Vashti Chatman, PHR, SHRM-CP
Vashti Chatman, PHR, SHRM-CP, is a seasoned people strategist, fractional Chief Human Resources Officer, and executive coach with more than 26 years of experience in human resources. Based in Cincinnati, Ohio, she has built a distinguished career partnering with senior leaders to develop high-performing teams and drive organizational success. Her expertise spans the full HR spectrum, including talent acquisition, employee engagement, leadership development, learning and development, and people strategy. Known for her ability to connect with individuals at all levels, Vashti combines strategic insight with a deeply human-centered approach to leadership and culture transformation.
Throughout her career, Vashti has held influential leadership roles, including serving as Global Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief People and Culture Officer, where she led large, cross-functional teams and spearheaded initiatives that enhanced organizational culture, streamlined processes, and improved talent outcomes. Her professional journey began in recruiting and talent acquisition before expanding into corporate HR leadership, where she ultimately reached the executive level. Driven by a desire to make a broader impact, she transitioned into consulting and founded N’Sights HR Consulting and Coaching, where she delivers fractional HR leadership, transformation and coaching services, and curated leadership experiences for both for-profit and nonprofit organizations.
Vashti’s philosophy centers on the belief that high-performing cultures are built through well-cared-for people, strong leadership, clarity, and disciplined execution. She is passionate about helping individuals and organizations unlock their full potential, guided by her coaching approach: “Assess & Unlock, Coach & Unblock, Build & Sustain.” Beyond her professional work, she values faith, gratitude, and service, often engaging in volunteerism and advocacy within her community. Her commitment to bringing authenticity, empathy, and purpose into the workplace continues to define her impact as a trusted advisor and transformational leader.
• PHR
• SHRM-CP
• Certified Five Capitals Coach
• Certified StandOut Debrief Coach
• Coaching for Results
• Thomas More University - BBA
• SHRM (National and Local)
• National Urban League Guild of Southwest Ohio (Executive Committee)
• The Healing Center (Board Member)
• Business Development & Entrepreneurship Center at ULGSO
• The Healing Center
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success first to God, and then to building a positive mental state and mental fitness and toughness early. That mental toughness has allowed me to say yes to things that most people say no to. I've said yes to some odd jobs in my career, and I've just gone into it boldly. That's put me in rooms that, quite frankly, I don't know that I belonged in at the time that I was in them, and I was able to build relationships that just really poured into me, and I was able to grow in that way. So first is God, and then it's just saying yes to the hard stuff.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I've ever received actually came from my mother. My mother is an amazing woman - she's not a corporate woman, she's a very simple woman, but she is just a powerhouse. She always calls me her nervous child, and what she's always shared with me is: know what's real, and know who and whose you are, and lean into that, and you will do well. You can't go wrong when you know those things. That's always served me. It's just to understand, slow down, know what's real, know who and whose you are, and that has just given me power in some of my most uncertain and crazy times in my life. It's allowed me to really listen in to my inner self, and I take that advice and I give that back to others. That's where I've really seen people flourish - it's listening and knowing and understanding what's real, and knowing who and whose you are.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
If I could offer advice to younger women entering my industry, I think it would be pulling on what my mother shared with me: know what's real, stay aligned with the Spirit, trust the process, and build a positive mental state early so that you can run your race. The ability to get really quiet, slow down, listen to your intuition, listen to that voice that speaks softly - that to me is the Holy Spirit - and aligning with the Spirit is the number one reason I'm able to sit here and do all these hard things in my career and take these bold moves with full joy and peace. I really believe that being in step with the Spirit, you don't have to chase everything, you don't have to second-guess every step. You really can recognize what's for you and what's not for you, and even when you try something, you can recognize when it's time to pivot and move on. It goes back to just knowing who you are, and most importantly, whose you are, because that will help you embrace the stretch and being uncomfortable, and then just running the race that's for you. So my advice would be: stay steady, stay aware, stay intentional even when it's tough, own your race, build that mental toughness early, and finish strong and step with the Spirit.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the biggest opportunity for us right now is that HR really has an opportunity to lead in the space of technology, where AI and all these things are really happening, and the future of work is uncertain. One thing that stays consistent, no matter what's happening in this world, is that people need people. Meaningful connections still matter. Even in this space of artificial intelligent bots and robots, you're never going to get away from the need - people need people, and things run through people. So there's the opportunity for HR to still lead. It's about human, and that's the part we get to focus on, and really develop that path for future of work and staying connected. The challenge that goes with that is that HR professionals still have to dig in, and to be really good in this industry, you have to know business, and you can't set that aside. You have to understand business, you still have to go with the times, you have to stay ahead of the trends and the technology, but just keep that human aspect in it. So I think that opportunity also is the challenge.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My values are faith first, family, and then career. Those are kind of the three buckets. There's lots of things that fall underneath those buckets, but that's what guides me. Definitely faith is always first - that's where that inner voice, that intuition, it comes from the spirit. Always listen and seek that. And then my family - that's what helps me to keep and create balance. I know balance is a funky word, but I do create my own with what makes sense, and my family's a big part of that. And then, of course, I value achieving and stretching and growth, and I get to do that through my career. So I would bucket it in those three ways: faith, family, and career.