Breaking Barriers: Succeeding Even When Representation is Lacking

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.

Samia Verbist

Being the only person in the room who looks like me has taught me invaluable lessons about resilience and success. I’ve learned to navigate this unique position through a combination of strategies. First and foremost, I’ve committed myself to continuous learning.  Read more>>

Nicholas Gully

As I spend my time in creative spaces: museums, kunsthalles, and local art festivals my career thrives by socializing. In those times, how I’m perceived by those around me creates a childhood-rooted excitement for me to engage with my atmosphere fully. I could potentially be someone’s first encounter with a millenial professional black male artist! Read more>>

Farah Ysvette Mourad Vera

Being the only one in the room that looks like you can be an advantage. It makes people curious. They want to know what’s going on. Sometimes that manifests as rejection, but rejection is a knee-jerk reaction to something outside the usual, so I try to remember that. I scan the room for a friendly face that might be receptive to an exchange and start there. Rejection tends to dissipate as the room warms up to you.  Read more>>

Naviyd

In order to be effective and successful when you are the only one in the room who looks like you, it’s important to embrace your uniqueness and use it as a strength building confidence in your own abilities and knowledge is key. Read more>>

Jacob Brinnand

Determination should be an inner resolve or conviction that you cultivate within yourself. Let this conviction grow until it naturally overflows into the world. Individuality is forged through trials and tribulations. Challenges and hard work build character; don’t shy away from difficulties, as they hold valuable lessons. Read more>>

Victoria Hyder

As a business owner who is woman & living in Columbus I have found myself in many rooms where I was the only woman. Alongside being the only women it was more often than not that I was the only Latina as well. It can be difficult to navigate a room of people who are not used to working with someone who looks like you. Read more>>

Maya Songbird

Something about walking in to a room full of strangers and literally feel the energy stop and shift. It is so many projections and judgement on who I am before I can even speak. You have people that don’t want to be mean and instantly walk up friendly and curious about the alien in the room. Then you have the not so nice people who instantly have their cruel lingo and are ready with their tongue daggers to take me down! Read more>>

danielle wright

OOOF. I didn’t want this to be the prompt to answer, but it’s definitely the one I’m supposed to answer! 🙂 This has been me my whole life. Growing up in the strict, god-fearing south as a ball of light that always needed to know WHY, I was always being looked at sideways. It really bothered me at first. Why would folx be so upset just by me existing?! Read more>>

Lane Samata

I have a very competitive personality that I used to view as a weakness, but now I view as a strength. I have learned to channel that competitive energy into myself instead of competing with others. In my industry, design is subjective, so learning my own style is more important than comparing myself to someone else. Read more>>

Bre Johnson

Throughout my nearly sixteen-year career in sales, I’ve often found myself as a minority—both as a young professional and as a woman. One of the most memorable instances was during a significant executive presentation early in my career in medical sales. At 25, I was led to the executive boardroom to present to the CFO, CIO, CMO, CNO, and VP of Patient Care—all male and significantly older.  Read more>>

Jeremy Hodges

Navigating the experience of being the only one in the room who looks like me has been both a challenge and an opportunity for growth. As a black owner of a creative studio, I’ve learned several key strategies to be effective and successful in such environments: Read more>>

Jay Walker Paz

My brother and I were brought up in Colombia, Venezuela, and Brazil, yet had strong links to the US because of our American father. When we started playing music, it was clear that our sound reflected that mix — Latin rock guitars accompanied by melodica (a keyboard instrument that sounds like an accordion), and a mixture of folk and Latin rhythms. Read more>>

Susi Cabello

Navigating professional spaces as the only young Latina in the room has been both challenging and empowering. I’ve learned that the key to success lies in embracing my uniqueness and letting my light shine. Bringing a fresh perspective to the table has often been appreciated, and when it hasn’t, I’ve recognized the importance of knowing when to move on. Read more>>

Arieale Munson

Being the only one in the room who looks different from everyone else can be challenging, but it can also be an opportunity for growth and impact. Here are some of my strategies to be effective and successful in any situations. I take pride in embracing my own unique perspective which helped me be more confident. I don’t shy away from speaking up or visibility. Read more>>

Myles Wilson

I find joy in shattering glass ceilings. Being in any room where I’m the only person that looks like me is extremely humbling because I know it’s bigger than me and the impression I leave exiting that room leaves the door open for others to enter. From an early age I understood that it doesn’t matter if someone knows anything about you, they’re going to have a preconceived judgement about who you are as a person; It’s human nature. Read more>>

Rob Gomes

For a big chunk of my career, I’ve found myself being the only Producer of color on projects. I used it as motivation, always worked hard, proved my creativity, and my skills, and ultimately why I was there. Sometimes there are trailblazers before you, sometimes you’re the trailblazer. Read more>>

Samandra Diaz Diaz

For the longest time I felt like I didn’t belong in the room. Who was I to be surrounded by such successful women? Why was I sitting at the table with Directors and Partners through high level meetings? I often felt like I had faked my way in. It took a really long time for me to realize that I not only deserved a seat at the table but that I in fact had earned it. Read more>>

Tierra Hudson

I have learned to thrive in any setting, regardless of whether I am the only one who looks like me, because I don’t focus on being different. Throughout my life, I’ve been in accelerated courses and attended a university where I was a minority, yet I always felt at home. I am a distinctive individual, so I would stand out even in a room full of people who look like me. Read more>>

Sydney Gates

As a black woman, there are many occasions that lead to me being the only person in the room that looks like me. Being in the minority in a professional or social setting can often feel isolating and intimidating. These situations have only driven me to keep going so that I can create more spaces for people that look like me. Read more>>

Tashasa Colton

Success definitely starts within. If you don’t believe in yourself first, then who will? I think being successful is not just about the end result, but the process before you get to the finish line. The late nights, investments, tears, and mentality of it all is what molds you into becoming a successful entrepreneur and business owner. Read more>>

Jamie Bates

I have learned over the years (slowly) that being the only one in the room that looks like me is usually a good thing. I used to feel awkward and self-conscious, however now I have come to realize that authenticity is one of my core values. Read more>>

Chanda Moore

Having a golf brand that is for women and owned by a Woman of color is a double edged sword. Females are already far behind their male counterparts in the sport and we are struggling to break down the barriers in this golf space. As a woman of color launching a successful golf apparel brand it is even more difficult. Read more>>

Anshu Stephen

It has been a point of frustration to be in so many rooms where I am the only one that looks like me. I hope that we see genuine representations in all spaces and conversations. I have learned to observe first, allow myself to reflect and give time to all the emotions that come through in unique situations. Read more>>