“As a young American woman in a foreign country, I couldn’t avoid standing out… I knew I was valuable to the division, and instead of focusing on why I was the oddball, I focused on the advantages that my unique background offered,” she says. “I asked questions fearlessly, contributed fresh ideas, and built strong relationships.”

“Bias feeds on insecurity,” she continues. “We all have the impulse to hide our differences. But if you’re ashamed of who you are, you’re silently telling the world that you agree with stereotypes. Hold you head high and remind yourself that your differences are an asset, not a liability.”

Hear, hear.

Read more tips from Ibrahim on Fortune.com here.

Images: iStock and Rex

Do this to push back against sexism at work