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.
Kristen Kubik
I have vibrant, rainbow hair, and I’m covered in tattoos. I’m used to being the “art” in the room, so to speak. The key for me to feeling like I am effective in a room, especially when I am the only one who looks like me, has been to be so rooted in my knowledge and myself that it didn’t matter what other people really thought. The confidence piece is everything. When you cower, people take advantage of that. Read more>>
Rachel Sheffield
Navigating moments when I find myself as the sole representation in a room like mine can be nerve-wracking, but I draw strength from the wisdom of Proverbs 18:16 KJV – “A man’s gift maketh room for him, And bringeth him before great men.” I believe in letting my skills and genuine self-expression naturally stand out. A confident smile becomes my silent yet bold statement in any crowd. Read more>>
Talibah Bayle
Being the only one in the room who looks like me has been a recurring theme throughout my 15 year career in the federal government as well as during my current role as an entrepreneur. During the beginning years, it was intimidating – to step into spaces where no one (or very few) shared my background or perspective. But over time, I’ve learned to see this as an opportunity rather than a barrier. I’ve realized that my unique experiences and viewpoints are not just valuable, they are essential for the solutions needed in business today. Read more>>
Maryann Bivens
Historically the color of one’s skin has been controversial, but for me I use it as fuel. I believe that being successful and effective comes from your ability to stay focused on the task at hand. Although often I’m over looked as being the owner in my own business by its appearance, professionalism, and being inviting and well respected etc. I’ve learned to cultivate a certain persona for my business and myself that requires me to remain humble. Read more>>
Jennica Souffrant
Being Successful is something that is up to each of us, it’s no one else’s responsibility. How i see it is you either want it or you don’t & if you want it bad enough you will find the information you need to know. It took me a while to figure but I’m glad i finally did. The information i needed was already out here so i just had to go looking for myself. I educated myself by watching other entrepreneurs on YouTube or reading information on social media such as instagram, TikTok & etc. Another way i learned to be successful was honestly by trial & error. Read more>>
Dylan Jacobson
I love this question. I find myself being the unique character in the room at most events I attend. My artwork has its own visual language, and I have leaned heavily into creating work that I care about. I’d rather, “please myself instead of pleasing others,” to paraphrase Michael Stipe. That sentiment strikes of confidence, but transplanting that confidence from the artist studio to public space is a real trick. Read more>>
Shi Howell
I am from Akron , Oh a small town about an hour away from Cleveland, Oh. Akron is a small town and with it being a small town that means not many people think or do much outside of the norm. I am not saying I wasn’t one of them . Since I was born I have done what I thought was the norm, go to school, get good grades, treat people with respect, at 16 get a job and stay the course of what I have been taught to do, excluding the party until the age of 25, but I always worked hard before I played. Life seemed normal until I gave birth to my now 10yr old daughter in 2013. Read more>>
Lydia Simmons
Navigating situations where I am the only one in the room who looks like me has been a recurring experience in my life. Whether it’s being the only woman, the only black woman, or even the only black and Pakistani woman in the room, I’ve learned to embrace and confidently present myself as who I am. Read more>>
Brandon Jenkins
In both the realms of education and content creation, I’ve consistently found myself in the position of being the youngest and often the sole black male. Recognizing the scarcity of representation in these spaces, where black men comprise only about 2% in education, and where people of color might not always receive equitable visibility in content creation, I’ve navigated this landscape by embracing authenticity and taking calculated risks. Read more>>
N’ova J
I learned that we should be the change want to see in the world. I sing about this often. It’s important to be confident in your gift and authenticity so everywhere you go the environment has no choice but to elevate to match your energy. As a black woman in America with a masters degree and accounting background, I have been in many rooms where I am the only one who looks like me.Read more>>
Tsvetta Kaleynska
As an immigrant from Bulgaria, I have spent a considerable part of my life as the “only one in the room” – the individual who stands out in terms of background, experiences, and perspectives. My journey to the United States in 2008 was driven by a desire for a better life. That journey marked the beginning of a continuous process of adaptability and resilience. Navigating a new culture, language, and immigration system while pursuing my aspirations instilled in me a deep well of determination. Read more>>
Erin Reddick
Growing up adopted by a white man with blonde hair and blue eyes, I have grown intimately familiar with being the “only” in the room. When you hear someone say “I am not racist, my cousin is black!” I am that cousin. It’s so normalized for me because growing up, family gatherings were frequently spent with my dad’s side. Read more>>
Jamila Bell
As a woman-owned business who started this at a young age. I have learned to embrace my uniqueness and use it as a source of strength. Being the only one in the room who looks like me has taught me the importance of self-confidence and resilience. I have learned to trust my abilities, voice my opinions, and stand tall in the face of challenges. Read more>>
Sakeenah Sievwright
Authenticity always holds true in any setting. Regardless of background, circumstances or culture, when you stand in your true self, giving all of your best-speaking and acting from the heart it really shines through! I’ve been in a classroom or work setting being the only golden girl, but it never stopped me from doing my best and making things happen, no intimidation and with a fearless approach knowing that I can be successful! Read more>>
SELSELA
I think this is something that many people have heard before: “We all are different”. Sometimes a quote can help and sometimes it doesn’t. What I noticed helps me is if I put a quote that I like in a context that helps me, I can relate to it even if I forget about it. I remember the lesson it taught me and how it made me feel. My context for the little quote “We all are different” is that no one is identical to you. Read more>>
Coco Love
Now that I think about it, it’s crazy that I’m even still in those type of situations because it’s 2023. You are right though, I don’t see a lot of Black female video directors. I learned to use it to my advantage. The Leo in loves it. I learned a long time ago that people fear what they don’t know and that actually gets my gears turning. I learned to put my “Big Girl Pants” on and walk in the room like God sent me there because he did. Read more>>
Theo Brown
You know, when I transferred from Oakwook College (now University) to Southern Adventist University and pursue film, I knew I was going to have a cultural shift. Oakwood is an HBCU (Historically Black College or University), and there’s a comfort in knowing you’re surrounded by people that have lots of the same life experiences as you. Read more>>
Ty Newby
This is a very interesting question just because over the past couple of years I now realize that I am not the only one in the room that looks like me. there’s been a lot more opportunities for people of color, especially in the dance industry. I feel like we’ve been just doing a lot more and getting a lot more time to shine and I think with that. Read more>>
Mercedes MacQueen
Throughout my childhood and young adulthood, I have often found myself as the “odd one out” in many of the spaces I was in. I grew up in a predominately white environment, so I was usually one of the few Black people, and Black women specifically. I was also fortunate to have grown up with a lot of economic privilege, and due to this and my educational background, I was often seen as “too white” to the Black people I would be around. Read more>>
Lauren Messing
At a young age I realized I was different from society’s standards. As a mixed-race child growing up in the 80’s and 90’s proved challenging. I am Italian and Creole. Creole has its own explanation. When people asked, “What are you?” I would take a deep breath and educate them on who I was. Although my ethnicity wasn’t the defining characteristic of who I am, it sure played a big part in others accepting me. It wasn’t until I was in high school that I realized who I am is beautiful and I am exactly as I should be. Read more>>
Jennifer Marie aka j Marie
I love this question so much! I just completed my Master’s Program in Filmmaking at New York Film Academy and that was the first time in a while that I was the ONLY person in my class that looked like me. My undergrad was an HBCU (Shoutout to Grambling State University) and being in a class at NYFA not only was I the only black person, but I was the only American. I loved it because it allowed me to learn so much about my classmates and myself. Read more>>
Osiris Booque
I love this question because, from my perspective, the origins of this question are based in subconscious homogeneity. By this, I mean that the emphasis on ‘being the only one in the room that looks like me’ seems, in our current day and age, to be justification for inclusivity while simultaneously promoting the perpetuation of fetishization culture. Read more>>
Wavyy Jonez
I’ve come to realize that I am truly unique, a one-of-a-kind individual. In various settings, much like the one I find myself in now, I possess a remarkable ability that almost feels like a superpower. I strive to always be the protagonist, fully engrossed and immersed in every moment, making my presence undeniably felt. Read more>>
Kimi Lent
I think like a child. I tune everyone out and focus on the reason I am there. Read more>>
