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.
Vicky Mo
If you’re the only one different in the room, you have something unique to give. Like your culture or your perspective. So own that. Read More>>
Kaitlynn Rosier Tefft
As a young female chiropractor, I am almost always one of few in the room. Actually, in Michigan, only 30 percent of chiropractors are women. I started my first job at a practice where I was not only the only female chiropractor, but the first one they have ever hired since opening- 70 years ago. Read More>>
Dan Quisol
Living in the South as a half-Filipino, half-Puerto Rican male, I’ve always had a hard time fitting in. Most social circles down here are predominantly Black, White, or Hispanic, and I don’t speak Spanish. In addition to the ethnic differences, I often find myself being the youngest person in the group. Read More>>
Tijera Wright
Being the only one in the room that looks like me used to feel intimidating, but over time, it became my strength. I’ve learned to walk into every space whether it’s a corporate building or a local business event knowing that I deserve to be there. That confidence didn’t come overnight, though. Read More>>
DeeDee Hawk
I am an Energy Alchemist—and when I reflect on my life, I realize I’ve always been one. An Energy Alchemist, as it applies to Hawk Healing Hands, is someone who listens beyond words and transforms the unseen. I work with energy the way a sculptor works with clay—shifting heaviness into harmony, chaos into calm, and disconnection into understanding. Read More>>
Ashton Ryan
I stopped trying to fit in and started focusing on standing firm. Being the only one in the room taught me how to read the energy, adapt when needed and still stay true to myself. It’s not about being loud for attention — it’s about being as loud as you need to be when it’s authentic, when it carries your truth. Read More>>
Jerry St Louis
As a Black, Queer, Cisgender male therapist, I’m often reminded that my very presence in certain rooms is an act of resistance and representation. There aren’t many people who look like me in this field, and that reality has fueled my commitment to be what I once didn’t see. I’ve learned that effectiveness often starts with authenticity. Read More>>
Kaley Cho
Working in the game industry as a Technical Artist, I am often the only female Asian immigrant in the room, and at times, the only woman entirely. People sometimes underestimate me because I don’t fit the stereotype of someone working in a highly technical field. I learned not to take that personally. Instead, I focused on doing great work and letting results speak for themselves. Read More>>
Lena Teva
For much of my career, especially in the promotional modeling and trade-show industry, I was often the only one in the room who looked or sounded like me. Being a foreigner, having a slight accent, and working in the competitive environment of Las Vegas made me stand out immediately. Early on, I worried that these differences would make people question whether I belonged. Read More>>
Leesa Kadirah
Being the only black person in a room happens way too often then anyone would want it to. I have gotten used to the fact that that could happen. From elementary school to my acting class last week, I’ve learned that I am already different so why not embrace it. I’ve learned to speak up when I need to be a team player. Read More>>
John Hall
There have been many times when I’ve walked into a room and quickly realized I was the only one who looked like me. At first, that feeling could be intimidating, wondering if my voice would be heard or if I truly belonged. But over time, I learned to see those moments not as disadvantages, but as opportunities to represent something bigger than myself. Read More>>
Kylar Wiltz
In any space and in all capacities, I’ve always held the mindset that if I am in a room where I am the only person that looks like me, I have a duty to be a voice for those who aren’t there. Read More>>
Matt Koziol
I had a very valuable lesson taught to me when I was about 15. I was starting to play shows locally and writing songs. I was doing my best to emulate my hero’s. I would play guitar like them, and sing like them. So around that time, I was given the opportunity to record a demo. Read More>>
Carri Degenhardt
That’s such an interesting question. My whole life I have been the only one in the room who looks like me. I was adopted at six months old in Rochester NY from a Planned Parenthood. I guess it’s always been that way so I know nothing different. When I was on Wall Street the majority of the advisors and clients i had were men. Read More>>
Yare Matos
The opportunity to be a small piece in the greater puzzle of life is truly a blessing. Standing out or being perceived as different naturally draws attention, and I’ve learned to use that as an opportunity rather than a setback. Overcoming feelings of impostor syndrome and self-doubt is a constant challenge, but I’ve found that confidence comes from preparation, authenticity, and consistency. Read More>>
Marick Lewaii
Living in Puerto Rico, both locals and people who visit the island have a certain type of image of what they expect a Porto Rican would look like and apparently for most, I don’t necessarily fall in that category. Not saying this just because of my afro descendance because, there are legendary ‘afro-Boricuas’ that are well known like: Roberto Clemente, Ismael Rivera (Maelo), etc. Read More>>
olive zhang
For me, being an artist has always meant making a choice. You can create something people will love, or something you will love. If you choose the first, you live for recognition. If you choose the second, you live for truth. You turn those strange thoughts in your head into something real. You work alone, but that’s where the real magic begins. Read More>>
Keshay ‘Xslumpd’ Jeffries
I’ve learned that questioning why you’re the only person in the room who looks like you only creates limits where none should exist. With time, I’ve developed the ability to adapt to my environment and focus on my goals with clarity and intention. My work ethic and belief system guide me through every space I enter and it’s never without purpose. Read More>>
Tianna Mick
I’ve learned to turn what some people might call my “disadvantages” into my biggest competitive edge. In the automotive industry, being the only woman in the room isn’t uncommon; it’s the standard. Early on, I realized that instead of trying to blend in, I could stand out by being exactly who I am. Read More>>
Frank Oakley III
I’ve learned to be effective and successful in the room (despite being the only one there who looks like me) by embracing who I am. Outside of the neighborhood I grew up in, I’ve worked in predominantly white spaces. Read More>>
Tyrone Russell
What’s helped me to be more effective has been shifting my focus from the isolation of being “the only one” to the opportunity it represents. My approach is based on two principles: always assuming best intent and recognizing my being there is an invitation for others. Read More>>
