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.
Shovon Ahmed
I started out as a college dropout with no big network, no fancy degree, and no shortcuts. What I did have was grit. I learned to make things work when no one was opening doors for me. I taught myself SEO, branding, and PR from the ground up, and I built WikiGenius as a platform to give people a voice who might otherwise be ignored. Read More>>
Patrice Monteiro
Many times, being the only one in the room representing my age and ethnicity has definitely taught me a lot about confidence and purpose. Over time, I’ve learned to be effective by grounding myself in who I am before I even walk in. I remind myself that I’m there for a reason — my voice, my experience, and my perspective have value. Read More>>
Lisa Williams
I remember walking into the welcome dinner at a business mastermind in Mexico and immediately feeling out of place. Everyone was talking about KPIs, ROI, scaling strategies, and team performance. I could hear the confidence in their voices, but I didn’t understand a word of what they were saying. I’m an energy worker. I read people’s emotions, not their balance sheets. Read More>>
Luka Dudkin
When I moved to the U.S. and founded ABC Photoshoot in Florida, I often found myself in rooms where I was the only one who looked, spoke, or thought the way I did. At first, that difference felt noticeable — culturally, linguistically, and professionally. But very quickly I realized that uniqueness can be a strength if you know how to use it. Read More>>
Angelo Flowers
Being the only one in the room has been a familiar experience throughout my life and career. It can be isolating at times, but it has also shaped how I move with intention and confidence. I’ve learned that my presence is powerful, even when it feels uncomfortable. Read More>>
Gabriela Huezo
Being the only one in the room that looked like me, and having an accent, since English isn’t my first language, used to feel isolating and, at times, limiting, as it sometimes held me back from fully sharing my ideas and expertise. Now, it feels like both a responsibility and a privilege. Read More>>
Chris Moore
This is one I’ve been both lucky and unlucky enough to experience growing up. I lived in Wisconsin for a while as a kid, and even though it was more diverse than you’d think, there were a lot of times I was the only minority around. Read More>>
Ethan Sinconis
There’s been so many times where I’ve felt like being the only one in the room who thought like me or came from the same background that I did — especially being self-taught, starting extremely young, and being someone who deeply valued things like opening titles, was not fully understood or appreciated. Read More>>
Marie Rolla
It’s no coincidence that I chose the name ‘Black Sheep Salon’. I was tired of feeling alone and out of place everywhere I went. I found my success by finding a bigger room, loudly stating my ideals and values, and inviting others to join me. Read More>>
Jerome T Ewing
In writing , or in life in general success comes with being confident and what you’re talking about and Truth is very important for that concept because when you’re telling the truth about something nothing else matters because you can tell the story or write it over and over if you’re talking to a young audience or old audience it doesn’t matter because when you’re talking about a subject for instance me celebrities Read More>>
HT
I work to improve at this each day. I think controlling the narrative/focus is essential. I come in focused on producing results, so anyone with aligning priorities is naturally inclined to be more cooperative. This makes collaboration easier and helps fight the feeling of ‘isolation.’ I’ve learned if I stay focus on the end goal, I can negate the negative aspects of the experience. Read More>>
G’Bo Ponzi
Be Positive, Stay Focus,, Keep Going, Be Open too Constructive Criticism and Always Willing to Learn, I Have A Surprise Factor Talent , lol I Say That Because When I’m Recording or Taking Pictures , No One Knows What I’m Going to Do or Say. Read More>>
Brittany McDonald
As a Black woman, I have often found myself in spaces where I was the only one who looked like me. Instead of feeling out of place, I choose to see those moments as opportunities to shine. I lead with my personality, authenticity, and genuine care for others. I use my social skills to connect, learn, and build relationships that go beyond surface level. Read More>>
Kenneth Horton
For most of my 20 years in the U.S. Air Force, my 10 years as Federal Law Enforcement Officer and supervisor, I was often the only one in the room who looked like me, if not the only Black man, the only senior enlisted from my background, the only voice carrying experiences some couldn’t begin to imagine. Read More>>
Michelle Moore
I decided to be myself. I was invited to the room for a reason. I love who I am and I believe I can always bring a different perspective to any conversation. Read More>>
Andrew Clinkscale
’ve spent a lot of my career being the only one in the room who looks like me — whether that’s in media, tech, or now in food innovation. Early on, I stopped seeing that as isolation and started seeing it as opportunity. When you’re the only one, you learn how to listen differently. You see the blind spots others miss. Read More>>
Douglas Essig
You are never truly alone in the room when you have faith in something greater than yourself. There is a deep peace that comes when you know you are living out your calling, even when you cannot see the full picture of where it is heading. Read More>>
Cinthia Onines
Being a Latina woman, I’ve spent a lot of time being the only one in the room who looks like me. Early in my career, especially in corporate jobs, I was often the only woman and almost always the only Latina. It was intimidating at first. Read More>>
Ashley Lynn Priore
From a very young age, I was often the only girl in a room full of boys at chess tournaments. That experience shaped the way I interact with the world. Read More>>
Bil Brown
Being the only one in the room that looks like me has taught me to translate difference into strength. Early on, I realized that standing out could either isolate me or set me apart—and I chose to make it an advantage. I learned to listen deeply, to read the room before I spoke, and to communicate in ways that built trust across difference. Read More>>
Sophia Ellis
Being the only one in the room that looks like me used to feel heavy, but I learned to shift my perspective. Success, for me, isn’t about proving myself to others—it’s about what makes me happy. When I’m doing work that feeds into my purpose, it naturally ties into one of my passions, and that’s where I find my strength. Read More>>
Tamarrice Parker
I’ve learned that being the only one in the room that looks like me is not a weakness, it’s a strength. It means I bring something no one else can. A perspective, a story, a voice that hasn’t always been seen or heard in those spaces. Read More>>
Admire Dorsey
I have learned when I am the only one that looks like me in the room I have learned I need to work twice not even twice but a thousand times harder then the room. Because i want to proof i can be better at what i do then everyone else and try to be as different but as cohesive as everyone else. Read More>>
Michelle Mellon
When you are an ‘other’ in the room, success depends in part on how you view yourself and in part on how well you watch those around you. I credit my parents for giving me an unshakeable belief in myself and my abilities that was an invaluable defense against the bullies and ill-informed as I was growing up. Read More>>
TREY WARD
Thriving When You’re the Only One in the Room: Lessons from Ward’s Wrecker Service and In Transit Environmental Walking into a room and realizing you’re the only one there — and the only one who looks like you — can be intimidating. It’s a moment that forces you to make a decision: either shrink back or lean in. Read More>>
Zipporah Banyay
That’s a great question, and I truly appreciate the space to have conversations like this. Being the only one in the room who looks has taught me how to anchor myself in who I am. I’m very spirit-led, and everywhere I go, I move with the flow of my inner guidance. Read More>>
Joshua Bovill
Being the only one in the room that looks like me hasn’t always been easy. As a Black man in education, I’ve often found myself in spaces where I was one of few—if not the only one. Early on, that felt isolating. But I’ll never forget meeting Dr. Green, a principal in my district. Read More>>
Auden Singh
More often than not, I am the only person in the room that looks like me; I am a proud queer, trans, and disabled person of color in a field that is primarily dominated by white men. I make it a priority to showcase my identity through my work and be the representation that I want to be for my community. Read More>>
Dr. Janet Bentley-Ewers
I think for me, being the only one in the room like myself has been frequent and often enough, through my early financial services career as an advisor and presently as a successful business owner and doctor, that I have learned how to navigate it with agility. Read More>>
Micah Gerome
I think by just being me and staying true to who I am. Knowing who I am. A lot of people may not know but majority of the time, I am I the room by my self. Well, me and the engineer if I’m not recording on my own. It’s a rule that everyone has to get out while I record. Read More>>
Jason & Heather Colby
When we first started this company, it was indeed with the intentions of disrupting the broken industry of mold testing, and shedding light on limitations and consistent problems with the building industry as a whole through compassionate education. Read More>>
Kayla Works
When being the only one in the room, I’ve learned how to be adaptable and innovative in real time. For most of my life, I’ve been in spaces where I was the only one who looked like me, and that experience has taught me how to navigate conflict, command a room, and create brave spaces where others feel empowered to speak up. Read More>>
Cindy Tapia and Ernesto Delgado
As Mexican-Americans, we’ve often been the only ones in the room who look like us. In the beginning, it felt intimidating, but we realized we weren’t walking in alone, we were carrying the sacrifices of our parents, the resilience of our community, and the artistry of our Mexican culture. Read More>>
