119: How to Lead When You’re “THE ONLY”

Being “the only” in the room, the only woman, the only woman of color, the youngest person, the only one who thinks differently can be both an honor and a heavy responsibility. In this episode, I share how to navigate that experience while still earning respect, making an impact, and opening doors for others to join you at the table. You’ll hear: My personal journey of being “the only” from being born, my childhood to adulthood The tug-of-war blending in with honoring yourself 6 proven strategies to lead confidently as “the only” without burning bridges or betraying yourself. How to be discerning about when to stay quiet, how to identify the right people to build relationships with and why you should take up space Why your presence in the room isn’t just about you, it’s about representing voices that aren’t there yet. Whether you’re leading a corporate team, running your own business, or navigating high-stakes rooms, you’ll walk away with actionable tools to not just survive as “the only,” but to thrive and influence change. Where We Can Connect: Schedule a Business & Career Review call with me to see if it’s a good fit to work together: elainelou.com/call Check out our 314 client reviews Follow the Podcast on Apple Follow the Podcast on Spotify Follow Elaine on Instagram: @elainelou_ Connect with Elaine on LinkedIn: Elaine Lou Cartas Check out our other podcasts for Women of Color

You can listen to 119: How to Lead When You’re “THE ONLY” online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

119: How to Lead When You’re “THE ONLY” is an episode from Color Your Dreams by Elaine Lou Cartas.

This episode is 20:22 long.

This episode was published on Aug 14, 2025.

Yes. Use the heart button on the episode page to add it to your favorite episodes list.

Yes. This page shows related episodes from Color Your Dreams when more episodes are available from the podcast feed.