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.

Raja Feather Kelly

There is a loneliness to being first. Or only. And I still, unfortunately still deal with this.
I’ve learned that the room will not always reflect you back to yourself. Sometimes you walk in and realize you are not just the only one who looks like you—you are the only one who moves like you, thinks like you, dreams like you.

For a long time, and even still, I mistake that as evidence that I don’t belong. Now, when I am my best self, I know it means I am meant to bring something new.Read More>>

Enrico Woo

At first, I questioned myself, wondering if something was wrong with me. But as I spent more time learning about myself, really taking in the experiences and wisdom I gained through solitude while making art and working on creative projects, I realized that being different can be a strength. It became the very thing that made me stand out. Read More>>

Ashley

I’ve learned to be effective and successful in spaces where I’m the only one who looks like me by grounding myself in confidence, preparation, and authenticity. Early on, I recognized that I couldn’t control how others perceived me but I could control how I showed up. I made sure my work was excellent, my voice was clear, and my presence was intentional. I also leaned into what makes me different which are my lived experiences, cultural perspective, and ability to connect with others in meaningful ways.  Read More>>

 Julio Gonzalez

I do not understand how to not be effective. The only person I work to impress is myself. I constantly challenge myself to do my best, be the best I can be, and to be there for others. It doesn’t matter what I do….whether it’s working with my customers, helping a friend, or even cooking a great meal, I seek to do better than the prior time. Read More>>

Patrick Bennett

I’ve always had this incredible creative energy that pushes me to take on new projects and explore fresh ideas. Sometimes it’s downright exhausting. Once I dive into something, I get so wrapped up in the creative process that I don’t even want to sleep. Friends often tell me I do too much, but my mind never stops. I only have two settings: “Go” and “Go Faster.” Read More>>

Sumaiya Akhter

First of all, being the only one in the room who looks like me is definitely a challenging situation. Sometimes, it feels like I’m part of someone else’s tokenism agenda. But over time, I’ve come to see that it also puts me in a position to voice my opinion, not just for myself, but as a representative of others who look like me and might not always have that seat at the table. Read More>>

Kristin Vittorini

Being the only one in the room that looks like me has never been easy, but it has taught me resilience, strength, and the power of owning my voice. As a single mom building Blushing Gypsy Events from the ground up, I often walked into rooms where no one shared my background or experience. Instead of letting that intimidate me, I let it motivate me. I leaned into what made me different — my perspective, my hustle, my creativity —  Read More>>

Dulcinea Herrera

As an Indigenous and Latina woman, I’m often the only one in the room who looks like me, and that reality has shaped both my perspective and my purpose. At first, it felt isolating—like I had to prove my worth or over-explain where I come from. But over time, I’ve come to see it as a responsibility and a gift. I carry the stories of my ancestors, my community, and my culture into every space I enter. That gives me a sense of grounding and clarity that guides how I show up. Read More>>

Jessica Cvetic

When I left emergency medicine to start Citrus Aesthetics Med Spa in San Diego, I entered an industry where fast, transactional care was the standard. There was a lack of individualized, ethical client care with a priority on natural results. I knew I wanted something different. I didn’t just want to just treat skin. I wanted to plant joy and truly build confidence in my skin. Read More>>

Tamara Brown

Being the only one in the room has never made me shrink — in fact, I love standing out. I don’t tailor my actions or dim my light to make others comfortable. I am who I am, fully and unapologetically. I’ve never needed outside validation because I know exactly who I am, where I come from, and where I’m going. I show up with confidence, not arrogance — just a deep trust in my abilities, my knowledge, and my story. I am imperfectly perfect, and I allow my light to shine boldly, even when others might not understand it.  Read More>>

Nicole Hardin

When I started Brazilian jiu jitsu back in 2013, I was the only woman for years, and often, the only black person in the room. It was not easy, to say the least. However, I was a single woman living by myself and I know that if something happens to me, there was no calvary coming to save me. I don’t have the complexion for the protection. Therefore, when I started training, for me, there was no quitting, I had to figure it out. I’ve always been the type that would physically fight you, not because I like violence, but out of necessity. I just wanted to learn how to give myself a fighting chance. Read More>>

Theresa Johnson

Being the only one in the room who looks like me has, in many ways shaped the way I lead and connect with people. When I first started out on the journey to become a nurse injector I distinctly remember telling one of the trainers at a conference that I dreamed of one day opening my own medical spa. Their response was baffling because she asked who would be my target clientele as an African American female injector? She told me there are not many African American injectors, and African American women don’t typically frequent medical spas.  Read More>>

Kelly Onu

As a Black woman and an immigrant in the tech space, being the only one in the room has been a familiar experience. I remember when I first started college and quickly noticed that I often was the only woman and certainly the only woman of color in my classes. My immediate response was to question why these spaces didn’t reflect more of the world I came from but over time, I stopped asking and started changing the narrative. Read More>>

Tomy Hunter

Being the only one in the room has never been easy but it’s been one of my greatest teachers. I’ve learned to turn that feeling of isolation into fuel. I walk into every room knowing I bring a unique perspective, one that’s shaped by my culture, my experience, and my resilience. I’ve learned to listen twice as much, speak with purpose, and let my work speak volumes because sometimes you don’t get second chances to prove why you deserve to be there. Read More>> 

Shannon Rochon

There’s a certain silence that settles in when you’re the only one in the room who looks like you.
Not the kind of silence that signals peace but the kind that whispers doubt, begs for approval, and tempts you to shrink.
I’ve felt that silence in boardrooms, courtrooms, and classrooms.
But I never let it define me. I let it refine me. Read More>>

Amanda M. Ramírez

That’s something I’ve experienced more times than I can count. At first, it was intimidating. You question whether your voice will be heard or if your perspective will be understood. But over time, I learned to see it not as a disadvantage, but as a strength. Read More>>

Zhishen Li

I often found myself in situations of solitude or complete uncertainty in my professional journey, and these moments seemed to arrive in entirely unpredictable ways. As a recent graduate in Illustration, when I reflect on my academic experience, I realize how much I lacked meaningful interaction with professionals in the industry. The frequent changes in classes and abundance of unstructured time made it difficult for someone like me, who isn’t naturally expressive, to form stable relationships with classmates and teachers, unlike during high school. This lack of communication somehow limited my ability to evaluate my technical skills. Read More>>

Erik Arias

I think about what makes me unique. For one, I know I stand out and this is intentional to show the positivity of what I’ve been through in life. When people first see me they probably assume I’m a criminal. My body is covered in tattoos, including two new tattoos on my head. I’m Mexican, tall and slim. At the age of 15 I remember choosing to live life in a way that I wasn’t going to be a follower. I want to be different. Read More>> 

Vinroy Brown

I’ve been blessed to live a life that has afforded me the opportunity to sit at many tables and stand in many rooms. And, if I’m being honest, I’ve often been the only one in the room who looked like me—who brought my particular experiences, perspectives, and background to the table. Often, I was otherized because of it. Read More>>

Anubhav Kaushish

I didn’t start as a cinematographer. I started as an assistant director on Bollywood sets, managing chaos, hitting marks, and watching everything. But what caught my eye wasn’t the action. It was always the light.

I’d find myself watching the DPs: how they built mood, how they carved space with contrast, how they made a story feel like memory. That quiet obsession followed me. Read More>>

Brandie Potzick

For a long time, I thought I had to emulate the more traditionally masculine approach to coffee and a cafe (sticking my nose up at putting flavor in lattes and minimalist, mid century or industrial interiors) in order to be taken seriously—especially in an industry that still tends to reward a very specific kind of ego. But the further I’ve gone, the more I’ve learned to trust the qualities I wasn’t used to seeing in the coffee world: intuition, empathy, softness. Turns out, those aren’t weaknesses. They’re what make Fable work. Read More>>

Chinwe

When I think about this question, I consider age. I often find myself being the youngest person in the room. Rather than being intimidated, it motivates me. It reminds me how far I’ve already come at such a young age—and that encourages me to keep pushing forward. With time and consistency, I’m confident I’ll reach the goals I’ve set for myself. Read More>>

Mia Upshaw

Being the only one in the room isn’t always easy but that’s never stopped me from standing tall in exactly who I am. As a Black woman, I’m often the only one who looks like me in the room and guess what? I’m not shrinking myself to make anyone comfortable. Read More>>

Lisa E. Kirkwood

This comes down to motivation and determination to achieve the set goals. I’m an avid reader and love to gather wisdom in many ways, but especially by reading books. As soon as I learned how to read, back in grade school decades ago, I needed no push to pick up a book and learn more than I knew the day before. Read More>>

Ala Lopatniov

Honestly, it’s not always easy being the only one in the room who looks like me — whether it’s as a woman, a mom, or someone juggling both family life and running a creative business. But over time, I’ve learned to see it as a strength instead of something that sets me back. Read More>>

Shannon Sullivan

I think the first step is to define what success truly looks like to you, not the version handed to you by society, family, or institutions. That definition has to come from a place of radical honesty. For me, success means living in alignment with my values, showing up authentically, and creating a life where I feel grounded in integrity. That clarity has served as my anchor, especially when I find myself as the only one in the room who looks like me. Read More>>

Ashleigh Worthington

There’s a quote by Anna Julia Cooper that deeply resonates with me: “When and where I enter, my race enters with me.” That truth follows me into every space I step into — whether it’s a room, a board meeting, a project team, or an entire department. More often than not, I’m the only African American person present. Some might view that as isolating or intimidating, but I see it as a responsibility and a source of motivation. Read More>>

Mystic Rainn

As a Black woman, I learned early that the world would respond to me differently and expect more from me while giving less in return. The bar was always higher, and the eyes in the room were always more watchful. I was taught that I had to be ten times as good to get half as far, and that reality shaped me into the woman that I am today. Read More>>

Momoko Uno

First of all, I’d love to clone myself—not because I think I’m amazing, but because it’d be convenient to have another version of me slacking off or doing something my cautious self would never dare, like skydiving. That way, if anything went wrong, I wouldn’t be the one splattered on the ground. But the truth is, surrounding myself with clones who look, think, and act exactly like me wouldn’t help me grow. It wouldn’t challenge me to see the world from other perspectives—like those who think jumping out of a plane with nothing but faith in a folded sheet of nylon is not just safe, but fun and necessary. Read More>>

Utopia Satya Golden-Era

My advice would be to find common ground in goals, interests, and energetic resonance and build upon that. Find ways to bring in more diversity. More diversity = more fun. As a DJ, the events that are the most diverse in performers and crowds are the most fun. As an actress, the film sets that are the most diverse are also way more fun. Not only do you get diversity in races and genders, but diversity in skills, artistic influence, life experiences, creative methods, and talents! It’s an opportunity to learn, build and expand. Read More>>

Eugene Bennett

It took building confidence and trust in my abilities, and knowing that I’m in that room for a reason. Imposter syndrome is real, and I also deal with it, but sometimes you have to take a step back and look at what you’ve done, and the people you’ve helped. Read More>>