Episode #94: Nik Govier on Neuro-Diversity being a Superpower

The Discomfort Practice

In this episode of the Discomfort Practice, I talk with Nik Govier, the Founder & CEO of Blurred - a fast growing global management, sustainability and communications consultancy based in London. She is a regular feature in PR Week’s Top 10 Power List and was named PR Communicator of the Year in 2021. But the last five years have been a whirlwind of personal challenges and change, from leaving her previous business with nothing after building it for 12 years to facing a cancer scare during the pandemic.Nik is proudly neurodiverse (dyslexic and ADHD) and, having decided to be very public about having had six miscarriages, she is an outspoken advocate for a ‘charter for female health’ in the PR sector, which is predominantly female.

How did Nik not only survive, but thrive, with a new business and sense of mission? In this episode, we’ll talk about how she has navigated a loss of identity, the importance of no agenda meetings with people you don’t know and the profound power of a coach - for you and your team - among many juicy topics we dive into. Nik most certainly chooses guts over fear. She shares how she went from being the mindfulness class sceptic to its greatest advocate and what strengths she finds in neurodiversity (and why she hires neurodiverse people).

Nik really leads the way by showcasing the benefits of having a diverse team force and creating policies and approaches which not only support, but protect her team’s health. She’s created a business that can hold the future, because it has the perspectives needed to create diverse solutions to tricky problems. So get comfy and tune in. Enjoy!

Key Points Discussed:

• How the discomfort of Nik’s childhood with undiagnosed Dyslexic and ADHD and having school reports unfairly categorizing her as lazy and careless has led her to spending her entire professional career proving people wrong. (6:20)

• Neuro-diversity is a superpower for Nik, but she recognises that is the case, because she comes from a middle class supportive background. (8:10)

• The motivation behind having a diverse workforce, and what that looks like. (11:30)

• How having a workforce that is diverse is fundamentally about bringing different skill sets, ways of thinking and perspectives that enrich the workplace and the team working there. (19:20)

• Dealing with complex issues with systems that support her diverse team-force. Supports her team with a grief policy (including issues such as miscarriage, menopause, transition, fertility, etc). Providing coaching, support, financial support, time-off and flexible working. (22:05)

• Blurred is built on a foundation of principals surrounding diversity and supporting your workforce, which lead them to instantly receiving a high rating from B Corp (certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability and transparency regarding inclusivity, policies, etc). (29:50)

• Nik’s own discomfort practice: meeting strangers, which has led her to the House of Lords to meeting fashion photographer Rankin. (42:30)

• How a mindfulness body scan is the only form of meditation that works for Nik, for an ADHD or easily distracted brain. (45:10)

• Lasting message: even if you are neurodiverse, introverted, dyslexic or from a disadvantaged background: you have everything you need. Find a place and space that can accept you, and if you can’t, build one. (53:30)

Connect with Nik:

• Article on how Nik made it

• Blurred Website

• Nik on Instagram

• Nik on Twitter

• Nik on Linkedin

Connect with Betsy:

• Betsy on Instagram

• Betsy on Twitter

• Betsy on Linkedin

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