Hi, I’m simran.
Simran Noor (she/her) is an interdependent consultant and coach specializing in strategy, organizational development, and movement building. Her work centers on achieving values alignment, particularly around racial and social justice. Simran has over fifteen years of experience working directly with impacted communities, leading organizational change, developing policy and strategy, and working within the philanthropic sector. As a survivor, Simran comes to the work with a deep commitment to healing and transformation informed by her study and practice of embodied leadership. She is dedicated to the study and embodiment of an anti-caste analysis, currently serving as on the Board of South Asian Americans Leading Together(SAALT).
Before launching her independent operation, Simran was Senior Fellow at Race Forward and Vice President of Policy & Programs at the Center for Social Inclusion (CSI). During her time at CSI, she also served as Deputy Director of the Government Alliance on Race and Equity (GARE). Prior to that, Simran worked as staff at both the Annie E. Casey and W.K. Kellogg Foundations. With a deep commitment to youth development, some of Simran’s past work includes working in organizational development and as frontline staff for the Holistic Life Foundation, a Baltimore-based yoga and mindfulness program, and working as a language arts and community engagement teacher for middle school students through the Middle Grades Partnership.
Simran holds a dual bachelor’s degree in American Studies and Political Science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, and a dual master’s degree in Public Administration and Social Policy from the University of Pennsylvania. She currently serves as a board member for Building Movement Project and Borealis Philanthropy and is a proud member of Universal Partnership’s Warriors for Embodied Liberation. In her spare time, she loves to read, create music, travel, and spend time with family.
Based in Philadelphia, PA, Simran was born into a Punjabi Sikh, Hindu, and Parsi family in New Delhi and raised outside Baltimore, MD.
ABOUT NOOR CONSULTING
Simran’s vision for her life and work is simple -- values alignment. As a consultant, this means working interdependently and collaboratively, building, participating in, and being accountable to a political home.
In 2018, Simran joined a collective of seasoned and new consultants of color to create the Just Consulting Collaborative (JCC); a shared services cooperative rooted in democratic governance, shared power, and collective decision-making. While JCC is still in development, Noor Consulting and JCC have identified the following values that coexist in the design and implementation of any consultant project:
balance of vision & pragmatism
We recognize much work in this space is timely and yet, cutting-edge for the sector; little precedent exists in this scope and scale. While vision will drive any process, we will also ensure we are pragmatic in meeting deliverables and timelines, ensuring perfection does not become the enemy of the good.
Collectivity & cooperative economics
We are deeply committed to exploring models for collective wealth generation and economic transformation within the context of our work and our own organizational structure.
communication
We value rapid, transparent communications so all engaged feel informed and know their voices are heard. For us to develop trust and ensure final project deliverables are met, we all must communicate effectively and in a timely manner.
emergence
Given the shape and context of an ever-changing world, we recognize that our work must be guided by emergent strategy and appreciative inquiry. We hope to have a flexible approach that allows projects to evolve across the timespan of a working relationship.
generative tensions
While dominant culture forces us to avoid conflict, we recognize that conflict can be generative, and addressing tensions can be transformative, allowing our work and outputs to be richer and more reflective of what is needed. We are committed to turning to wonder and deeper inquiry during times of tension/conflict, allowing these times to be productive.
interdependence
We recognize that no work can be done in a silo. Interdependence is necessary both at the micro-project level and at the macro-relationship level. We honor this value and work to center this concept in all of our work.
racial justice + self determination
All processes we engage in will reflect a systemic analysis around power, particularly as it relates to race, class, and gender. In every process, from research to writing and stakeholder engagement, we are committed to ensuring equity and inclusion.
slow down to speed up
Also referred to as patience/urgency, we recognize our work requires urgency (around particular timelines and topics) and patience (particularly related to processing aspects that involve people). We are committed to being patient to ensure the collective has a shared understanding and that each process is fair and accessible.