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.

Excel Ansong

Navigating rooms where I am the only one who looks like me has been both a challenge and an opportunity for growth. In these situations, I’ve learned to draw strength from my unique perspective and experiences, recognizing the value they bring to the table. Read more>>

Misha Hill

Embarking on this journey, I’ve come to realize that diversity is not just a metric to aim for; it’s an endless reservoir of new perspectives and innovation. Being the sole African American professional in numerous spaces, my experience has unfolded as a profound lesson in resilience and influence. Read more>>

Deuce Young

As Deuce Young, I’ve learned to navigate spaces where I’m the only one who looks like me by drawing on the resilience I gained from facing adversity in a racist part of the U.S. during my formative years.  Read more>>

Janice Thompson

Many would say that I have several things working against me: I’m single, and I’m self-employed. As a work-from-home writer, it might be tempting to hang out in my PJs all day and stream movies instead of working, but I was born with an inner drive that just won’t quit. It propels me forward, day in and day out.Read more>>

Didley Delpeche

I learned that being prepared and knowing what the ultimate goal that is trying to be achieved helps to bring everyone together. Success has no race, gender, nationality, or sexuality. So being able to focus on the similarities and what is needed to achieve the common goal is what it most important. Read more>>

Enjoli Villa

I have learned to be effective/successful by coming prepared and staying open minded. If I have insight to what the room is about, I will come ready with my information and point of view in order to feel fully confident and prepared to have potentially challenging conversations. If I am not aware of what the room will be discussing, I enter with an open mind to soak in the information currently available, ask meaningful questions and begin to develop a point of view for next steps in the short vs. long term. Read more>>

Roberta Ndlela

I grew up in apartheid South Africa, which ended when I was 18 years old in 1994. My first corporate job was in 1995. Most big corporations had no Black talent until then. We were the first generation in even some of the professions the Black population was barred from participating in. Read more>>

Abiodun Koya

First, I have grown into being confident in who I am, my purpose, and mission. Without the confidence forming the basis of my foundation, I am unable to be successful in anything. With confidence as part of my root, I am able to walk into a room and be successful at anything that is required of me. Confidence on the inside breeds success on the outside. Read more>>

Juniel Maldonado

Growing up, it wasn’t very often that I was surrounded by other queer people, once I came to States and started experiencing more openly queer individuals it was typically white queer individuals. I have learned to navigate this beautiful intersectionionality of being a queer boricua, or as I like say “bori-queer”, by implementing it in my art as well as celebrating it when no one else will.  Read more>>

Gina Kim

I was sitting in a jury pool and the judge asked what my occupation was. I replied that I was an acupuncturist, and immediately, everyone in the courtroom stopped what they were doing to look at me. That’s a pretty typical response when I tell people what I do.  Read more>>

Al McRae

My career in the wealth management industry has given me several opportunities to be successful even when I have been the only one in the room that looks like me. I began as an investment portfolio manager, and that profession was not as diverse at the time (18 years ago).  Read more>>

Menka Desai

There are two sides to this question for me. I was born and raised in India, a country heavily steeped in culture and traditions. Those traditions put a lot of pressure to walk the well worn path like everybody has done a million times before me.  Read more>>

Phoenix

Even though, I do not have any crazy body modifications, or strange features about me, I have always stood out in crowds and different places I would go to. When I was younger not fitting in made me feel really uncomfortable, and I vividly remember one day saying to myself “I know I am not for everyone…. and THANK GOD for that!”  Read more>>

Joi Purvy

When you’re the only person that looks like you in the room, you’re hyper-visible. It’s a feeling that is often extremely uncomfortable and daunting, but I’ve learned to leverage the “spotlight” so to speak. No matter what you do, there will always be a preconceived notion about the type of person you’re going to be when you meet them, especially when you’re the only one in the room that looks like you. Read more>>

Kaushay Ford

Living and working in Utah I’m often one of the only, if not the only, Black person in the room pretty often. It can feel overwhelming and nerve-wracking feeling like all eyes are on you as the “different” person in the room.  Read more>>

Rose Athime

Title: Thriving as the Lone Trailblazer: Navigating Success as the Only One in the Room Introduction: Being the only person who looks like you in a room can be empowering and challenging. Whether you are a woman surrounded by men, a person of color in a professional setting, or an introvert in an extroverted group, navigating such situations requires resilience, adaptability, and a strong sense of self. Read more>>

Sassy Mohen

I’ll start by stating that the film industry has improved greatly regarding parity for female filmmakers. However, there is still a long way to go. This question makes me think of when I started pre-production on my first feature film, Happy Holidays (happyholidaysfilm.com.) I was a junior film student at Chapman University, and in the two years prior, I’d started slowly realizing that I wasn’t getting the same opportunities as my male counterparts. Read more>>

Dijia Chen

As a Chinese person in Atlanta, there’s a good chance I’ll be the only Chinese face. But that’s no reason for me not to show my charisma. Being the only one in the room has taught me the importance of confidence in my abilities and ideas. In such situations, I focus on being assertive yet respectful, ensuring that my voice is heard while also actively listening to others. Read more>>

Chanelle T. Molina

That’s an interesting question. I have an extensive background in the hospitality industry. I’ve worked in the busiest restaurant in the world. I’ve baked for some high stakes guests, like literal princesses and the like. Worked the line in some really intense places. Being a woman was a huge hurdle in a kitchen full of men (even on the pastry side). Read more>>

Aika Takeshima

This is all thanks to my mother, who never values the same things as others. Since I was small, I’ve heard her say she doesn’t like major fashion brands because it means you’re wearing the same thing as many others.  Read more>>

MéShyia Bradshaw

Growing up, I struggled to accept the way I looked. I was bullied for simply not looking like other kids around me, because of this I developed and was diagnosed with depression and anxiety amid the Covid-19 pandemic.  Read more>>

Shanae Brown

For nearly a decade, I’ve had to operate in rooms where I was the only—the only woman, the only Black woman, and sometimes the only person of color. One of the things that has helped me navigate these rooms is knowing that everyone in the room is my peer. If we are all sitting at the same table, that tells me we are peers and I belong in the same room as my peers. Read more>>

Nova Krasner

Through my brand, I hope to break stereotypes and ways of thinking we”ve imagined within the industry. I feel like a lot fo Gen-Z is on the same page with that regarding their work and how they go about their work ethic. But for me, I want to bring a new energy to fashion and to the table in general, and I’ve always acted on that even before I came a designer. Read more>>

Leticia Reyes-James

First of all, it helps that I love to laugh and am not shy around people. Further, I make it a point to ask a lot of questions of others rather than talk about myself. As the conversation progresses and I get to reveal more of my thoughts, I make sure to show that I’ve listened by relating to something they previously mentioned.  Read more>>

Jessica Pienta

I have felt this first hand in a variety of moments throughout my life. The main point I would like to share in being successful even when you are the only one in the room that looks like you – is to be bold. In college, I often felt like the “outsider” as I always dressed differently, thought differently, and walked through life with a different outlook than my roommates and peers. Read more>>

Sherry Schaefer

I used to cut hair. Now I sell it. The transition began 24 years ago, when I was a busy hairdresser with an ironic condition: I suddenly developed alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin disease where the body’s immune system attacks healthy hair follicles.  Read more>>

Sierrah Blade

Confidence plays a pivotal role, particularly in a male-dominated industry where I inevitably stand out. Despite encountering numerous critics and naysayers over the years, I have committed myself to becoming the best that I can be for my business, clients, and personal growth. Read more>>

Victoria Walling

Standing out can be scary, but guess what? It’s also your superpower. As a Filipina immigrant in the US myself, I totally get that feeling of being the only one who looks like you in the room. But here’s the thing: our unique experiences make us incredible storytellers (it’s practically in our DNA!). Read more>>

Wanya Goodgain

Being the only one in the room can present unique challenges, especially when you stand out due to your appearance, background, or identity. However, there are several strategies that I employ to be effective and successful in such situations. Read more>>

Lady A

We learn from birth how to navigate in a world that still to this day sometimes does not see us. So I suppose my answer following all that I was taught as a child from my mother is I’ve learned through self-confidence; believing in myself and what I bring to the table.  Read more>>

Marco Ruiz

Many teachers and roles model throughout my life have taught me to alway exceed at whatever I would do. Since I was very young I was always different from everybody else because of this way of thinking and for actually caring about been better or the best I could be. Read more>>

Brionna Ottē

I’ve learned to be successful even when I’m the only one in the room who looks like me by going for what I want. Usually, whatever goal I have serves as my North Star, and when I focus on making progress in that direction, I don’t spend much energy focusing on the adversity. It also helps that I’m pretty comfortable in many situations where others may find discomfort. Read more>>

Dr. Karen Semien-McBride

Navigating spaces where I’m the only one who looks like me has been a journey of profound growth and resilience. It’s a narrative not just of overcoming, but of transforming perceived barriers into stepping stones for leadership and influence. Read more>>

Dorian Serrano-Barron, M.S.

Leaning into my authenticity organically and without judgment for myself was my leading energy as I ventured into being comfortable with me. When I accepted myself 110% no matter what the circumstance was, I felt confident and excited to do what I do best, which was simply to live as real as me.  Read more>>