The Only Woman in the Room, Quotes and Wisdom for a Fearless Life. Former advertising and public relations executive, Annette Merritt Cummings, has written a memoir about a career where she was often the only woman and only black person in the room. This book features quotes, wisdom and inspirational hymns and poems she collected over the years that motivated and encouraged her throughout her 30 year career "from the bottom to the top;" from unwed mother to a senior executive and diversity consultant. During the course of her career she was featured in magazine and newspaper articles, facilitated executive briefings, gave speeches, and conducted diversity training sessions for national organizations and Fortune 500 corporations.