What do you do when no one else in the company or the meeting looks like you? We asked entrepreneurs and creatives from across industries and geographies to share their experiences and advice.
Jana Spillers
As an NP practicing in both lactation and pediatric integrative medicine, I’m often the only person like me in any given place. Many people are unfamiliar with lactation services, integrative medicine and nurse practitioner care. I often find myself educating on the benefits of breastfeeding and holistic nurse practitioner care. Once patients receive lactation services and meet their breastfeeding goals or receive thorough personalized care for their children, they are always so thankful. Knowing that I’ve made a difference in a child’s life is very rewarding. This is what keeps me going! Read more>>
Lylah Healy
One of the things that I have always wanted to bring into my daily interactions, as well as my business, is a level of intentionality and care. One of the ways I exercise that is by listening. I have always loved stories and the art of storytelling, and I think people’s lives are so fascinating. Really listening to someone during a conversation supports my success in connecting with people, and it also helps me understand my clients and what their day to day life looks like. Read more>>
Tiffany Nesbit
Looks do not matter as far as finding “people that look like me.” Character matters, work ethic matters, and treating people with dignity matters. If your lazy and don’t constantly work hard, you won’t get anything done. Good things are not free, no matter what. Even if your just paying for it with your time. Time is everything, so time wasted thinking about what other people in the room “look like” is ridiculous. It’s extremely shallow. Read more>>
Erika Bernardini
This is a strategy that I have been working on– for literally my entire life. From a young age, as an Asian-American female child growing up in Northern Maine my life was anything but glamorous and easy. I had to learn from a very young age that I looked very different from my peers, and I had to develop my own understanding and place in the world. I remember being no older than 8 years old the first time my Chinese/Filipino Grandmother, Betty told me to never tell people of Maine that I was Asian. When I was in the 4th grade was the first time I learned why. Read more>>
Dr. Kalisa Sampson
I’ve learned that no matter what, I belong. While I was getting my doctorate degree, I remember my advisor telling me, “you have a seat at the table, you’re supposed to be in the rooms.” This made me realize that no matter how I look, my work, my knowledge, my ability to make things happen, and my dedication will always outshine and speak louder than my appearance. That in itself, will allow my confidence to shine through, which will help me network and elevate in any room. Read more>>
Constance Jones
Thank you for posing such an important question. As someone who has often found myself as the only person in the room who looks like me, I understand the unique challenges that come with it. However, I’ve learned to turn those challenges into opportunities for growth and success. First and foremost, I believe in the power of self-confidence. By embracing my worth and expertise, I can overcome any doubts or biases that may arise. When I walk into a room, I make sure my knowledge, skills, and achievements speak for themselves, allowing my voice to be heard and respected by others. Read more>>
Kyle Guerrero
By developing my own authenticity and then focusing on connecting with individuals, I have been able to quickly earn trust and build a community/network based on business oriented friendships. In my experience with coaching and healing work, people don’t mind if your methods or looks are different. They care about your character, being seen and understood, and the results you produce for them. Read more>>
Natalia Minasian
I like being the only one in the room. This makes me unique, rather than an outcast, it gives me an advantage and allows me to show up as I am, rather than forces me to fit the mold or be someone I’m not. I haven’t always had this attitude towards this question, in fact, I still have to remind myself to be confident and stay authentic without trying to fit in. Read more>>
Anita Chen Fu
Being different isn’t wrong, but isn’t easy either. As an Asian born and raised in a Latin country, I’ve had to learn the hard way to kind to myself and stand up for what I believe in. Growing up, I never felt like I belonged anywhere, but as time passed, I realized that it was not the others that were not letting me in, I was the one holding myself back and refusing to join in. Read more>>
Vicki Love
I am used to be the only one in the room. I started out as being an opera singer, and during auditions, I was typically the only one in the room. My mother would tell me as a child to not focus on being the only one in the room, but instead be the best in the room. I still follow her advice to this very day. In my current career as a music educator, I am still the only one in the room and I am fine with that. I know that I have to work ten times harder than my peers, and to always put my best foot forward. Read more>>
Jorge Xolalpa-Vazquez
Quite frankly it’s a self-confidence thing. You have to remind yourself that you are in fact unique. Yes, you could be and sometimes will be the only one that looks like yourself, in a room-full of “saviors” but never allow that to take away your power. My biggest self-advice is to always believe in myself the same way I believe in my idols. It’s a complicated concept because others will find it somewhat arrogant, but if you stay true to yourself and your mission, what others think of you becomes background noise. And that right there is what will separate you from being the only one in the room to being the ONE in the room. Read more>>
PhoenixBlood
A lot of my upbringing consisted of me being the only person that looked like me in the room. I grew up in a predominately white neighborhood on the border of Orange County and Los Angeles. The older I got, the more I saw how differently I was treated compared to the people I was surrounded by. It’s so easy to develop internalized hatred when you’re constantly othered while you’re still developing a sense of self. I spent a lot of my adolescence making myself smaller so that I can retain any bit of space in rooms that I never felt welcome in. Read more>>
Merissa V. Grayson
I’ve learned to be effective/successful even when I am the only one in the room who looks like me through Preparation. I have a default tendency to overprepare actually. There’s a saying I deeply resonate with: “If you stay ready you ain’t gotta get ready” That’s a motto I live by, which sets the standard for me to operate at a level of excellence at all times. Read more>>
Jason Hardin
First off, I am always the only one in the room that looks like me. I was born with a rare tumor, esthesioneuroblastoma, behind my right eye, and doctors told my parents that would not survive past my 3rd birthday. Though I obviously survived well beyond my 3rd birthday, it wasn’t without the deformation caused by the tumor and treatments that left me scarred for life. That being said, I was forced to learn at a very early age how to deal with being “different”. Read more>>
Priscilla Alvarez
I grew up in what was one of the poorest district in the nation in the mid ’90s. During the weekdays, as a child my mom happily walked me to school and all I could remember is her cold lips kissing my cherry cheeks. On weekends, we, (my sister and I), would watch cartoons and eat cold cut sandwiches, in the evenings we would rehearse and perform music from our favorite artist back then. Visiting local bodegas where the counter worker was a hispanic was certainly familiar. The working hispanic class servicing their community was and still is a subtle way of influencing the fellow community members. Read more>>
Kiara Arnold
Within my professional career, I’ve typically been the only Black woman on my team or a part of a very small number in a department. Over the years I’ve learned the importance of leaning into and owning who I am. It wasn’t always easy, and it can be very intimidating especially in male-dominated industries. I can only show up as me – and knowing that there is only one me has allowed me take up space and be proud of that. I rather walk that journey alone now so that the young Black women after me won’t have to face some of the same adversities I did. Read more>>
Cary
This is something that has taken me almost my entire life to overcome. I think as women we are constantly comparing ourselves to someone else. When I entered the adult industry production world almost 6 years ago I still struggled with not knowing how to show myself enough self-love. Now, that I’m in my late thirties and have been holding a camera in the adult industry I have learned that everyone is different and we all add our values to the world. Read more>>
Parissa Pirouzan Glaser
Coming from a tech background as a Middle Eastern immigrant woman, I always felt that my life experiences and perspective were different from that of my peers and colleagues. While it can be a lonely and emotional place, for me the path to success has been through hard work and perseverance. Likewise my transition from tech to filmmaking required dedication, through preparation and showing that I have done my homework in order to earn the trust and respect of my crew and collaborators. A key strategy for me has been to put my emotions aside, think critically and be humble and open to learning and adapting. Read more>>
Kyle Geller
This one took a little while to develop but after some mental exercises and a couple swims in the deep end, here’s what I got: Being the only one that looks like you is a detrimental advantage. In a sea of fish, the shark stands out, be the shark. I used to go to a lot of networking events thinking that someone I would meet could help me in someway progress my film career forward, the problem was is that really I didn’t have much a career to progress at the time as far as things under my belt. Read more>>
King Cooley
That’s a really great question. I’ve been the “only one in the room” a lot in my life. I spent a lot of time being the only girl rapping in cyphers in school. I’ve been the only person of color in my college classrooms. And, I’ve been the only Black woman in client meetings. In all that, I’ve learned that always showing up completely honest and open about who I am is the best way to disarm other people. Read more>>
Jaime Barcelon
The theme of belonging has always been something existent throughout my life. There are times I’m in a room where everyone does look like me and I still wonder and question if I belong. It could be a number of things: identity, social anxiety and fear. But what I’ve learned in terms of being effective/successful in these situations is to connect with someone and really listen to their story. I learned that from my mom. She has an innate ability to connect with anyone from any walk of life. I think this is a combination of her as a person and perhaps her experience in social work. Read more>>
Anika Baty Mills
Having been born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa as a young African American woman, me being the only black person or the only black woman, or the only woman in the room happened often. I decided very early on that me being the only me in the room couldn’t be my problem. It was going to happen often, so I had to decide if I was going to allow myself to be uncomfortable every time I found myself in that situation. Read more>>
Juanitia Prince
Navigating spaces as a woman of color often means confronting a unique set of challenges, particularly when finding oneself as the sole representative in a room. Being the only one who looks like you can be an isolating experience, yet it has also fostered resilience and adaptability. In these situations, I’ve learned to leverage my distinct perspective as a strength rather than a hindrance. Instead of succumbing to the discomfort of being an outlier, I use my presence to bring attention to the importance of diversity and inclusion. Read more>>
Nick Robinson
Almost nobody would argue that being a queer, mentally ill, professional witch comes with its own array of societal stigmas. People often ask out of pocket questions or make baseless assumptions. However in my experience, I’ve found that I make the most meaningful connections in spaces where I’m the only one in the room. My willingness to exist just as I am, regardless of the space I find myself in, has opened up a bridge of connection between myself and those who are trying to lean into their own authenticity. Read more>>
Joy Henderson
In order to be successful, it comes down to whether or not a person is self-motivated at their core. We’re all different, but I just happen to be one of the few photographers in my area who look like me. Fortunately, we are not our circumstances. It used to bother me a lot but I’ve promised myself that I won’t quit building a legacy for my children and the rest of my family. It starts from within. Over the past few years I’ve experienced a great deal of growth; be that through life experience or my growing collection of self-help books. Read more>>
Britt Elizabeth
Haha! This IS my super power. I’ve always been “by myself”. And I think THAT is one of the main reasons that I am successful. My life has been very different than what most think. The school of hard knocks don’t play and you either get in and go right or get left. And I’m walking my full purpose out for my Creator, myself, and my children. I never made a decision really, I just always felt a calling to be every ounce of who I was created to be. 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>>
Dr. Marlene Holmes, MSW
Throughout my career in healthcare, corporate security training, and higher education, I’ve consistently found myself as the lone representative in various professional settings. This experience has equipped me with a resilient skill set and the confidence to navigate spaces where I might stand out. Upon entering the CBD/cannabis industry, I’ve noticed a notable lack of inclusivity despite its outward appearance. Read more>>
