When we were first brainstorming names for our nonprofit more than 3 years ago, we had a lot of ideas. And I mean a lot.
Some of them sounded like tech startups. Some sounded like chess clubs from the world of Harry Potter.
And, weirdly enough, some of them included the initials of our founder names. Zoey, Austin, Ishaan, Neev. That part kind of made sense. We were 10 to 14 years old at the time, and we were putting everything we had into building something authentic. Other student-led nonprofits we admired had used the founders’ names. It felt legacy-ish. Important.
But one of our mentors asked something that changed everything: “What if you’re not the one running this five years from now?” they asked. “What if new kids join, volunteer and eventually it’s their turn to take over?”
That question stuck. Even though we couldn’t see that far ahead as young teens, we realized we didn’t want our names on the headlines if it meant someone else might feel like they were just “relaying” our thing.
We wanted it to feel like their thing, too.
So we started thinking differently. We made new rules: no names, no initials, nothing personal. Just something meaningful and unique.
We all grew up in Portland – a wonderful city with mountains, bridges, bookstores, rain… lots of rain. One of Portland’s old nicknames is “Puddletown.” It felt niche, but also perfect. Something that represented not just the founders but also our coaches, volunteers, and students. So we added it to the list of options.
We voted on a shortlist (all four of us founders), and “Puddletown Chess” came out on top.
So that’s the story. We picked a name that didn’t point to us, but to the place we’re building for.
And maybe that’s the coolest part of all: someday, someone else will run Puddletown – and they won’t have to carry our names to carry the mission forward.
Reflection for Younger Leaders
If you’re building something of your own, ask yourself this: Are you naming it for now – or for what it could become later?
Sometimes the best way to lead is to quietly step out of the spotlight, even if it means retiring from what you love the most… and make room for others to take charge.
By Ishaan Kodarapu
