always sticks with me. Read more>>
Rick Stojak
I’m not the tallest guy you’ll find in a room. Actually, I’m usually the shortest. Of course growing up this way was a little uncomfortable at times as I was overweight as well. What I quickly found out as far back as middle school is that my appearance didn’t matter as long as I accepted myself. I found that if I asked people questions about their lives and shifted the focus to them, then people would open up to me. Read more>>
Leah Frazier
It’s not easy to be “the only one” in the room, and at times it can be discouraging. However, if and when you’re operating out of purpose, sometimes your role is to be the only person or voice in the room, so that you can break down the doors for those who are to come behind you. Read more>>
Tanya Fuller
I have a deep reverence for humanity and the many ways we traverse the human experience. I believe each of us are doing our best with the awareness we have in the moments of internal choice and decision. So I do my best to live from my heart in authenticity, humility, and vulnerability. When we speak from the heart and listen from the heart, we are most effective because this is where our truest essence is illuminated. And we must celebrate and share what we are here to share! Read more>>
Josh Holm
I’ve always felt like my differences became my superpowers. I’m very proud to be Black and Korean representing both of my cultures hopefully in the best way possible. I think a lot of modern influence has come from both of these cultures, especially within the progression of fashion and trends. Using my uniqueness and moving in these rooms as if I belong, because I do, have helped tremendously in my artistic journey and ventures. Read more>>
Allison Young
As a jazz musician, I’m typically the only woman in the room. Frequently, I’m also the only person under 30 (I’m 23). Though there is lots of work being done to change this and highlight this gender imbalance in the field, it’s still an issue that every female jazz musician I know faces on a daily basis. Read more>>
Olivia Lawrence
I think it’s very important to stay true to yourself. Growing up in school kids were always pointing out that I was the minority. They would say things like “ You’re pretty for a black girl“ or would point out that I was well spoken for a black girl “ this used to infuriate me because people use my skin color too passively aggressively give me backhanded compliments. There is such diversity in being Black. I celebrate it. How I speak included. Read more>>
Shyne Webster
I’ve been in multiple spaces where I’m the only person in the room that looks like me- whether that means being the only woman, the only Black person [let alone Black woman], or even the only teenager in the early years of my business and career. My attitude is this: I may be the first (or only), but I’m determined not to be the last. Read more>>
Mike Miller
I can say that as someone who is currently in different ways alone, it does have it’s challenges. When you are single and are alone, you live with a lot of dreams longing to achieve and to fill places in your life that are currently missing. On a personal level, it has not been easy as I have had to deal with a lot obstacles that I have had to struggle with over the years including my own housing which has been practically far from stable in ways. Read more>>
Ishmael Mayhew
There have been many instances when I am the only one in the room that looks like me, especially throughout my career and in business. I think the most important thing to me is to consistently remind myself that I deserve to be there and I am the beginning of so many others who look like me being where they deserve. Read more>>
BRUNA VALENTE
We are all different. And we are all people. I’m a first generation immigrant woman, and cancer survivor. And in my journey so far, I see more and more that the real growth, the lightbulb moments, the sparks happen when we learn how to connect beyond our differences. I’ve worked in industrial manufacturing and construction where I was the only woman walking the job sites, and have been to oncology hospitals where I was the youngest in the room. Read more>>
Octavia Cohen
To be the only person in the room who looks like me requires being a listener in order to discern and directed if that’s room I am supposed to enter in the first place! Being bald with and on purpose, it was mandatory to heal and overcome any and all low self-confidence and esteem that I have personally experienced by surrendering (getting out of my own way) to the Creator…to be a vessel and a beacon of light for people who experience Alopecia undercover and out loud, as well as for people who experience personal challenges. Read more>>
Sandra Hardy
I believe my years in the military taught me how to be a critical thinker, confident, and strong leader. During my years in the military, I was sometimes the only woman in the room of men. In a space were women were not seen as equivalent to men, I had to lead with authority and confidence. I studied the military regulations to ensure that I was always prepared to be challenged on my knowledge and demand respect for my authority. Read more>>
Eva Barrientos
Being different can be intimidating, and sometimes discouraging. Highlighting the uneven playing field. The longer I am in the industry I have seen more immigrant children take the leap and begin their own businesses. This makes us unique and opens the door for new opportunities. Read more>>
Princess Eulogia
Since I was a little girl, I knew that there was more to who I was even though I wasn’t always confident in myself. I spent a lot of time judging and overanalyzing who I thought I was. As I got older, I started to become more acknowledged by individuals that I held in high regard and that slowly started to validate my thoughts and curiosities. Read more>>
Kimberly Leckie
Simply put, when I’m the only one who looks like me in a room, I zero in on why I’m there, not how I’m different from everyone else. It’s pretty common for me to be the youngest person or the only female, but unless I’m specifically representing my age group or gender, it’s not the focus. The key for me is not to veer off from the main point—I’m in the room to contribute something specific. Read more>>
Kenni Kaufman
It took a long time to feel comfortable and able to hold my own in rooms/meetings, especially in rooms/meetings where I thought I was the only one who looked like me. Over the years, I’ve come to understand that my previous experiences are valuable and have learned to embrace, understand, and own my narrative so that it works for me in any situation or room that I’m in. Read more>>
JAE RAMOS
Learning to be comfortable with the uncomfortable is one of the keys to growth. Of course as a kid going into a predominantly white high school not knowing anyone, made me feel different and for many years led me to simply accept being the “token brown guy.” Read more>>
Lana Drincic
As a music student who has grown up in the jazz education system, I’ve frequently been the only woman in a class full of musicians. As a musician stepping foot in the jazz scene outside of school, I’ve also frequently been the only woman at gigs or jam sessions. Read more>>
LA Laura Paris
Never give up on your dreams. Dreams are like a car if you stop putting gas in it it will eventually stop. So you have to continue believing everyday in your dreams. You’ll eventually arrive at your destination. Don’t need to know how to get there but only where you want to go and let the universe guide you. Read more>>
Tania Robles
Always add value! In most cases, I am the only one in the room that looks like me, however, it is my differences that provides a unique perspective to my client. It seems to be what they like most about working with me. My work ethic is unmatched, I go above and beyond to create solutions and over deliver each time. It doesn’t hurt that I love what I do and it shows in their customer experience but to answer this question, always add value, when you can’t fit in… STAND OUT!!! Read more>>
LaTasha Woods
Many times this means the rules of success are somewhat different than they are for others. I have learned through experience, that being uncomfortable is an advantage, as it has been key in pushing me to be innovative and always a high performer. Read more>>
Candice Simmons
Overtime, I have learned to value and respect the responsibility that comes with being the only one in room. I do realize there is a risk and reward to learning into our individual voice and perspective and to be honest when we are early in our career it can feel like the risk is far greater than the reward. Read more>>
Mai Yap
Being an artist is already very difficult but being a Chinese artist in Miami is even more so. Miami is known to be the closest “country” to be United States where we find a true melting pot of multiple nationalities but very few Asians. Read more>>
Dot O
By Being Thyself One thing I’ve learned is that being yourself gets you in so many more conversation and worthwhile relations. Someone seeing me dance like a goof is genuinely interested in that aspect of me. So same way in my music, business inquiries , romantic relations. Read more>>
Dr. Kebar Yodhhewawhe
In most rooms, I find myself being the only one who looks like me. I never really had to ‘learn’ how to succeed because I often am qualified or overqualified. However, as a Black American woman, I lead with the perspective to take up space and show why I not only belong but excel in this space and hope to open the door for more people of diverse backgrounds. Read more>>
Dr. Joy Gray
Ya’at’hee (Hello in Navajo)! I am a Navajo woman born into a non-native world. I like to say that I was Native American before being Native American became cool. My father is full-blood Navajo, and my mother is full-blood Dutch. I know what it feels like to be “the only one in the room that looks like me”. Even with my cousins, I didn’t look like my Navajo family, nor did I look like my Dutch family. Let alone the idea of being born a Gen-X and working my way through Corporate America in a “man’s world”. Read more>>
