Being Effective Even When No One Else is Like You

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.

Julius Pearson

When It comes to being in a room where I clearly stand out, i just focus on what I want out of that opportunity. How can this, me being in this room give me resource’s to reach my business goals and needs. I am a young African American man, so stereotypes and assumptions is a day to day for me, there is always an awkward energy sometimes when I am attending certain meetings so being there early and the first one there is very essential for me so I dont walk in and all eyes are on me.  Read more>>

Skye Becker-Yamakawa

Hosting the Off The Easel podcast, enables us to interview artists as well as discuss different topics about surviving life as a working artist. The amount of knowledge and experience gained from reaching out to different artists and embracing them taught me to focus and organize myself. By focusing on a niche market, understanding my why, and connecting with others, a reputation and name evolved. Read more>>

Nova Necrophiliac

A friend of mine once referred to me as “the most popular outcast” and it has resonated with me ever since. A lot of the principles I stand for today have often been looked upon with distaste, and I’m here to prove that idea completely wrong. Read more>>

Sasha Ono

Such a cliché, but fake it until you make it! I had lots of practice, growing up in a predominantly wealthy and white neighborhood I experienced a lot of racism and other-isms. I went from trying to just blend into the background and aiming to be as invisible as possible, to developing enough confidence to be myself no matter what the circumstance. Read more>>

Miles Hendrickson

Embracing my multiracial identity, I’ve learned to leverage my unique perspective as a strength rather than a challenge. By valuing diversity across all aspects of my life, I bring a wealth of experiences and insights to the table. I focus on effective communication, building alliances, and fostering an inclusive environment. Read more>>

Rodney Shepherd

In my profession, more times than not, I’m typically the only black person in the room and/or the only male in the room. I choose not to focus on the obvious. Instead, I understand that my race and gender are people’s first impression of me and that’s important. However, what’s more important is that I leave a lasting impression.  Read more>>

Meghan Hogrefe

This question is an interesting question because I would want to answer ” I rely on my knowledge and well thought out process so that the way I look isn’t relevant”. The fact is, the way you look is always relevant, It takes an average of 7 seconds to make an impression. So you have 7 seconds, to be reviewed on various aspects such as a serious working woman, or a minority woman, a woman that is making a decision, a woman that is viewed as good looking, or different looking, or one can insert any physical description. Read more>>

Jordiana Chevalier

Being Dominican and having big curly hair I am no stranger to standing out in rooms. I choose to look at me being in a room where I am the only one who looks like me as a blessing. Me standing out forces me to embrace my uniqueness, and this visibility serves as a magnet for luck and opportunities to find me. I show up fully embracing that standing out is a gift, and that having the spotlight on me just opens more doors for personal success, as well as my mere presence signifies breaking barriers and opening doors for others who might follow behind me. Read more>>

Evette Jackson

Hey there! Being the only one in the room has taught me a lot about resilience and staying true to myself. In the world of handmade jewelry, where creativity knows no bounds, it’s essential to embrace uniqueness. I’ve learned to value my perspective, appreciate my journey, and let my passion for crafting beautiful, hypoallergenic pieces shine through. Read more>>

Vanessa Vining

As a black lesbian woman in the marketing and advertising industry, my journey has been both challenging and rewarding. Starting my career in a small general market agency in my hometown of Chicago, where I was the only black person for seven years, I often found myself as the only one in the room who looks like me. This experience has not only tested my resilience but also strengthened it. Read more>>

Cicely Jones

Being a young black female curator, I have learned that my voice is influential and needed in the spaces that I enter. As a young person in the Arts I bring a fresh perspective of what new concepts and ideas matter most to the climate of our nation. Mental health, self-care, and interpersonal relationships are just a few areas in which I plan to change the narrative that most of America sees young people as.  Read more>>

Jordan Qin

I’ve long learned that the stories I want to tell, at the surface, are niche ones. When directing a film, the stories I write aren’t always universal events. I like to focus on telling queer female-led stories, which aren’t usually Hollywood’s main audience. However, at the core, I like to remember that every story is universal. Human emotions transcend gender, sexuality, and language. Read more>>

Bee Johnson

I’ve been one of the only ones in the room that look like me since high school and college. I’m surprisingly used to this dynamic. Growing up in Northern Indiana’s public education system, the higher the level of education I received, the less people would look like me.  Read more>>

Dr. Brandy Archie

When I decided to become an occupational therapist and looked at its landscape, I quickly realized I was going to be the only Black person most of the time. But being comfortable wasn’t the goal – becoming a doctor was. So I went in to school with that goal in mind.  Read more>>

Nyah Anderson

This is a very frequent occurrence because people that look like me are not consistently exposed, welcomed, or leading artistic and or professional opportunities, therefore these rooms are sparsely populated with us and inevitably perpetuating this sad cycle of “onlyness.” We often find ourselves climbing through the window and shimmying down the fire escape to gain equal opportunity to advance. But I am currently in a season of creating my own door and inviting people to walk in behind me. Read more>>

Omar Castanon

I find strength in knowing that I bring a unique perspective that not only represents those with a similar background to me, but may also help bring positive attention to others with a similar background to me. Somebody has to be the first to walk through a door so that others may follow. Read more>>

DJ Arie Spins

I’m on a mission to be the best version of myself, and I’ve found that the key to success and being effective is to focus on my growth, without getting sidetracked by comparisons to others. I challenge myself every day, pushing my limits and tracking my progress. While I’m inspired by the achievements of others, I stay true to my unique journey. Read more>>

Tiffany Bourne

Being in spaces where you stand out as an individual can be very intimidating. When I first began exploring the real world, I recall being in situations where I did not even feel comfortable interacting with anyone that did not look like me. However, as I have gotten older and more secure with who I am as a person, I have noticed that being the outlier is actually an advantage. When you are given the spotlight, you will be naturally intriguing to others.  Read more>>

Victoria Agulla Tagle

Trying to connect with my inner self, asking myself what I want my life to be like, what I am really passionate about, where I want to live, how I can contribute to the world, which values​ make me who I am, what memory I leave in others, who I surround myself with, when I am able to express myself. So, when the answers are according to my desires, that’s when I learn what success is. Read more>>

David Heymann

I think no matter the situation, most people truly know whether something is right/wrong, perfect/not quite right, etc. The real questions are you going to address the issue, or just let it go because maybe it’s close enough or you just aren’t sure of how to properly fix it. Read more>>

Stephanie Ngo

Society teaches you to fit in. Entrepreneurship teaches you to use your uniqueness to your advantage. I was born to a Vietnamese mother and an American father. Growing up as a mixed Vietnamese-American kid in the Bay Area in the 90’s, no one else looked like me, and I didn’t fit in anywhere. I had plenty of Vietnamese friends, yet only knew a select few half-Vietnamese kids like myself. Read more>>

Adam Harris

When I enter spaces where I may be the only one who looks like me, I remind myself that I am not alone. There is an African philosophy known as “Ubuntu,” which means I am because we are, and we are because I am. Similarly, it was the late Dr. Maya Angelou who said, “When you walk into a room, you take everybody with you.” Read more>>

Mel Kay

Immigrating from a different country has been a challenge & culture shock is real. I find that the thing that helps me most is finding the areas of similarities instead of focusing on the differences that divide us. We are all human after all & in that there is comfort. Read more>>

Demi George

I’ve learned that it is so important to hold your ground and to be open to other’s viewpoints, but not let that diminish my strengths. It taught me to stand up more as a leader and to own my abilities. I do not care what others think, and I am proud of my hardworking abilities. And if I am in a networking setting where others around do not have the same mindset, I am very grateful for the opportunity to stand up and lead by example. I use my confidence to emulate that we all could be doing more for the community and the world. Read more>>

Jennifer Lanne

I’ve found that the things in life I’m most drawn to are the unique and authentic. People and things that aren’t afraid to be themselves with reckless abandon and without shame. It’s truly refreshing. So it’s a no-brainer to apply that logic to myself and my style. Truth be told, I only know how to do things the way I do in regards as my design and creative. Any other way would be unnatural and and forcing it. Read more>>

Devin Ann Griffin-White

The way that I learned to be effective/successful even when I am the only one in the room that looks like me is to be me! I am perfectly created the way God intended for me to be (possibly not with all the tattoos though, lol) If I am in the room that means that God placed me in that room for a specific reason! I do not believe that things happen my circumstance I believe that everything happens with reason!  Read more>>

Savannah Carroll

In most classes I have had I am one of or the only Black person in the class. Looking around and not seeing any familiar faces, leaving me feeling isolated and in search of a community. After coming to terms with these thoughts, I turned to my work to find a community. The individuals I photograph, while we may not be close, I think of as my spiritual community. This community that I’ve crafted for myself provides me with a safe space that I felt I was lacking in reality. Read more>>

Samantha Luraschi

Being the only one in the room who looks different can definitely be challenging, but it’s all about embracing your uniqueness and staying true to yourself. Confidence and self-belief go a long way in any situation. Remember, your worth and abilities are not defined by how you look. Stay focused on your goals and let your personal talents shine through! It’s important to recognize that diversity brings different perspectives and ideas to the table.  Read more>>

Farah Lauret

Growing up I was always the one who stood out and really did not fit in. As a child I was outspoken, creative, positive and extremely ambitious. As a young immigrant moving to Canada, I was made fun of and bullied, but I advocated for myself. I learned how to adapt to change and how to be resilient. I was determined to go to nursing school and make my parents proud. Nursing school was also a challenge with not one faculty looking like me. Read more>>