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.

Cici

As a classically trained Black violinist, I have often found myself as the only one in the room who looks like me. Classical music, a field historically dominated by white musicians, has presented unique challenges—but also immense opportunities. My journey has been shaped by resilience, confidence, and a deep commitment to my craft. Over the years, I have learned how to not only navigate these spaces but also thrive in them by embracing my artistry, expanding my musical identity, and remaining true to myself. Read More>>

John Hehman

To directly answer the question of “How have i learned to be effective/successful even when I am the only person in the room that looks like me?” is I exist in authenticity and I listen. I listen to what other people are saying and I engage with them where they are authentically. I do not let the perceptions and insecurities of others infect me. That is a them problem. When a person feels truly heard, they’re more apt to communicate clearly with what they want. I take a lot of steps when doing anything, because I want to do my best.  Read More>>

Mistress Schari

Honestly I think this is the easiest task to overcome. I enjoy being underestimated, I love surprising people. So if I am the only “one of me” in the room, this is to my advantage. I will have the opportunity to wow and impress anyone who presumed to know what I was like, or are shocked to discover what I can do. Read More>>

Aarti Tiwari

When I first started auditioning, I was often the only one in the room who looked or sounded like me. Indian women are widely seen in fields like tech, medicine, and law, but an Indian immigrant woman pursuing acting in the U.S.? That is still unfamiliar—not just for me, but perhaps for others in the room as well. It was nerve-wracking.  Read More>>

Benjamin Faye

The key to being effective when you are the only one in the room who looks like you is understanding your audience, but never at the expense of yourself.

The thing about being Black, neurodivergent, and having long hair is that there aren’t many ways I can hide. As a younger man, it helped to be able to mask (the act of concealing or suppressing neurodivergent traits and behaviors in order to fit in with societal norms and expectations and avoid discrimination). But as I got older, I began to notice that I left rooms with the feeling that no one really met me.  Read More>>

Ketzirah Lesser

I’ve been the only woman in the room for most of my career, and often the only Jewish person.

In my first career, as a stage manager and prop designer, I was often the only woman on an all male crew. Then I took the tactic of “out manning” them. Showing them I was not only capable, but also tougher than they were. When I moved out of theatre and into marketing and communications in the late 90s, I got my start in that world as a digital strategist, which meant once again — I was often the only woman in the room. And in the early days, I took the same approach as I did in theatre. Read More>>

Lydia Boddie-Rice

I’ve learned that my response to being the only one in the room is a powerful tool. Throughout my life, both personally and professionally, I’ve often been the first, the only, or the marginalized. When this happens, I ask myself, why was I invited in the first place? I view my inclusion as purposeful and an opportunity to engage, challenge, and leave a lasting impression. The key is to make my presence valuable and memorable, creating a space where others can be invited in too.  Read More>>

William Thompson

The world of advertising, marketing, and communications has long struggled with diversity, and while progress has been made, the recent rollback of DEI initiatives makes this conversation more timely than ever. My journey began six years ago through the Verizon AdFellows program—an eight-month rotational experience launched by former Verizon CMO Diego Scotti. That opportunity became the catalyst for my career, opening doors to places like McCann, Google, and Anomaly. Read More>>

Kaylee Davis

It wasn’t necessarily about being the only one that looked like me, it was about being the only one in many situations with such a degree of heightened sensitivity that those around me didn’t seem to have or understand. I was in the last year diagnosed with ADHD and Autism. Having little to no understanding of this or myself, I just felt alien most of my life. I noticed small details others missed or purely couldn’t see at all. I feel things so intensely sometimes that it feels like my world is crashing in and I can’t breathe. Read More>>

Duane Cobb

I’ve been the only one who looked like me in the room since I was 8yrs old.

I was a post-civil rights child of the 70’s, bused to some of the most affluent neighborhoods in Los Angeles and California from childhood through college, solely based on my aptitude and individual academic & athletic performance. Read More>>

Philip Wilkerson

Being the only Black male in a room is a frequent reality for me in higher education, and I’ve learned to embrace that position as both a challenge and an opportunity. When I find myself in these situations, I draw strength from the realization that I may be the only one in the room, but I am not the only one in the building or the broader community.  Read More>>

Nick Norton

I lean into it. This took me years to get comfortable with though. I always let feeling like an outside bother me—probably because I grew up as a very lonely kid so have some deep seated stuff there—but I’ve found over time that the more I lean into the stuff that makes me me, instead of trying to bend to what I think people expect or want, the more folks want to work and/or hang out with me. And the ones who don’t, well, that’s cool, I’d rather not work with them either. Read More>>

Dr. Shannon Gregg

Nuclear nonproliferation technology sales. Clinical trial technology sales management. Salesforce.com consulting. These spaces are notorious for being very homogenous – no matter what meeting or conference or room I have been in, it’s been notoriously slim on women.

Early in my career, I tried to “fit in.” I’d emulate the ways that I saw my male peers acting; I kept personal conversations to myself, I was focused on blending in to the environment. Read More>>

Jay Jones

After a decade in prison and 5 yrs of over the road training rookie drivers for schools owning and operating a Commercial trucking business I came home for good. Sold some equipment and earned a position as a project Manager Driver trainer and Spanish translator in the LNG industry with six figure salary. It put me in rooms with Millionaires during meetings once a week , and no one looked like me . Read More>>

Siyi Wang

“I feel like I am a pair of shoes shoved into the wrong shoebox.” This is what I thought about myself when I was 17.

From the age of 15, I left China alone and started my high school life alone in a small town in Ontario, Canada, and came to New York studying art. Throughout my adolescence, my natural looks, my cultural background, my past experiences, and my way of thinking have been a constant reminder of how different I am from others.  Read More>>

 Charm

I’ve gotten quite acclimated to being effective if I am the only one in the room that looks like me.

The music industry historically has been predominantly male run.
I started my first album in 2003, I went commercial in 2008 and didn’t see any women on the production side until maybe 2020? Read More>>

Melanie Richee-livingston

Over the course of my life, I have found myself in situations where I am the only one that looks like me in the room. There have been times when I was the only woman of color in spaces ranging from college classrooms, sporting squads, business meetings, and on a stage. When I was young, I knew I looked different from everyone else in my environment. Read More>>

Riwa Jardak

Through years of life and professional experience, I’ve learned that the road to success is often one you must walk alone. The most important battles in life are fought alone. While we may be surrounded by supportive family, friends, and mentors, in the end, no one can do the work for us—because no one else is us. And that, in itself, is a unique strength. Read More>>

Shelby Mayes

The historical answer? I haven’t. I haven’t been successful or effective in rooms where I’m the only plus size woman. I’ve been incredibly disheartened, intimidated, and lonely in rooms like that, especially in situations where I feel like I need to network. The truth is that women, firstly, already experience the pressures of proving their worth and women who don’t fit the beauty standard have an even harder time just getting someone to looks at us. Read More>>

Cinthia & Alondra Solis

Being the only person in the room who shares your background can be challenging. However, we have found success by reminding ourselves that we have a powerful opportunity for growth and influence. As first-generation Mexican women, we embrace our culture as a strength. We acknowledge our accomplishments and the expertise we bring to the table. We use our position to advocate for broader representation and inclusion in discussions, which can lead to richer and more effective outcomes. Read More>>

Luanna Singh

I believe success grows from helping others succeed. If you are the only one in the room, you should be the least important person in the room. You don’t build a business. You build people. And people build the business. Read More>>

Murphy(Yiran) Li

My name is Murphy (Yiran) Li, and I am a freelance artist and game designer based in Denver, Colorado. In Chinese, “Yiran” means “beauty of nature,” a name that resonates deeply with my identity. Growing up, I’ve always felt distinct from those around me, not just because of my name but because of my perspective and experiences. Read More>>

Deanna Colon

Many years ago while living in NYC, I went to an open call auditon for Smokey Joe’s Cafe. Everyone in the room was 5’7″, thin and stunning! I remember signing in with the audition monitor, who happened to be a vivacious gay man and stated to him “WTF am I doing here? I don’t look like anyone!” and he quickly quipped and said “Doll, they are a dime a dozen, you are unique and because of that you stand out and you are never going to compete for the same roles as them- that’s your superpower”.  Read More>>

Ekim Supplies

Integrity,

that only you can get yourself out of situations when no one else is around.There is a certain energy that Comes about when you surrender to the fact that sometimes it’s up to you.
This alchemical realization can break you down to sort of phoenix yourself into a stronger more adaptable version of the room you are in. Read More>>

Nia Jones

I started being the “only one in the room” at a young age, only 16 years old. I was an intern at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission in the Uranium Recovery Licensing Branch division. My team was comprised of mostly white men, one white woman, and me. My identity as a young Black girl from D.C. stood out but, it was the first place I learned to appreciate my differences and keep my head up high because I deserved to be there.  Read More>>

Carlos Quinteros Iii

Learning about “being the only one in the room that looks like you” is a demoralizing road to conquer. Still, most people of color can overcome this adversity through community. Although this question is about isolation in spaces and institutions, I have learned to feel my worth by reminding myself of the people who supported me until then. Read More>>

Debbie Tjong

Ever since I moved to United States, I’ve always felt like I had a hard time finding people who look like me that have charted the course that I wanna take in my life. Being from Southeast Asia, it was even hard to find people who understood my culture or even my accent when I was in college. However, at the same time, I have such a deep love for learning and understanding, different cultures, especially in the world of music and arts.  Read More>>

Shenice ‘tee Mora’ Gammage

That’s a powerful and thought-provoking question. Being the only one in the room who looks like you—whether it’s in terms of race, gender, background, or any other defining characteristic—can be challenging, but it’s also an opportunity to lean into your unique perspective. Here are a couple of ways I navigate
1. Embrace your unique perspective: Realizing that your voice, experience, and perspective are valuable is key. You have insights that others might not see, and those insights can make a difference in conversations and decisions. Embracing your individuality, rather than feeling like you have to conform, can actually be a strength. Read More>>

Shilo Harris

I wake up each morning and start my day like most people do. I shower, eat, drink coffee, do the hygiene thing, and mentally prepare myself for the challenges of the day. Some days require extra preparation because I know if I am leaving the house some people will gawk, ask personal questions, or treat me differently in some way or another. Again, some days… I say it like that because for the most part, I am comfortable in my own skin, but some mornings I see the pain and loss that I experienced more than I see me. Read More>>

Bruce Uhuru

It’s a skill that’s learned but also innate. Over the years I’ve come to understand that differences have little effect where common interests supersede. Success is realizing that the room is filled with opportunities rather than people that do not look like me, plus my mind understands that I’m not in a room filled with people, but that they are in a room with me. Read More>>

Donna Vo Sotomayor

Growing up, I recall being one of the two or three Asian students in my elementary classrooms. I knew I didn’t look like the majority of my peers, but I didn’t really understand what that meant at the time. It wasn’t until middle school and high school that I started to understand and notice that the implications of what it meant to look different. Read More>>

Whitney Johnson

Hold my head high and remember your in a lane of yourself and can succeed once you believe in yourself. Read More>>

Bemyfiasco

I remember that I have my own talents and gifts and they wouldn’t have brought me in the space if I couldn’t contribute in a meaningful way.

I would also frame it in a way that maybe I could be the person to open those doors so there could be more people that look like me. Read More>>

Keiona Cook

Being the only African American woman in the room has never stopped me from showing up as my full, bubbly self. In fact, I make sure no one can miss me—in the best way possible! I always wear a statement outfit that I’ve designed myself or bold accessories that spark conversation. I’m not just the only one who looks like me; I’m also the only one rocking a one-of-a-kind designs straight from my own brand and made by me. It’s my way of turning heads, breaking the ice, and making sure I leave an impression. Read More>>

Sudi Burnett

By being mindful and overcoming the ego ,I am being myself and comfortable in my skin . Not worrying about others judgments of me . Read More>>

Sherri Brown

I’m a military brat. lol. I know that’s wild to start that off in that way, however, I believe that is what molded me to navigate in spaces where I was the only little black girl in the room. My father was in the Army for 20 years. We moved every two years, so I had to make new friends at a new school, knowing that I’d be leaving them for a whole new set in two years.  Read More>>

Kylah Williams

“You speak Spanish so well, where are you from?” To which I reply “California” and watch as my response is digested in disbelief.

As a Black woman coming from an African American household who learned Spanish in a bilingual immersion school, I have come to realize that my journey was very different from that of my peers. Read More>>

Dez Bara

There’s a song lyric that has always stuck with me:

“Everyday, I wake up alone because I’m not like all the other boys…”

It’s from ‘As You Are’ by Travis, a band I was obsessed with in my teens. It sounds heavy at first, sad even, but to me it’s about resilience, self-acceptance, and owning your personal power. Read More>>

Morgan Shuler

From an early age, I’ve always found myself in spaces where I stood out not just for my presence, but for my work ethic and perspective. My journey of being “the only one” started in childhood at a prestigious military-based school. Picture a young, brown-skinned girl in a sea of kids who didn’t look like her, navigating an environment that wasn’t exactly built with her in mind. High school? Same story. But instead of shrinking, I leaned all the way in. Read More>>

Paige Beverly

Learning to embrace my definition of being effective and successful within the field of education, especially in circumstances where I’m the only Black woman within a space, has been a challenging road but a rewarding path in the end personally and professionally. It has taught me that what others assume you can or cannot accomplish can either limit you or motivate you further: the choice is ultimately yours. Read More>>

Brandon Gates

At this point, being the only one in the room might as well be my brand. But that’s exactly why I’ve learned to move seamlessly through both professional and creative spaces.

I’ve been the lone Black journalist in editorial meetings, the only professor of color in the adjunct office, and, perhaps my toughest role yet, the only person in a sketch comedy class who understood the cultural significance of Living Single. Read More>>

Kara Warner

I’ve been in plenty of rooms where I was the only one who looked like me. That’s never stopped me. If anything, it’s made me more intentional about how I show up and the impact I leave behind.
First, I walk in knowing my worth. I don’t second-guess why I’m there—I know I bring knowledge, experience, and a perspective that needs to be heard. Read More>>

Krista Jee Baxter

Well, my honest opinion is the best way for anyone to completely be successful in a room full of people that generally looks the same and you are the only one that is different or stands out in the crowd is by being your confident and loving self. It may sound cliche but, ultimately it’s the white knuckled truth in almost any situation. I believe that if you’re in a business setting whether it’s as an artist position working onset, behind the scenes, behind the chair, or a personal and business situation the strongest and most effective approach is by being positive and confident. Read More>>

Seaseasyd

When I was younger, I spent so much of my emotional energy trying to fit in. Read More>>

Zihe Ye

I don’t usually think in terms of labels, nor do I believe in highlighting personal achievements without acknowledging the role of the environment and team in shaping an individual. More often than not, I see myself as an integral part of the team, contributing my skills and efforts just like everyone else. Read More>>

Marina Gavric

Being the only one in the room has never been new to me. I learned early on that survival meant adapting, thinking quickly, and pushing forward, even when everything around me felt uncertain. The war in Kosovo forced me to grow up suddenly, stripping away any illusion of childhood. I had no choice but to think rationally, with little room for emotion. When I fled to one of the biggest cities in Serbia, I had to rebuild my life from nothing. I became a mother, created a home, and found a way to move forward, even as
the past lingered in the background. Read More>>

Netkamol Hamm

I thrive on being highly effective and following my intuition to elevate my life. These are the rules I live by making everyone in the room want to collaborate and respect where I stand personally and professionally:

1. Set of Values and Objectives: I ask myself what is truly important and live intentionally based on these values and in a structured manner. Read More>>

Erica Perez

This has been the case for most of my life. When I was younger, I tried my best to hide in the background. I wouldn’t give feedback, I stayed pretty quiet, and shared only when asked. For those who know me, that is absolutely the opposite of who I am. This shifted for me in 2016. I was about to have my second baby, and the schools I was working in started to focus more on their inclusion efforts. I started to share my voice and became more comfortable in my skin. Read More>>

Stephanie Smith

Being the only one in the room that looks like me has never really been unfamiliar. My earliest memory of noticing that I was the only one in the room that looks like me was when I was inducted in the National Honors Society in high school; I was 1 of 2 black students which consequently translated to a lot of my classes. I never felt out of place, but I always wondered where the disconnect was. Moving on to college and corporate spaces the representation in those rooms didn’t change much. However, those environments helped me learn that rather than shrinking in those moments, I needed to take up space with confidence and purpose. I’ve built success by leaning into three core principles: preparation, adaptability, and community. Read more>>

Laria Brent

I started my career in education at the age of 23. I looked about 17, and I was always the youngest or only African American in the room. Even now, over ten years later, I sit in leadership meetings and I’m often the only African American at the strategy table. I don’t approach the room as if I need approval or validation from anyone at the table. I am educated, and skilled in my profession. I put in the work to know my craft. I come to the table not giving myself any doubt or separation that I am in any way less qualified or “lucky” to be present. I share my insights with the same confidence authority and certainty as everyone else. I know I possess the expertise to keep up and often exceed the goals and I do just that. In return, my opinions and insights are taken seriously. In every room I enter, I have done the work to be there and it shows when I speak. Read more>>

Taja Gray

Being a plus sized, queer, tall and black woman, you could imagine the boxes society has tried to place me in. It screams ‘pick a box’ as I have so many ‘labels’ that ‘define’ who I am, what I’m all about and how I should be perceived, but they don’t. Society has created an ‘image’ of what wellness and self care are supposed to look like, how it’s supposed to feel. But it’s different for us all. Being neurodivergent was a super power that allowed me to be oblivious to the obvious differences between myself and the people in these spaces with me. It wasn’t until I began creating content circling wellness that I realized there weren’t a lot of people who looked like me that filled this space. I had to relearn self love and self realization due to my new feeling of not fitting in. I had to learn to be louder, show up more, be myself out loud. This content is no longer just me sharing my life, it’s me showing people like me that they too can life a life that speaks to them without looking like the people who speak for that lifestyle. We are all deserving of self care, luxury and romantic lifestyles even when we don’t fit the aesthetic. Often, I am the only one in wellness spaces that checks all the boxes I check, the one who doesn’t fit what wellness typically looks like. I’m often the largest person on the mat, the least flexible, the most overweight and the least fit. But, I show up. I may not be able to touch my toes (which I never could even when I was a skinny kid), or outrun most people in a 5K, or make it through my pilates class without feeling like my legs and arms will fall off, but I show up and give it 100% each time. I want to change what wellness looks like. Go from being one of the many faces of wellness that often get overlooked to one of the many people pursuing wellness for themselves and not the image. Read more>>

Carla Powell-lewis

Being the only one in the room has been both a challenge and an opportunity. I’ve learned to be effective and successful in these spaces by embracing a few key principles:

Owning My Expertise – I walk into every room knowing that I belong there. My experiences, knowledge, and perspectives are valuable, and I make sure to show up with confidence. Read more>>

Shaina Janvier

At the age of 10, my mother moved our family just 30 minutes across town, but it felt like an entirely different world. Suddenly, I found myself in classrooms where no one looked like me. For the first time, I was the only Black girl in many of my classes, and there was no way to blend in. My deep complexion made me stand out in every room, a constant reminder that I was different. At that age, I saw it as a disadvantage—something that set me apart in a way I didn’t yet know how to navigate. Read more>>

Maggie Yu

being a functional medicine maverick for the past 18 years means I’m always the only one in the room w/ the perspective of a successful family medicine md that had to go outside the box in every way including starting the first successful online platform for turning around autoimmunity and other impossible to deal w/ chronic diseases like POTS, MCAS, Dysautonomia….so I’ve always been against the grain in conventional medicine and now in many ways against the grain of how functional medicine(now that it exists) in their approach to these chronic diseases. I love being the only one in many rooms and it’s exciting. Read more>>

Alexandra

This question struck me, and eye felt inspired to answer… When asked how eye am most successful and effective when eye am the only one in the room that looks like me, eye take that to mean being the one who is moving differently, leading in a way that hasn’t been seen before. It’s about forging a unique path—one that others may not yet understand, one that hasn’t been fully carved out. And so, eye see this as confirmation of being a wayshower, someone creating something new, stepping into uncharted territory. Read more>>

 Tasha Jun

To be able to grow and flourish with one’s whole self and story in mind, first means being able to realize and name when one is the “only” one in the room as a woman, and/or especially when it means being the only woman of color. For many of us, we’ve been taught that noticing it at all means we are playing as a victim, but the reality is that it takes a great deal of courage to notice and name what is. Read more>>

 

Nan Gurley

The best way to be effective, even if you’re alone in your beliefs, is to be the most prepared person in the room. Be the hardest working and most professional person at the table. Be a good listener and show genuine concern for others. Go the extra mile. Show initiative. I’ve spent my life auditioning for directors. They are stressed out and overworked and underpaid. I learned quickly that they are looking for actors who have the potential to make their job easier. I made it my daily goal to be over prepared for each rehearsal, to write down what they said in the daily note session, and to respond to their direction and be willing to try what they asked me to do. I showed up with a good attitude and gave 100%. This is the way to make the people who have the power to hire you want to keep bringing you into their projects. You can’t bring your own personal business into the work process and you can’t be moody and temperamental and self-absorbed. The best practice is to treat others the way you want to be treated. It works every time and it really pays off. Read more>>

Morgann Burres

Being the only one in the room is a feeling that has been a part of my existence for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was the only girl in our family and the only girl in our neighborhood so I found my place among the boys, eventually learning to enjoy things like building forts, catching lizards, and constructing bike tracks. In Kindergarten, my height became prominent, often the first thing people would comment on – “My goodness! You’re a tall five year old!” grown ups would comment. My growth continued at a rapid speed and by sixth grade I was taller than my male teacher. I was always in the back row in class photos and always correcting peoples’ assumptions with, “No, I don’t play basketball.” This was a good thing given that I could barely walk without tripping over my waterski-sized feet. I quickly grew accustomed to being the “only one in the room.” The only girl. The tallest girl. The one with curly hair. And the most impactful…the one with brown skin. Read more>>

Nancy Naadei Kotei-sass

When I find myself as the only one in the room who looks like me, I have discovered the power in appreciating myself and relying on my inner strength. Believing in my convictions drives me to pursue them relentlessly. Being the sole representative does not invalidate my ideas; rather, it marks a new chapter. I seize the chance to forge something remarkable from it, turning opportunity into a canvas for creating beauty. Read more>>

Gregory Degroat

The question of me being ‘the only one in the room’ is refreshing. No one has asked me about that subject. It’s interesting because my first experience with that situation was as the first black railroad engineer hired in Ohio in 1979. I was a Jimmy Carter Affirmative Action hiree, and it was challenging, to say the least. The railroad company laid me off after a year, and that was that, but that experience helped me to cope with being the ‘first and only’ person in a room. Read more>>

Sarah Rose Goldstein

I’ve often been called a unicorn. With a Master’s in Special Education and a Bachelor’s of Science in Technology Education, I have a unique skill set that allows me to teach both students with disabilities and hands-on subjects like Woodshop and Engineering. So, why haven’t I combined the two before? Well, that’s about to change. Read more>>

Clayton Ramsay

As the only African American entrepreneur in many rooms, I’ve learned that success comes from preparation, resilience, and community building. The challenges are real—Black-owned businesses often receive less funding, face systemic barriers, and operate within networks that may lack diversity. However, rather than seeing this as a limitation, I’ve used it as motivation to carve out my own space and build something meaningful. Read more>>