Even as there is a growing recognition for the need for representation, there are still many cases where folks will find themselves as the only person in a room representing their particular demographic – and often there is pressure to perform in such contexts to prove competence not just for yourself but for everyone who is like you. The burden and the stress of being the “representer” is real, and so we wanted to create a space where folks can discuss who they go about ensuring they are effective and successful even in contexts where no one else on the team or in the room is like them.
Keiera Bradley
would have to say that I was always a confident young girl. My mother as always been a woman of high self esteem and made sure I loved myself from the inside out. Growing up as a darker skinned woman who went to more than a few new schools, I adapted the art if making friends and introductions early on. Read more>>
Anisett Jacques-Willis
Being the only one in the room became a defining aspect of my adult life. Transitioning from the diverse neighborhoods of New York City to San Diego, and eventually Mexico, I found myself consistently in environments where I was the only African American. This held true both in my professional career and within social circles. Read more>>
Tara Nesbitt, Ed.D.
The response to this question can easily turn into a small novel but, I’ll just stick to the facts and what’s worked for me over the past 5 years. Read more>>
Jennifer Hutton
Growing up in the south, being the only one in the room was something I constantly faced. When I was younger, my parents made an effort to keep me in spaces where everyone did look like me, and theres something to be said for that. It allowed me to develop my marginalized identities in positive lights. Read more>>
Dezee Rae Combs
Alright, diving into a room where I’m the only one who looks or thinks like me? It’s been an adventure, for sure. First off, I’ve learned to totally own my unique flavor. My different perspective? That’s my edge. I’ve put in the time and the grind, so when I share my thoughts, I do it with confidence. No time for doubting. Read more>>
Lauren Tassi
Last year, I dropped some serious cash —more than I’d ever spent— on agency support, sales coaching, and a funnel system. I ignored that nagging feeling of “is this too good to be true?” and dove in anyway. Read more>>
Darius Lux
That’s an interesting question, I’m not sure “how” I have learned but I know that I have HAD TO learn to be effective when I’m the only person in the room working towards my goals. Coming to the US as an immigrant from the UK – altho our countries share many common bonds, if you are not born here you are quite alone – there aren’t the people you grew up with in the sandpit, or extended family & friends etc that form a support system and help propel you forward – I had to mostly create and push every bit of momentum for my career. Read more>>
Ursula Lari
Recognizing our strengths and weak aspects of our personality is very useful. Being conscious of this will always help you choose the more efficient way, according to yourself, to achieve your goals. Read more>>
Mariam Poppins
Oh wow! Being African American and Muslim, we find ourselves being the only one on the room. We truly believe that what’s for us won’t miss us. We continue to work hard, show up and provide quality services leaving people to focus on what got us in the room in the first place. Read more>>
Brian Shackelford
I like this question because it goes further down the rabbit hole of the saying, “You have to get comfortable being uncomfortable.” Anyone who has been the only one of anything in a room can tell you how uncomfortable the situation can be. But if you alter your thought process, you can turn this situation into something beneficial. Read more>>
John Thompson III
I grew up in a small town, Lone Pine, PA, which is in the country, thirty miles south of Pittsburgh. My sister and I were the only black kids in our elementary school and one of only a few in middle school and high school. Rarely did we walk into a room where someone looked like us. It would have been very easy to retreat to the corner of the room, thinking I didn’t belong. Read more>>
Courtney Ceacal
I’ve learned how to be effective or successful in rooms where I’m the only who looks like me by increasing my knowledge and skills in my business industry. This has been done by always looking for something new to learn that can increase my ability to serve my team and clients so that when I’m in a room with people or business owners who don’t look like me or understand what I do. I can convey my message to each and every one on their level one to one or in a group setting. Read more>>
Lamar Adot Thomas
I try my best to have my music speak for itself. I’m very respectful. I acknowledge good presence, but I’ll shy away from something fast that I feel isn’t right. Even when I walk in rooms now, people are surprised that I was invited to be there. Sometimes it bigger than me but I have to walk in as myself instead of displaying a character. Read more>>
Annessa Spangler
My journey as a photographer has been a challenging and rewarding one. It began in 2014 with over-the-phone interviews and led to live interviews, which I unfortunately had to stop due to personal reasons. A few years later, I met my now-boyfriend, who introduced me to his band Cell23, whose members were impressed with my photos. Read more>>
Meghan Weinstein
I’m someone who always needs to be as prepared as possible. I try to be meticulous in my planning and making sure every aspect that can be solidified is locked down, that way it’s much easier to handle whatever the day throws at me. Feeling like I’m over-prepared gives me the confidence in my leadership skills and being able to handle high pressure situations as they arise. Read more>>
Dani Nicole Beasley
This can go a few ways for me personally: Being that only 1% of estheticians are African American it can/ has been difficult to navigate. A few personal and professional life experiences have given me quite a few tools to navigate with. I served in the military for 8 years; went on to obtain a Pre-Law degree and work for the multiple government entities; I have always been the ONE IN A FEW minority to be in “the room” or have the opportunity to sit at tables where no one looks like me. It’s almost as if I’ve been preparing for this my entire life. Read more>>
Bennett Atlee
As a trans cosplayer, it’s hard to find people that look like me in a professional sense. I’ve had to learn how to adapt patterns, makeup tutorials, and other various techniques needed for cosplaying all without really having access to other peoples experiences online. I’ve learned that if I want something done that will work for me and my body, for my craft and standards, I have to look inwards at my ability to learn something new. Read more>>
Joseph Quisol
I’m usually the only one who looks like me in a room. My roots are in the Philippines and Puerto Rico so there is rarely a space that represents both of my diasporic cultures simultaneously. For me to finally feel effective, I had to seek my own personal history by being present with my family members and scouring the internet for information. Read more>>
Byron K Williams
The biggest lesson I’ve learned over the course of my life is the the world was designed for one of eac h person to be able to live and thrive. The problem is that we often try to clone each other and become versions of other people. Read more>>
Deanna Visperas
My background has taught me to value authenticity and uniqueness. I’ve learned to: Read more>>
Charis Cheung
I believe that success is driven by passion. Growing up, I never really had any peers who were interested in photography. You would think that since I grew up in LA, there would be a huge community of photographers to lean on but the reality is photography is a very competitive field that not a lot of photographers are willing to teach and mentor. Read more>>
Liz and Lloren Llovera
Live authentically. Period. We both know what it is like to suppress a part of ourselves and we refuse to fall into that state again. We take this into our work as well. We call it a practice because we have to practice living authentically everyday. Honor your ancestors, honor your curiosity, try something new, get lost so you can rediscover yourself. Read more>>
Kimberly Spratt
One tool that’s enabled me to be successful is being able to speak about my product and my business with confidence. Even in situations where I don’t feel confident or feel like I belong, I remember that our differences are what makes us special and unique. Embracing my uniqueness is the best strategy for gaining success. Read more>>
Crystal Riddle
Extensive conversations with my grandmother provided insight about how she viewed the world and how she was taught to exsist and even thrive in a world that never really considered her to be a human being. As a black woman, because of her race, she was forced to deal with what society had deemed as her place in the world, and as a woman, her existence was minimized all the more, leaving her voiceless, voteless, and ultimately, invisible. Read more>>
Danielle Andrews
Often times in my life, I was the only Black student or Black woman in a room. It’s something I’ve always noticed and used as inspiration. Read more>>
Jemier Jenkins
The love and support I’ve received from my family, friends, sorors, and community empower me to speak up in rooms when I’m alone. I’ve learned how to be more effective in my approach in those spaces through trial and error, but more often than not, I am proud of my voice and grateful for the opportunity to speak for those who can’t. Read more>>
Tosha Writes
I learned from being an introvert. I was already comfortable being the only one in the room so watching people became the skill I developed. It started when I was a kid and now it is something that’s second nature to me now. I have always been in my own head and now I am able to pour those things into my books. Read more>>
Arielle Grant
Being the only one in the room: how have you learned to be effective/successful even when you are the only one in the room that looks like you? Read more>>
Alexandria Black-Davis
I have overcome being the only Black female digital marketing leader at every company I’ve worked at by being self taught. Knowing what I don’t know and seeking out education in my field has been critical in gaining respect in the tech space. I graduated from business school in 2012 when digital marketing, media buying and social media marketing were in their infancy. Read more>>
Shailee & Simran Butalia
When we started our Bhangra dance studio, Dance by Butalia, we often found ourselves being the only representatives of this Punjabi dance form in the Valley. It wasn’t just about teaching steps; it was about introducing an entire culture. It reminded us of all the times you walk into a room and realize you’re the only one representing a particular background or perspective. Read more>>
Marquitta Rucker
As a Black woman, I’ve gone through much of my career as the only one in the room or one of a few, recognizing early on that the rules of success are somewhat different than they are for my counterparts. Being the “only one in the room” can feel like something that is a disadvantage, but that’s not necessarily been the case for me. Sometimes you have to be okay with being the only one, I have learned that when GOD has opened a door for you, embrace it. Read more>>
Mel Taevin
There’s a lot to say about the power of one. I’m often the only AAPI women in the room, I know this well. I used to be extremely intimidated over this situation, but as I grow and educate myself more I’ve become proud of who I am and have gained a confidence to make a point every time this situation occurs. Read more>>
Wendy Bethea
Everyone has a story or idea built within them. Being different is what motivates me to do and build something helpful and meaningful. Everyone has gifts and talents to think outside the box and persistently pursue the very thing I’m good at or do great. I make that my passion and give it all that I got. Read more>>
Mahalene Dulay
Representation in the money space matters – female financial advisors account for about 15-20% in our industry and a significantly lower percentage of that identify as female advisors of color. I remember times when I would be at tradeshows with my white, male colleagues and would be asked what it was like working as their assistant. Read more>>
Geeta Minocha
I have worked in health care, policy, and legal spaces for a few years now, but as a young woman of color, there are always moments where I’m forced to pause, regroup, and adopt a new strategy for being the most effective I can be in the rooms in which I find myself. But it took me a long time to shift my perspective from “I’m going to remove myself from this space because it’s not for me” to “I’m going to create a new space here, both for myself and for those who might come after me.” Read more>>
Carrie Graham, PhD
My entire educational and professional life, I’ve either been the only woman, person of color, or both. Early in my career I didn’t say much because of my lack of self-confidence but I was watching and listening to how white men behaved and communicated. I observed what was effective and ineffective, there was a lot of pontificating, ego-stroking and rarely an altruistic perspective. Read more>>
Alisha Mona
Being the only person of color is more common than you think in the industry especially when you’re in a supervising role in television like myself. It unfortunately also comes with the pressure of your peers (who don’t look like you) second guessing your ability to do your job. BUT to that person that wants to be in a supervisor role, I’ve found that you can be the most EFFECTIVE by being confident, and prepared. Read more>>
Dr. Erica Gamble
There have been so many instances of me being the only one in the room. I come from a corporate background with any discipline being Human Resources and in a C Suite level role. There were never people who looked like me which was somewhat part of the reason why the Wig Dr. was born, I was wearing wigs, traveling, and had no time for hair appointments. Read more>>
