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.
Crista de la Garza
Deep-seeded question. I grew up in San Antonio, Texas, where I never felt “white” enough for the white kids, “latin” enough for the hispanic kids, “rich” enough for the rich kids, “thin” enough for the ballet girls, etc…Embracing my perfectly unique and authentic self has served me well as a great area of growth. Read More>>
Ericka Blount
Being the Only One in the Room Being the only one in the room who looks like me is not unfamiliar—it’s formative. Early on, I learned that visibility comes with responsibility. When you are the only one, you are often seen before you are heard, evaluated before you are understood. Instead of shrinking under that weight, I chose to prepare for it. Read More>>
Akeadra Bell
Dr. Akeadra Bell is a dentist, educator, speaker, and multidimensional creator redefining what it looks like to build a life—and a legacy—beyond the chair. Read More>>
Tolu Ekisola
You know, in 2026 I feel more empowered as an ‘only’ than I did in 2016. In 2016, I would have been a sophomore in high school. At that point, being the only would have been my daily bread (I was 1 of 3 people of African descent in my graduating class). Read More>>
Dr. Maya Faison
There’s a moment I’ll never forget. I was sitting in a boardroom—mahogany table, leather chairs, crystal water glasses—and I realized I was the only Black woman at the table. Again. The conversation swirled around me, and for a split second, that familiar voice whispered: Maybe you don’t belong here. But here’s what I’ve learned after years of being ‘the only’: that voice is a liar. Read More>>
Michelle
That’s a great question and certainly looks and feels different for all of us. Even within a field that feels comfortable now, I am deeply humbled at the thought of challenges that exist when differences are treated as a disadvantage. There were absolutely times in my life where I felt unlikely to blend in—and I deeply wanted to. Read More>>
Salvador Cartagena
I prepare myself by knowing whatever material I will be using inside-out so that I can speak it fluently with authority and impact even if I’m nervous. Read More>>
KAYLA ZACKARY
For me, learning to be effective and successful in the therapy room has involved both trial and error and the ongoing discovery of who I am and what I was made for. There have been many seasons in my life when I felt deeply unsuccessful and ineffective—feelings I later realized stemmed from defining success incorrectly. Read More>>
Darling Jimenez
Being the only one in the room who looks like me has been a recurring theme throughout my life. As a Black Dominican woman, I have often found myself navigating spaces that were not designed with me in mind. At Columbia University, while studying computer science, I was frequently the only woman in the room. Read More>>
Rubi Rocha
My disability is visible I use a wheelchair due to a car accident, and early on I realized I could either let that define my limits or redefine what success looks like for me. I’ve learned to stay focused and grounded without letting comparison get to me, even when I see others doing things I want to do. Instead of shutting down, I adapt. Read More>>
Caterina Rossini
Being the only one in the room has almost always been a gift in my life, not an obstacle. I was born and raised in Rome and trained within a deeply rooted Italian artistic tradition before moving to the United States to build my career. From the very beginning, my experience as an Italian artist and a foreigner was met with openness, curiosity, and generosity. Read More>>
Robert Rushing
This is challenging internal conflict I’ve only recently navigated. It’s important to remind yourself that you don’t need permission to belong in a room you earned your way into. I stopped trying to fit in and just focused on standing out through results. People can question your background. They can underestimate you. But they can’t argue with performance. Read More>>
Sean Colbert
For me, being the only one in the room who looks like me presents an opportunity to stand out. What makes me different also allows me to differentiate myself and bring a unique perspective. Often, providing a unique perspective creates a pattern interrupt—where those around me become more curious about what I have to offer, rather than what they’re accustomed to. Read More>>
Zoe Scott
“One way I’ve learned to be effective and successful in rooms where no one else looks like me is by always speaking up and clearly showing my worth and value. People can’t understand who you are or what you bring if you stay quiet.” “Most of the time, I’m in rooms where people don’t look like me because I choose to be there. Read More>>
Brandi Wiles
I takes a lot to break stereo types and how people view you. It isn’t their fault that hollywood and the media painted Indigenous people a certain way. I’m a short woman that walks very tall head held high. I started wearing clotting from my culture to meetings. Work. Events. Speaking engagements. Beaded earrings , braids and pride! Read More>>
James Northweather
Being one of few artists around, it was through faith that I put one foot in front of the other and decided to become a full time artist, trusting that the lord would put opportunity ahead of me. Read More>>
Chloe Blue
I learned to be effective/successful because of my walk in life. I have been in so many different scenarios, many no one would ever guess just by looking at me. Read More>>
