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.
Ashley Prudhomme
Network! That’s the key. I’ve always been the friendly one in the room, shaking hands with everyone. I believe people miss out on so many opportunities in life being afraid to speak up and step out. You never know what paths you may cross if you don’t put yourself out there. Read more>>
Fayro
As a biracial artist, I often find myself as the only person of color in the room. But I’ve learned to use this to my advantage, drawing on my diverse cultural background to create unique and innovative music. My experiences in the military, surviving a helicopter crash, and navigating the music industry have taught me resilience, determination, and the importance of networking. Read more>>
Andrea Harris
This question is thickly layered for me. When one reads this question, they may think of gender, sex, race or culture. I think of a young girl, now a woman who navigated the early years of her life in the light of her family’s name but lived in the shadows of society’s themes and ideas. Read more>>
Hollow
This one is pretty easy to answer. So ever since I started making music music I made was different than what everybody else is doing down here. While everyone else was talking about the real life aspects of hustling and trappin I took the liberty of talking about the real life issues of mental illness, suicide and death. From there I transformed my style into something unique in my area. I’ve always stuck out like a sore thumb so I guess you can say I’m used to it. Read more>>
Wimalin Pantawangoon
It might sound like I’ve been living in a bubble or my little world, but I’ve been trying not to compare myself with others and only focus on what I’m doing. I’ve been trying to listen to only constructive comments and those with good intentions and try to make improvements. Read more>>
Grant Ray
Now this is a loaded question Lol… We can reference all the way back to my childhood for this one. Since the beginning I was always the “ONLY” one of my kind in every room for one reason or another, the main one being that I was an obese child. No matter where I went I was the heaviest in the room and was ridiculed relentlessly for it. Being biracial with a white mother and black father who died in my childhood put me further in that awkward space in most situations in my life. Read more>>
Jimmy Urciuoli
Being a queer community leader in a small Tennessee city has come with feelings of isolation. Though there are many progressive minds & allies in Chattanooga, our LGBTQ+ community is small and decentralized. In years past, I have attempted to diminish my queerness by presenting more masculine, both as a measure of safety and likability. Read more>>
Yahya Alshawi
First and foremost, it’s critical to have self-assurance in your skills and abilities. Regardless of your race, gender, or any other distinguishing characteristics, you have just as much of a place in that room as everyone else. Have confidence in your abilities and yourself. Read more>>
Jermany Coney
I am always confident in who I am and what I have to bring to the table. I know my worth and I’m not afraid to be myself. I’m always open to learning from others and I strive to have a positive attitude. Energy is real and people can sense it. Good people bring good energy and I think people can feel that when I’m in the room, whether they realize it or not. Read more>>
Anthony Lewis
To achieve success as the only one in the room who looks like you, it’s important to embrace and accept your uniqueness. Although it can be challenging to not have someone who shares the same interests and appearance as you, this should be used as a motivation to prove yourself to others. I also take the initiative to learn beyond what is taught in class which is another key factor in achieving getting ahead of everyone, and staying on top of your game. By doing so, I can stay ahead of the game and demonstrate my eagerness to learn. It’s also crucial to remember my purpose and why I’m doing what I do. Read more>>
Sabrina Mar
At the start of my career in television, I didn’t know many other AAPI producers and I didn’t think much about being the “only one in the room”. Up to that point, my super power had always been a strong work ethic. But over many years in entertainment, I realized that just working hard and leading by example wasn’t enough to make me feel truly successful. As part of an underrepresented group in my industry, I wanted to provide opportunities for others like myself. I strongly believe that a successful leader is inclusive and provides a diverse work environment. Representation matters behind the cameras, as well as in front of, and makes for better content and productivity. Read more>>
