Why pronouncing my name right is more than common courtesy [Video]

Lawyer and social commentator Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu was recently celebrated — and criticized — for repeatedly telling journalist Dawn Neesom on-air to pronounce her name correctly.

“This is terrible, especially from a presenter,” Dr. Shola told Neesom. “Go back and start again. Phonetically.”

It’s a reasonable expectation for a host to know the names of their guests. Though it is not an unfamiliar occurrence for Dr. Shola, who encountered a similar occurrence just last year on “Good Morning Britain.”

It’s also a common occurrence for many women, particularly women of historically excluded groups. And as someone who works in diversity, equity and inclusion, it’s important for all of us to realize that pronouncing a name correctly goes far beyond common courtesy.

Yes, workplace encounters generally include some variation of “Hello, my name is ___.” It’s a simple exchange that represents an opportunity to demonstrate respect one to another. These moments can be a significant act of …