I’ve been spending a lot of time lately looking at old photos.
There’s one of you at eight years old – big eyes, a slight tilt to your head, and a spark you weren’t quite sure what to do with yet.
As I sit here in the middle of Women’s History Month, I realize the most important history I can tend to is our own.
So, this is for you – little girl from Warri with the big name.
The Fight for Breath
I wish I could tell you about the day you were born in Warri, Nigeria.
You came into this world with a drama you don’t remember, but it shaped everything that came after. You were purple and silent, not breathing, and the doctors had to resuscitate you just to begin your story.
So whenever life feels like too much – when the mountain feels too high – I want you to remember this:
You fought for your very first breath.
You were a survivor before you were even a minute old.
That resilience is in your DNA.
The Power in Your Name
At eight, I see you starting to shrink.
I see you introducing yourself as “Stephanie” because it’s easier.
I see you tucking away your first name like something too heavy to carry.
But Ofunneka (oh-foo-neck-uh), I need you to know what that name means:
One Powerful Mother.
It isn’t just a name – it’s a prophecy.
You spent years letting people call you Stephanie to make them comfortable, but the power was always in the name they couldn’t quite pronounce.
You were named for strength, leadership, and a nurturing spirit that will go on to change lives.
Don’t be afraid of the “big name.”
It was designed to hold the big life you’re going to live.
The Girl Who Didn’t Fit In
I know you’re worried about fitting in.
You’re a “nerd” – in the best way. You love learning. You find magic in understanding something new. While others are trying to be cool, you’re being curious.
And I want you to know…that’s the right path.
You were always welcoming. You saw people – really saw them – across backgrounds, stories, and experiences, even before you fully understood your own.
Your kindness is not a weakness.
It’s your superpower.
The world might try to dim that light, but don’t let it.
You weren’t born to fit into a mold.
You were born to break them.
The Summer of Change: 12/15
Fast forward to the summer of 2015.
You’re going to take a leap.
You’re going to start something called Twelve15 Design Studio – and the name is no accident.
Twelve15 is your birthday. December 15th. The day your story began.
You take that date and turn it into a mission.
In interior design, you’ll realize something important: every space is a new beginning.
You’re not just moving furniture.
You’re creating environments where people can start again.
Just as you were resuscitated and given a new beginning on 12/15, you now offer that same gift – life, beauty, and possibility – through the spaces you design.
I’ve Kept You Safe
When I look at you now, I see the blueprint for everything I’ve become.
And I want you to know this:
I’ve kept you safe.
Through every move, every pivot, every win, every heartbreak – I carried you with me.
Today, we are making the kind of history you used to read about.
I’m proud of the woman I’ve become.
But I’m even more proud of you – Ofunneka.
The girl who fought to breathe.
Who stayed curious.
Who loved deeply.
Who eventually reclaimed her name – and built a life big enough to hold it.
Keep that spark, Steph.
We’re doing exactly what we said we would.
Reflection for all of you Reading…
What parts of yourself have you tucked away to make others comfortable?
And what would it look like to reclaim your “big name” today?
Happy Women’s History Month,
Ofunneka
(the woman who grew into her name – and the life it was meant to hold)
