Here's a thread worth considering.
Martin and colleague Nicole swapped email sign-offs and experienced some unexpected, but sadly unsurprising results.
We did an experiment: For two weeks we switched names. I signed all client emails as Nicole. She signed as me.
Folks. It fucking sucked.
— Martin R. Schneider (@SchneidRemarks) March 9, 2017
By the time she could get clients to accept that she knew what she was doing, I could get halfway through another client.
— Martin R. Schneider (@SchneidRemarks) March 9, 2017
I wasn't any better at the job than she was, I just had this invisible advantage.
— Martin R. Schneider (@SchneidRemarks) March 9, 2017
The thread (and it's a long thread but well worth the read) has prompted support and debate, but one response pretty much sums up the overall vibe.