Photo: Vishal enjoys the architecture at the National Museum of Catalan Art in Barcelona, Spain.
Vishal Nair (he/him/his), Inatai Foundation’s newest Human Resources Associate, is grounded by his belief in the interconnectedness of people. Whether it’s his community in Camas, Washington or the high school students he worked with in his time at iQ Credit Union, Vishal relates to others as a community member, mentor, and friend. As a queer Fijian American, his emphasis on relationships is shaped by his life experiences.
“When I came out as queer, the support I had among my friends and siblings meant the world to me,“ expresses Vishal. “There is so much beauty in all of us and we all deserve a safe space to share or express that. My hope is to be that safe space for others like my family and friends were for me.”
Vishal’s family moved to Camas, Washington when he was six months old, and has lived in the Camas area his entire life. Today, he feels deeply connected to his hometown—thanks in large part to his connections with friends and family.
In college—first at Clark Community College, and then at Washington State University Vancouver— Vishal’s ability to connect with others blossomed. At Clark, he worked as a Peer Mentor with the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, pursuing his passion for mental health advocacy. Vishal also spent several years as iQ Credit Union’s Education Coordinator, where he helped instruct high school students on the tenets of financial literacy. As his professional experiences grew, he couldn’t deny his calling to connect with others, realizing that a career in human resources was his path forward.
“I wanted a meaningful career where I could use the skills I learned in college, while making an impact on those around me,” says Vishal. “Human resources spoke to me because I’ve always been passionate about community and mental health support. Ensuring team members have the resources they need to be successful; while having an open-door mindset so they can express their needs proved that this was the perfect fit.”
In his role as Human Resources Associate at Inatai, Vishal supports the functions of the Human Resources team, including recruitment and hiring, operations, and employee benefits, among others. He also provides project coordination support for departmental priorities and helps drive a positive organizational culture across the Inatai team.
“I’m inspired by Inatai’s commitment to driving racial equity and supporting diverse communities, like the LGBTQIA+ community,” Vishal shares. “Inatai has a deep focus on advocating for important issues across all of Washington—and as someone who’s lived here my whole life, it’s especially important to me to help build statewide systems of support.”
When he isn’t working, Vishal enjoys keeping up with astrology, finding new restaurants to eat at, and spending time with his beloved tabby cat, Delilah.
