Damien S. Navarro is a native Angeleno with a film studies degree from California State University, Fullerton. He co-founded Brighter (nee Earthbound Media Group) in 1998, which was sold in 2013. Since then, he has held C-level executive positions and consulted for the Sundance Institute, Academy of Motion Pictures, and BAFTA on diversity and sustainability initiatives. In 2019, he became CEO of Outfest, a globally recognized non-profit organization.

Navarro has been featured in several publications, including Out Magazine's 2020 Out100 list, Instinct Magazine's 15 Queer People of Color to Follow, and Forbes. He is a frequent public speaker and industry expert, having appeared on morning news shows, lectured at universities, and participated in industry panels and events. His work has won numerous awards, including Cannes Lions, Addy, and Telly Awards.