Helping businesses attract and retain diverse talent
Helping businesses attract and retain diverse talent
This article is for every leader who has walked into a room, scanned the table, and realised: I am the only one like me here.
The only woman. The only person of colour. The only one from your background, your field, your lived experience. In those moments, visibility feels both powerful—and heavy.
Because visibility can illuminate. But it can also expose.
In The Lioness Effect, the lioness leads with integrity and quiet courage. She does not need to roar to be respected. Her presence speaks for itself—through focus, discernment, and the strength of her pride.
For leaders navigating complex spaces where they feel like the ‘only one’, this lesson is vital: your power is not in becoming louder—it is in staying truer.
1. Stay Grounded in Your Values
When you are the only one, the pressure to conform is strong. But values are your anchor. They remind you who you are beyond the expectations of the room. Ask yourself: What principle will I not trade, no matter the context? That answer is your compass.
2. Use Strategic Silence
Not every challenge requires an immediate answer. Silence can be powerful—an act of discernment, not weakness. It creates space for reflection, shifts power dynamics, and signals that your leadership is measured, not reactive.
The lioness doesn’t chase every sound. She moves when it matters.
3. Assert Without Losing Yourself
True leadership is not about shrinking to fit, nor about performing to prove. It is about standing fully as yourself and letting that authenticity guide how you contribute. Presence comes not from blending in or standing out—but from standing firm.
If you’ve ever been the only one in the room, remember this: your presence is not an accident. You are there for a reason.
And while the weight of visibility is real, so too is the impact. By holding your ground, you make space for those who will follow.
“Visibility isn’t about being the loudest—it’s about being authentic, intentional, and unshakably grounded in your values. That is the power of the lioness.” — Professor Laura Serrant
When you are the only one, it can feel isolating. But in truth, you are never alone. Every step you take with integrity widens the path for others. That is legacy. That is leadership.