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.
Jay Pearson
When you’re the only one in the room who looks like you, it can feel like you’re carrying the weight of representation on your shoulders. Early on, I realized that being in those rooms wasn’t just about being present—it was about making sure my voice had weight and value. For me, the key to being effective in these spaces is preparation and confidence. Read more>>
Vonnie Ricks
I’ve been in plenty of rooms where people didn’t look like me, not just rooms but environments, friendships, etc. Growing up in an African-American household, I was the one who stood out and I don’t necessarily mean that in a good way. As a child, I always had this great desire to be different from my family because I had this feeling deep down inside that there was more to just my family and the culture of the way we live and do things. Read more>>
Justine Almaraz
I came into this world as an artist, eager to create. From my earliest memories, I knew I wanted to be an artist. Once I turned 6, I refused to wear pink, and from that moment on, I was on my way to making choices that set me apart from others. I dove into mediation at the age of 18, and it opened my inner vision, and I began to have very clear visions of my future. I saw myself tattooing in a spiritual way that would help and heal people in powerful ways. Read more>>
Jimothy Martin
You know what? I’m all about owning my vibe—no one else looks like me, and that’s awesome. My hair’s big, my voice is loud, and my style? Totally a choice. I see it as a chance to stand out. I don’t need to wonder why I’m often the only one in the room; history has its reasons. But I want to use my platform to make space for others like me—and even better, for those who are even weirder. My goal? To bring some fun and quirkiness to those otherwise drab, soul-sucking gigs. Let’s color outside the lines in those boardroom meetings! Read more>>
Monique S. Pearson
From a young age, attending a predominantly Caucasian school where less than ten minorities were present taught me how to navigate environments where I didn’t see many people who looked like me. This early experience prepared me for the military, where I often found myself as the only woman in my squad and in the male-dominated munitions field. I realized that I deserved to be in those spaces without seeking permission or validation, and I focused on adding value simply by being present and confident in my abilities. Read more>>
Elizabeth Jia
I often find myself as the only one in the room—being an Asian woman with a completely different cultural background. However, thanks to my courage, I view this experience as more empowering than challenging. Here’s how I’ve navigated those situations effectively: Confidence and Authenticity: I’ve always embraced my identity and used it as a source of strength. By being confident in myself and sharing my unique perspective, the point is not to stand out but to create opportunities for others to see value in diversity. I love to inspire others with sincerity. Read more>>
Aaron Hines
As someone who has often been the only one in the room who looks like me, I’ve learned that success comes from being confident in your abilities and understanding the value you bring to the table. It’s essential to be prepared, stay focused on the goals, and be willing to put in the hard work. At times, it can feel isolating, but I’ve found strength in being authentic and using my unique perspective to create opportunities rather than seeing it as a limitation. Building relationships, staying disciplined, and consistently delivering results have been key in navigating those moments and turning them into advantages. Read more>>
Cali Bam
Being the only one in the room that looks like you can be challenging, but it has also been a source of strength for me as an African American. I’ve learned that success in those moments comes from embracing the uniqueness of my perspective and using it as an advantage. It’s about recognizing that diversity isn’t just a box to check—it’s a strength that brings fresh ideas and different experiences. Read more>>
Corey Blackman
The key to being effective and successful, even when you are the only one in the room who looks like you, is understanding that you are not actually alone. Every person in the room shares a common humanity. In fact, your unique background may provide the very perspective or advantage needed. Read more>>
Maria Romero
Balance—something I grasp for a fleeting moment, only to have it slip away for days. But in those rare moments when I find it, when I nourish myself with the right food, movement, and love, I feel unstoppable. When those key elements are aligned, I am invincible, even I am the only one standing. Read more>>
Jaqueline Romero
Being in the room, when I’m the only one who looks like me, varies because in a dental office, surrounded by people older than me, each with their own unique style and opinions, it can be challenging. I hold the belief that no matter how daunting, how unconventional, or how difficult the task, I will persevere. I see mediocrity as a state of contentment for those who are satisfied with their current situation, but for those of us with a vision for the future, we wake up each day determined to make a change, convinced that our future depends on it. Read more>>
Brianna Lynn
Being the only one in the room who looks like me has been both a challenge and a powerful motivator. In both of my businesses, STUDIO INTUITIVE and INTUITIVE SOCIAL, I’ve learned to turn what might feel like isolation into empowerment. I often remind myself that my unique perspective is my strength—it’s what sets me apart and allows me to offer something fresh and valuable to clients. Read more>>
Yi-wei Chiu
When I was a high school exchange student, I was selected to live with a family in a small town in Iowa. Traveling from Taiwan to a rural community with a population of only 2,000 people, I quickly realized that I was the only Mandarin speaker for miles. Not only did I look different, but I dressed differently and didn’t speak much English at the time. I felt like an alien in a place where everyone seemed to know each other. Read more>>
Pablo Echevarría
This is something I used to find really scary, being the odd one out in a room. We, as humans, tend to group people based on appearances and then attach certain preconceived notions to each group. I was always worried about what people’s notions of me as a Queer Latino man in the world of Film would constitute. If I “wrote what I knew”, as I had always been taught, would that pigeonhole me into a niche? Or if I wrote outside of my lived experience would people call it inauthentic? Despite these fears, as I’ve grown, I’ve identified some advantages to being the only person in a room who looks like you. Read more>>
Jetson Slayter
Growing up as Black and Asian, I often felt like I didn’t fit in anywhere. Whether I was in predominantly Black spaces or Asian spaces, I was always different, and that made it hard to find my place in the world. It was tough as a kid to feel like I never truly belonged. But over time, I started to see my unique background as an advantage rather than a setback. I realized that standing out gave me a strength others didn’t have—it made me adaptable, resilient, and driven. Read more>>
Johana Moscoso
When I think about purpose, it feels like something that emerges in those magical moments when everything aligns and things happen effortlessly and everything makes sense. These moments are not generously available for many artists; we have to create these moments through effort. Achieving this sense of magic is neither simple nor easy. As artists, we juggle multiple roles simultaneously at a fast pace. However, I am convinced that habits, consistency, and repetition are key to awakening and nurturing purpose. Read more>>
Tahnee Wilson
It has taken me many years to START to be ok with simply being me. I have cared way too much for way too long about what others think about me. However, in the last few months, I have been pushed to the breaking point of the boundaries I had on myself. Since being forced to break through those, it has shed light on the beauty of being unapologetically myself. I stand out in a room because I know why I’m in that room. I know what I have to offer to that room. When faced with contention or pushback from said room, I spin it for the person pushing back at me to see my value. This stems from having faith in myself and faith that I will be led exactly where I need to be. Read more>>
Lynette Hunter Halalay
Thank you so much for allowing me to be part of this interview.
Growing up, my mother and father always reminded me that I would often be the only one in the room who looked like me because there is only one Lynette. This shaped my understanding of uniqueness—from the way I dress, to the way I wear my hair, and how I carry myself. I learned that being distinct is not a barrier, but a strength. It’s allowed me to engage with anyone, seeing them as unique and beautiful individuals in their own right. The key to my success has been embracing my individuality and using it to connect with others on a human level. That is the beautiful gift my parents gave me. Read more>>
Nati Oron
I think most of us have had the experience of walking into a workout space, a gym, a boutique studio, a group class, and feeling like we don’t belong. I felt that way for a long time in the fitness world. As a curvy girlie, I always felt judged in the fitness space. I hid in the back of workout classes, trying to take up as little space as possible, to not be seen. Read more>>
Mica Bones
Simply by liking who I am. Being happy with the life I’ve created. I actually have felt like an outsider or the “only one in a room” quite often… probably my whole life. In elementary school I was a minority being Mexican American. I felt looked down on a left out quite often. By the time I reached high school I had developed a hard exterior… I didn’t want to fit in anymore. I wanted to be left alone and maybe a bit feared so I developed a very punk aesthetic and attitude. As an adult I got married and had children very young and again I felt looked down on. Read more>>
Katherine Amaya
Being a female project manager in the construction industry, where it’s still male-dominated, comes with unique challenges. Balancing assertiveness with collaboration and continually demonstrating value is a key approach for women thriving in industries where they’re often the minority. Read more>>
Sean James
Being the only one in the room is something I’ve gotten used to, but it’s never gotten easier. What drives me, though, is the fierce desire to always bring my whole self wherever I go. Early in my career, I was the youngest staffer at the time in a NYC government agency. I was eager to make my mark but often found myself in rooms filled with people who were much older and did not look like me and didn’t understand where I came from. Read more>>
Jill Derusch
I used to be really self conscious if I was the only one in the room who looked like me. At first it can kind of feel like you’re missing something and you don’t know what it is. Over time I realized that usually the things that make us look different can be really good for us and set us apart. So, even if I stick out I feel like I just gives people all the more reason to look at me and listen to what I have to say. I will also say the more comfortable you are with yourself , the more you’re gonna trust yourself to be effective/successful. Read more>>
Marcia Armstrong
This question brings me back to my personal financial journey, where I made the decision to get my money in order and manage my resources effectively. At that time, I felt like I was the only one in my family and friend circle openly sharing about becoming debt-free. In a society where debt seemed normal, I didn’t get the support I expected. Similarly, in 2018, when I started sharing my journey publicly on social media, not many companies or institutions were talking about financial literacy the way they do today. Read more>>
Lisa Morey
Being the only one in the room that look like you – isn’t that something perhaps we’ve all experienced? And if not, lucky are those who can acknowledge what this feels like and can draw upon the depths of our collective connectiveness. My personal experiences in this realm include studying abroad in England and understanding I’m the one with a funny accent; traveling to Africa and standing out as a white skinned person; living in New Zealand and having others be curious about what’s it like to live in America; and of course being a female in a male-dominated industry. Read more>>
Coven
I often am the only woman, the only black person, or usually both. This made me feel like I had to overcompensate for what I did or didn’t know, or that I had to speak with utmost confidence and certainty to be heard. As I’ve grown on my film journey, I’ve come to realize that being the only one who looks like me doesn’t count against me in the right rooms. In the right rooms, my crew already has an ear out waiting for me to say something. In the right rooms, not knowing the right answer is okay, because collaboration is the heart of filmmaking. Read more>>
Rahul Rekapalli
I pursue an activity without any expectations of an outcome (success, failure, etc.). Over several years, this approach has allowed me to learn without inhibition. If I had all the information upfront, I would walk towards my goals in a straight line. However, my path has been a series of small steps that take me towards one or more goals. Read more>>
Hazel Heywood
I use my uniqueness as a beacon, not a deterrent! Being an artist in the Lakes Region of New Hampshire means that there are a LOT of craft fairs and events designed for the summer and fall tourism seasons. Many of the artists at these events tailor their art and their products for the “stereotypical lake tourist”, and many of the colors, images, and themes are the same: a friend and I have a long-standing joke about Adirondack chairs and loons. Read more>>
Maya Carpenter
When you are used to being the only one in the room who looks like you, you develop a heightened sense of self-awareness, and that has been invaluable for my success. In my work, I emphasize the importance of social-emotional learning, which I teach both on my platform and in my talks. A key component of this is practicing empathy, regardless of where you are, because we are each unique. To truly adapt and thrive, it’s essential to understand those around you, even when they may be entirely different. Read more>>
Adrienne Taylor Christopher Bell
At Tailored WealthSaver we’ve learned to be effective/successful even when we are the only ones to look like us because we keep in mind the overall end goal. It’s much bigger than us! Part of the mission of Tailored WealthSaver is to break down barriers and create lanes for next generation of African American entrepreneurs. Read more>>
Abby Jane Bruner
I find it easy to create when I am the only one in the room. A lot of my ideas are inspired in my alone time. I tend to second guess myself a little more when I am creating in a room full of people. However, the more I have showcased my art in front of others, the more I have grown. I have had to learn as a go. Saying yes to things and teaching myself to learn new designs and new skills has taught me valuable lessons in adaptability and confidence. Trusting myself when creating has led to the most success and growth. Read more>>
Anoussa Salim
As a young South Asian woman who embarked on a career in international relations, I often find myself as the only woman of color in the room. At the start of my career, many of my peers and friends were choosing more traditional paths, majoring in business, medicine, or engineering. I decided to major in Political science and started my first job in the Internation relations field, where there were very few young women of color. Read more>>
Rania Anjum
As a brown immigrant, I have often found myself being the only one who looks like me in certain rooms. It has been intimidating but also very liberating. Often being labelled as the “diversity hire” or “token brown girl” in workplaces has felt very limiting. It is a label I am working to not feel stuck in. My cultural identity will always be a part of who I am but I also have much more to offer. Read more>>
Irianna Keith
I step confidently into rooms where I may be the only one who looks like me, knowing that God has placed me there for a purpose. I learned to simply just apply pressure, be myself and trust that I am deserving of being there; that’s the only way I know how to be is myself. I’m at a place in my life where I’m in competition with myself and no one else. I choose to focus on personal growth and self-improvement every day, striving to unlock my full potential and be the best version of Irianna. So, I don’t concern myself with who else is present in the room. My presence in the room is what matters most. Read more>>
