Nik Govier’s journey to becoming a successful businesswoman has been anything but simple. She has faced numerous challenges, both personally and professionally, but she believes that honesty about these struggles makes people more accessible. Transparency, she feels, is vital, especially in a world where inequality is prevalent. Throughout her career, she has experienced many highs and lows, from burnout to multiple miscarriages and from a difficult business ‘divorce’ to navigating life with dyslexia and ADHD. Each of these experiences has shaped her into a stronger person and leader. At EliteX, we are proud to have Nik Govier as part of the edition: Prominent Businesswomen in UK, 2025.
Nik Govier | CEO & Founder | Blurred
Nik’s inspiration for starting her current business came from her past experiences. She previously co-owned a business in a 50:50 partnership, but from early on, she realized that their values did not align. Despite knowing this, she remained in the business for 12 years. When she eventually started Blurred with three other partners, she ensured that their values were perfectly aligned. This alignment has made all the difference. Her previous company focused solely on communications, but she wanted to go beyond just telling great stories about businesses—she wanted to help businesses become better. That desire led to Blurred, which uniquely blends sustainability, management, and communications consultancy.
“Setbacks are just moments in time. Life is a collection of experiences.”
As a woman in business, Nik has not faced significant challenges, largely because she has controlled her own path since her twenties. However, she acknowledges that people often assume she is a man because of her name. Reflecting on the early days of her career, she recalls how common low-level sexual harassment was and how young women simply accepted it as part of the workplace culture. Thankfully, times have changed, but those experiences have shaped her perspective on the importance of equality and respect in the workplace.
For success in her industry, Nik believes curiosity is essential. With a wide range of clients and rapidly evolving issues, an eagerness to continuously learn is critical. She also emphasizes the importance of having a strong moral compass. The industry has a dark side that involves spin and misinformation, making it vital for professionals to set clear ethical boundaries and stay true to them. Nik credits her biggest influence to Margaret Thatcher. While she does not share Thatcher’s political views in any way shape or form, growing up in the 1980s, she saw a woman leading the country and never doubted that she could achieve anything she wanted. This, combined with unwavering support from her family, gave her the confidence to pursue her ambitions.
What sets Blurred apart from other businesses is its unwavering commitment to values and the B Corp principles of People, Planet, and Profit. Success at Blurred is measured against these three elements. Recently, the company achieved a 98% approval rating in an anonymous employee survey (People), received a high B Corp recertification score of 120 (Planet), and delivered an EBITDA profit of 25% (Profit). Nik is particularly proud of the company’s focus on inclusivity, ensuring that everyone, regardless of background, life stage, disability or personal circumstances, can thrive. Her own experiences with neurodivergence have made her passionate about creating an environment where people’s strengths and weaknesses are understood and respected. Employees at Blurred are encouraged to bring their best selves to work, knowing they will be supported and seen.
Balancing work and personal life is extremely important to Nik, especially after experiencing six miscarriages before finally becoming a parent. Those hardships made her even more determined to be present for her children. She maintains strict boundaries, ensuring she finishes work at 6 PM every night to have dinner with her family. While she starts work early in the morning, her evenings are dedicated to her loved ones, and she believes this balance benefits both her family and her professional performance.
“Curiosity is essential—an eagerness to continuously learn is critical in this industry.”
Staying ahead in a competitive industry requires adhering to strong values and maintaining curiosity about what lies ahead. Nik believes in constantly seeking out ways to improve and innovate. One of her biggest challenges was walking away from Unity, the business she co-founded. Despite her significant contributions, she could not remove her business partner due to their equal ownership. Eventually, she realized that she had to walk away. While friends questioned her decision to leave with nothing, she knew that was not the case. She had 12 years of experience, valuable relationships, and lessons on what not to do in her next venture. The support she received after leaving was overwhelming, and Blurred quickly surpassed her previous business in every way because it was built on shared values and a unified vision.
Mentorship and support for others, including women in business, are central to Blurred’s culture. The company offers coaching to all employees and provides tailored benefits based on individual needs, from neurodivergence assessments to additional holiday allowances. Recognizing that everyone has different needs, Nik ensures that employees can choose what works best for them. Coaching, in particular, is at the core of the company’s philosophy, helping employees grow both personally and professionally.
Innovation is crucial in the industry, and Nik encourages it by fostering curiosity and a mindset of continuous learning. She believes that getting out into the world, experiencing new things, and bringing those discoveries back to the business is the key to staying ahead. Her advice to young women aspiring to follow in her footsteps is to embrace the lows, as they shape character, and to celebrate the highs, as they provide motivation during tough times. Most importantly, she encourages women never to lose sight of who they are amid their professional journeys. During difficult times, Nik stays motivated through coaching and by reminding herself that setbacks are just moments in time. Life is a collection of experiences, and challenges eventually become part of a broader journey of growth and learning.
Looking to the future, she aims to continue leading by example, proving that businesses can be successful while also prioritizing people and the planet. She also wants to create more opportunities for those who are often overlooked or not given a fair chance in their careers. Nik hopes her legacy will be one of empathetic leadership. She wants to be remembered as a leader who showed that with care and consideration, people can be empowered to do exceptional work. By fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, she believes businesses can thrive while making a meaningful impact on the world.
“Transparency is vital, especially in a world where inequality is prevalent.”
