The O.

The O. is the most important part of my name.

The first reason is practical. Jessica Matthews is a pretty common name. There's even a romance novelist with the same one, which has led to some awkward conversations over the years. (To anyone who showed up expecting a love story: I'm sorry to disappoint.)

The second reason is personal. "O" is the first initial of my middle name — my Nigerian name and the name my parents and extended family call me. The O. connects me to my heritage and my history. Carrying it with me is a statement of pride and a reminder — every time I sign my name — of the value of my own unique lived experience.

The third reason is purpose. Over the years, my work has taken me from boardrooms to classrooms, from favelas to farms. And in every one of those rooms, I noticed I was drawn to the same kind of person: the one being Overlooked. Over time, the O. became more than a practical addition with personal meaning. It became an acknowledgment of who I'm fighting for in my work.