Reclaiming My Name

Global lockdowns. The great resignation. Quiet quitting. It has been a year full of challenges and personal struggles with many re-evaluating their professional goals and how they align with their values. Over the last five years in the industry I have seen the shift in my network demanding more of their employers with authenticity and values alignment often being the deciding factor for prospective talent.

Like many others in 2022 I found myself reflecting on my values and aspirations. Prior to joining Green Park I was working with a well-respected executive search firm and given the challenge of recruiting senior Chief People Officers, Chief Human Resources Officers, and General Counsels into some of the most innovative companies. I enjoyed the opportunity to prove myself working with Private Equity and Venture Capital backed start-ups whilst being a strategic advisor to high calibre executives.

For me, it was a successful milestone to prove to myself that I could compete with the best, providing value to both clients and candidates. In spite of this, I felt a cognitive dissonance in relation to my own personal motivation and I struggled to find satisfaction in these accomplishments. This lead me to look inwards and embark on a journey to discover myself.

I’ve always struggled with identity. I am a British-Born Nigerian, Yoruba-Christian, raised in a very white-dominated society since a child. The combination of these identities and the constant mispronunciation of my birth name resulted in me identifying by my English name; Josh. I quelled my voice and heritage to fit in and as a result I’ve often felt like an imposter no matter where I’ve been. Like many over the last year, I’ve sought purpose, a reason for being and this ongoing journey started with knowing myself and taking actions within my control.

As a result of this, in 2022 I am making the conscious decision to use my birth name, Dolapo, in all areas of life. On the surface, this may appear to be arbitrary; it is just a name? But for me and for many others who have grown up as a minority, this reflects a paradigm shift in my mentality from ‘fitting in’, to reclaiming my power and showing up as my true self in my new role as a Delivery Consultant within Green Park. This career change was spurred by my discovery of the #MyNameIs Campaign and Green Park’s reputation for driving inclusion in the workplace.

#MyNameIs

Earlier this year I discovered the campaign encouraging individuals to ‘reclaim their name’ in the workplace. The #MyNameIs Campaign was launched by Race Equality Matters, a not-for-profit co-founded by Green Park in 2020. This invariably led to me joining the business due to the real connection and intrinsic motivation to use my voice to inspire others to show up as their true, authentic selves.

To showcase what’s really in a name, and the importance of pronouncing them correctly, Race Equality Matters launched The Fuh-Net-Ic filter, a social tool that made it possible for anyone to share the phonetic spelling of their names, and the stories behind them. The goal of this campaign was to empower individuals to share the stories behind their names and to encourage them to use their authentic names in the workplace.

During the weeks following the launch, over 55,000 people from all over the world shared stories about their name origin, their ancestors and their identity. Reading the stories shared that were similar to mine I realise that identity crisis isn’t something exclusive to me. It reminds me that I am not alone in my struggle to discover identity and reclaim my birth name and I hope that sharing my story below inspires others to do the same.

At this stage in my career, I’m excited to embrace the power of my name and to help others in their pursuit of living their personal truths in the professional environment. Authenticity, inclusion and empowerment all breed real human connection.

A Brief History of Yoruba Names

I am Nigerian, and Yoruba, a West African ethnic group that constitutes more than 47 million people in Africa, and bear further representation among members. Culturally, names have meaning, and power. A name can be more than just a word, it can be a story, an ode, a wish, a blessing or a conversation starter. It’s usually the first piece of information given to someone. So, like all names, choosing a Yoruba name is given significant consideration. In Yorubaland, one of the most important traditions observed is ‘orúko àmútọ̀runwá’ – the naming of a newly born child, which is often organised seven days after the birth of the child. There, the child’s unique identity is unveiled. In pre-colonial West Africa, parents from the Yoruba ethnic group relied on traditional priests to decide the child’s destiny and to choose a name that reflects their pathway. Then a public ceremony was held, to celebrate the arrival of the child with friends and family.

However, things have changed in the twenty-first century, especially with the advent of Christianity and Islam. Parents, grandparents and, in rare cases, family friends suggest beautiful Yoruba names for the baby. Often these names describe the circumstance surrounding the baby’s conception and birth. My birth name is Oluwadolapo Olanrewaju Josh Sanya, as given to me by my Father, Babadhende Sanya. The Yorubas have one of the most spiritual naming traditions in the world. Oluwadolapo translates to “God Brings Wealth”, something I feel is apt when I look at my various interests and accomplishments. My surname is Sanya, translating to “Paid in Suffering”. It goes against the theme of Yoruba names in the sense it doesn’t have a prefix which further links to our spiritual heritage and native Gods. For example, it is common to see Adesanya, translating to “The Crown Avenges my Suffering”. Conversely, another is Olusanya, translating to “God compensates for my suffering”. My father isn’t sure when in our lineage the prefix was dropped, but there are too many interpretations possible for me to ponder such things. Fundamentally, the meaning of my name hints to the Warrior clan my family is known for, a famous example being Israel Adesanya, UFC Middleweight Champion.

“Our proper name is as much a part of us as our own skin. It travels with us like a passport, testifying to our unique presence on this earth. The articulation of our name rolls off our tongue with ease and familiarity, yet we rarely turn and examine the part our name plays in what makes us who we are. Our first name reflects the hopes and dreams of our parents and family, our culture, and our own sense of self, while our surname carries our ancestral history, a branding of both affiliation and transmission.” – Himes, M. 2016