Having once again been named an Elev8 GovCon Honoree, and on the heels of releasing its 2024 Public Benefit Report, OS AI caught up with Sha Hwang, Chief Operating Officer to learn more about what’s ahead for this growing PBC.
A Different Way Imagined from the Start
From its beginnings as a PBC, Nava’s founders assumed there would be more like them in the space, more companies that were focused on civil servants and vulnerable populations who knew that the public benefit corporation framework and mode of governance was the right and appropriate frame from which to approach these critical missions and critical topics.
“That framework has always influenced how we make decisions, the way our culture is designed and enacted. It’s at the basis of how we treat each other as colleagues and individuals, how we’re operating in hard circumstances and how we’re celebrating good times together.”
A Changing Ecosystem
Noting that more companies and organizations are focused on culture, on doing business within the GovCon space in a different way, the chance to be part of this changing tide is exciting. “It’s incredibly validating to see the other organizations and the ways folks in the industry are rising to a higher bar.”
Noting a growing level of accountability, deeper conversations with those in government and industry who are delivering on critical programs, there is a focus around building healthy and sustainable programs, and resilient cultures that allow talented people to stay, to grow and to thrive within the space.
Focused on the Long Game
Within its own walls, Nava has embraced mentorship, cultural improvement accountability and friendly, positive competition as models for helping its team grow and challenge themselves. “We don’t want to bring people in for a single project, but instead look for people who have commitment, vision and a desire to accomplish something as part of a team.”
Understanding that not everyone who comes to Nava will stay forever though, that some will have trajectories sending them in new directions, the company embraces a long-term view of relationships. “The people who’ve worked together here end up working together in the future, they end up building professional connections, some end up starting companies together. It’s exciting to see how relationships that started here evolve.”
A Different View
Balancing its interests as a PBC and its fiduciary duty to shareholders, Nava exercises autonomy in choosing projects and in being intentional in that. “We’re also really intentional about events and making sure that we’re meeting our people where they are, even in terms of communication channels and what we are communicating so that everyone feels supported, feels they can engage and communicate in a way that makes sense for them.”
2025 and Beyond
“We’re on an exciting trajectory as an organization. Over the past few years we’ve shown an intentional focus on building custom digital services and on being a real human centered systems integrator. The ‘why we’re here’ is immensely clear and across the team there is a deep understanding and clarity that allows us actually to step up to handle some really big challenges.”
Moving forward Nava will grow and leverage both its state and federal work, allowing customers on each to benefit from insights gained on the other, knitting the two sides together as it moves forward on future legislative and programmatic changes. “In the end it comes down to bridging gaps, sharing information, really serving the citizens and the agencies supporting them in the right way possible.”
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