Navel Nazareth, Co-Founder, CEO of NAM Solutions & Young Queer Entrepreneur

Interview with Navel Nazareth, Co-Founder, CEO of NAM Solutions & Young Queer Entrepreneur

Navel Nazareth, who is 26 and identifies himself as Queer entrepreneur. He was always passionate about writing and chose to build his career around the same.

As soon as he completed his graduation, he began his career in a national newspaper as a sub-editor for a nationalized newspaper working in the online department for genres like Technology and Lifestyle.

While working he realized the need of having an informational portal that could be LGBTQIA+ centric, and thus founded ‘Closeted Stance’ and started working on articles to highlight issues that lay in the community.

Navel Nazareth is also an Anchor and Editor-in-Chief for an online platform named Closeted Stance. Closeted Stance is an inclusive platform focusing on the LGBTQ+ Community and its issues.

He believes that “Most of us have been in the closet for almost all our lives, but we still deserve to have a Stance”.

He has created an LGBTQ+ Friendly and Safe environment for his employees at work and is open to having employees from the LGBTQ+ Community itself.

After working there for a while as a journalist, he dedicated himself to working as a freelancer and worked with many reputed brands and celebrities to write content for their various social media platforms, formal correspondence, and website.

Starting from an intern for television journalism, he is currently pursuing his Master’s in Communication & Journalism and simultaneously is the Co-Founder & CEO of NAM Solutions, and handles social media strategy, content for social media platforms, websites, and PR for all the clients.

Tell us a little about yourself

Navel Nazareth: Since childhood, I have always been an active kid, who people term as a ‘Bright Child’. While I was never too good with my circular, when it came to literary arts, I always had the confidence to speak in front of people, thus leading me to choose Journalism as a specialized subject for my graduation and master’s.

When it came to my experience as a queer individual in school, growing up was tough as there had been many instances of Bullying, Discrimination, and Mental assault, where things did go wrong, but I always found a way to tackle each situation and come out of it.

It wasn’t easy at all times, but I always knew that it is the lack of education and information about the LGBTQIA+ Community that was the core reason behind how people treated me.

Talking about my family, I come from a catholic household that was quite religious, but when it came to dealing with me, my family always choose to give me my space and liberty to do what seemed right to me.

But I was always made aware that my home is a safe space and they are always there to accept me as I am. This sense of security always gave me the courage to stand up for myself and never give up!

Please tell us a little about your entrepreneurial journey

Navel Nazareth: Starting my own business was never a plan, not even in the wildest of my dreams. As mentioned earlier, I was always passionate about literary arts and this let me into getting stronger and stronger with language and public speaking.

Starting from a break time internship at a news broadcasting channel, how it lead to opening my own company was a journey that still today amazes me!

As people say, that it is important to choose right, was the same case with me. While I used to work in broadcasting, I realized that I’m passionate about writing thus motivating me to take up a job as ‘Sub-Editor’ at a National Newspaper company, writing for Lifestyle, Technology, and a few other beats.

As every media graduate will attest, when you are good at a job, you get a lot of freelance opportunities.

The same happened with me and my friends as a restaurant approached us, leading to our collaboration within a year, we all decided to pursue full-time responsibility and registered our LLP.

What service(s) or product(s) do you offer at NAM Solutions?

Navel Nazareth: Being completely from a media background, we provide services like PR and Digital Marketing for Individuals and Corporate.

What is unique about your label brand?

Navel Nazareth: What sets us apart from others is the fact that we are all born in the new age and have a better understanding of what clients need and how to achieve them, thus leading to either retention or recommendation.

What made you choose this type of business?

Navel Nazareth: Since our very young age, digital media was always been considered either a waste of time or a doorway to crime.

Though this mindset exists even today we were completely fascinated with the potential internet and social media hold and with the regular introduction of upgrades and updates curiosity is ever-growing making us more and more keen towards this industry.

What was your mission at the outset?

Navel Nazareth: Being a Queer individual myself, I understand what it really feels to be judged, bullied, and discriminated against for things that are natural to you, thus my mission at the outset is to build a company that has a zero-tolerance policy against discrimination and bullying of any sorts while creating a safe space for all individuals who are creative and want a platform to prove themselves.

How many employees are in your organization?

Navel Nazareth: Currently, we are staffed with 7 employees and are in the planning stage to expand even further based on our forecast of 2023 business opportunity.

What have been some of your failures, and what have you learned from them?

Navel Nazareth: Failures have always meant to me that I tried my best but I need to try even further. There has been an uncountable number of times where I have failed in achieving something for the silliest reasons at times, but after that, I have always made it a point to keep that in mind and try to refrain from doing that the next time I get an opportunity.

Being a young entrepreneur, one of the biggest failures in business is not choosing the right staff, and even I have fallen prey to that.

But this only led to helping me understand that while I am a business owner, my staff and team play a much more important role in building my business than me!

What was the inspiration behind turning into an entrepreneur?

Navel Nazareth: As this was never a plan, there isn’t any inspiration behind becoming an entrepreneur, other than the fact that it was a need of the hour and we choose to accept this path, rather than run from it.

Key things to consider before starting a startup?

Navel Nazareth: For everyone who is keen on starting their own business, it is important to consider 4 factors in mind. The idea, team strength, opportunity in the market, and capital accumulation for easy operations. If you have all these factors figured out, there is no way your startup can fail.

What are some of the biggest mistakes you’ve made?

Navel Nazareth: The biggest mistake I made in the initial 2 years of my business was the fact that I was trying to do everything on my own, without taking any salary, thinking this is my own business and that taking a salary will be an additional expenditure to the company.

This was one of the biggest mistakes me and my partners were doing, but with time came the maturity and understanding to help us rectify the same.

Your success tips for young and aspiring entrepreneurs

Navel Nazareth: If you wish to be successful in life, it is important that you stand up for yourself at all times, but never stand up against others. As this was the only thought that kept me going in spite of all difficulties that came my way!

Article Credits: Sugermint