Navjot Gurm is a social service professional, entrepreneur and advocate for equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). She founded two organizations and wants to create social change and equality across sectors. With over a decade of experience working with marginalized communities, including refugees and individuals facing mental health challenges, homelessness, addiction, brain injuries and autism, Nav understands the complexities involved in fostering equity.
Introduce yourself!
I’m the founder of Diverse Spectrum Solutions (DSS), a consultancy dedicated to fostering equity, diversity and inclusion in organizations. With a passion for creating inclusive cultures, I specialize in designing tailored strategies, facilitating impactful training and driving meaningful change to help teams and communities thrive.
I am also the cofounder of Compassion for Animals Welfare Association (CAWA), a nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of animals through advocacy, education and community initiatives. CAWA offers rescue operations, spay and neuter programs and awareness campaigns to foster compassionate relationships between humans and animals. Through these efforts, CAWA aims to create a harmonious coexistence between communities and animals.
What inspired you to start your business?
The inspiration to start DSS came from a deep desire to foster inclusion and equity and bridge gaps in diverse environments. I wanted to use my skills to create meaningful change, empowering organizations to thrive through inclusive practices and innovative strategies.
Compassion for animals and witnessing the challenges faced by stray and neglected animals motivated me to cofound CAWA. My goal is to ensure these animals receive care, support and a voice while creating a community that values kindness and responsibility towards all living beings
Who’s a female entrepreneur that inspires you?
A female entrepreneur who inspires me is Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx. She turned a simple idea into a billion-dollar brand while breaking barriers for women in business, proving that persistence and creativity can lead to extraordinary success.
What’s a business myth you’d love to bust?
A common business myth is that diversity and inclusion initiatives only benefit marginalized groups. In reality, fostering an inclusive culture drives innovation, improves team performance and creates value for everyone involved.
What’s one mistake you made early on in your business, and what did you learn from it?
One mistake I made early on was trying to do everything myself, from operations to marketing. I quickly realized that spreading myself too thin hindered growth and efficiency. I learned the importance of delegation and building a reliable team. By trusting others and their expertise, I was able to focus on strategic decision-making and driving the organizations forward.
Describe your organizations in three words.
Diverse Spectrum Solutions: Inclusive. Transformative. Collaborative.
Compassion for Animals Welfare Association: Advocate. Educate. Compassion.
What’s your proudest business milestone so far?
My proudest milestone at DDS has been collaborating with fellow DEI professionals to share ideas, address gaps in our field and build a small, supportive network committed to advancing equity and inclusion. At CAWA, we have successfully expanded our spay-and-neuter initiatives to underserved communities, demonstrating our commitment to creating compassionate, sustainable solutions for animal welfare.
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