Celeste Warren: Why Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Isn’t Going Away — And What Leaders Still Get Wrong

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Celeste Warren: Why Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Isn’t Going Away — And What Leaders Still Get Wrong

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00:45:13

Celeste Warren: Why Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Isn’t Going Away — And What Leaders Still Get Wrong

What if much of the backlash around diversity, equity, and inclusion comes from misunderstanding what those ideas were actually meant to be? In this episode, Dean Newlund and Celeste Warren unpack the leadership, hiring, and workplace realities behind one of the most emotionally charged conversations in business today.

In this episode, Dean Newlund and Celeste Warren discuss:

What diversity, equity, and inclusion actually mean inside organizations
Why equity is often misunderstood as lowering standards or giving preferential treatment
How hiring practices, bias, and talent pipelines shape workplace representation
The role of leadership, culture, and belonging in organizational performance
Why do many companies quietly continue this work even as public language around DEI changes

Key Takeaways:

Diversity simply reflects differences in people, experiences, identities, and perspectives that exist within organizations and customer groups.
Inclusion is about creating a culture where people feel valued, supported, and connected to a shared organizational purpose.
Equity is not about lowering standards; it is about recognizing different starting points and creating fair access to opportunities.
Organizations often limit talent pools by repeatedly recruiting from the same places instead of broadening where they search for qualified candidates.
Strong leadership requires reducing bias in hiring and management processes while still selecting people based on skills, capability, and experience.

“The most qualified person that has those skills, capabilities, and all of those experiences and characteristics can be embodied in a multitude of different identities.” — Celeste Warren

About Celeste Warren:

Celeste Warren is a visionary leader who spent 28 years at a global Fortune 100 company, rising to Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. After retiring, she founded Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC, where she helps organizations create fair and equitable opportunities while improving workplace culture and inclusion.

Celeste also co-founded Destination STEM, Inc., a nonprofit supporting students of color pursuing science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) degrees. She is a published author, global speaker, and thought leader whose work on diversity, equity, and inclusion has appeared in national and international publications. She recently published her second book, The Truth About Equity.

Connect with Celeste Warren:

Website: http://www.CRWdiversity.com

Book: The Truth About Equity: https://www.amazon.com/Truth-About-Equity-Really-Everyone/dp/1967587000

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@celestewarren-equity

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/celestewarrenllc/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585947441940

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crwdiversity

See Dean’s TedTalk “Why Business Needs Intuition” here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEq9IYvgV7I

Connect with Dean:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgqRK8GC8jBIFYPmECUCMkw

Website: https://www.mfileadership.com/

The Mission Statement E-Newsletter: https://www.mfileadership.com/blog/