“Diversity, equity, and inclusion have the ability to transform culture, drive business results, and improve lives around the world.When people feel valued and empowered, they are able to innovate and make amazing things happen.”

- Celeste Warren

At Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC, we are dedicated to fostering inclusive workplaces and promoting fair practices across industries, both public and private, and including universities and firms. Founded by Celeste Warren, a distinguished leader in the field of diversity and inclusion, our consulting firm leverages over three decades of experience in human resources and organizational development to transform corporate cultures.

Recognized by many organizations including: Black Enterprise’s “Top Executives in Global Diversity and Inclusion,” Savoy Magazine’s “Most Influential Women in Corporate America,” and Diversity Global Magazine’s “Influential Women in Global Diversity,” Celeste’s articles on diversity, equity, and inclusion have been featured in numerous national and global publications and she has had the opportunity to speak at various events across the world.

Celeste Warren is the Founder and CEO of Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC. With a remarkable career as a C-Suite Executive at one of the world’s top Fortune 50 corporations, Celeste has established herself as a transformative force in corporate culture. She led the Global Diversity & Inclusion Center of Excellence for over ten years, where she played a pivotal role in reshaping her company’s internal culture and influencing the broader business landscape. Her visionary approach has empowered organizations to embrace inclusivity as a cornerstone of success, inspiring countless individuals and organizations to commit to meaningful change.Before founding Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC, Celeste served as a Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer for over ten years as well as a Vice President of Human Resources across various divisions, including sales, marketing, research, manufacturing, and corporate support. Her strategic leadership involved the development and implementation of enterprise-wide people strategies, ensuring that inclusivity was woven into the fabric of the organization. Celeste has also led HR efforts during significant mergers and acquisitions, equipping her with a deep understanding of the complexities of organizational dynamics and the critical importance of fostering a diverse workforce.Celeste is recognized internationally for her pivotal contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Her work has not only transformed internal practices within organizations but has also set a benchmark for businesses worldwide. She firmly believes that diversity is not just a moral imperative but a business necessity that drives innovation and excellence.

Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC is a dedicated firm focused on fostering inclusive workplaces, promoting fair practices, and helping organizations navigate the complexities of diversity and inclusion across various sectors, including public and private organizations as well as universities. Founded by Celeste Warren, a prominent leader in diversity and inclusion, the firm utilizes over 30 years of expertise in human resources, organizational change, and diversity and inclusion to transform corporate cultures. Celeste Warren Consulting offers tailored solutions and actionable insights that empower leaders and employees to harness their unique perspectives to drive optimal performance. The firm is dedicated to creating inclusive environments where every individual can thrive, ultimately enhancing innovation and success within organizations.

Celeste is a dynamic and impactful speaker who has had the opportunity to speak at various events across the world. She is sought after by organizations, firms, agencies, and media outlets and has the unique ability to connect with her audience and take them on a journey which helps them to reflect, internalize, and very importantly drive change to create the inclusive environments we want to see. Always leaving her audience with a “call to action,” Celeste strives to make an impact on the world around her.

How to Be a Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador: Everyone’s Role in Helping All Feel Accepted, Engaged, and Valued is Celeste’s first book. Many individuals feel they don’t have a role to play in driving diversity and inclusion, but everyone has a role to play to make real change. Her book will provide individuals with a guide for how they can specifically leverage their abilities to create the culture they want to see, where everyone can feel engaged and empowered to add value.

Consulting

At Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC, we are committed to helping organizations navigate the complexities of diversity and inclusion. We provide strategic guidance and actionable insights to help businesses create inclusive cultures that empower all employees to contribute their unique perspectives and talents.

Why Choose Us?

  • Expertise: With Celeste’s extensive background in diversity and inclusion and human resources and organizational development, we bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to our clients.

  • Tailored Solutions: We understand that each organization is unique. Our consulting services are customized to meet the specific needs and goals of your organization.

  • Proven Impact: Our strategies are designed to drive meaningful change, fostering environments where everyone can thrive and contribute to the organization’s success.

Join Us in Transforming Workplaces

With an unwavering commitment to diversity and inclusion, Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC is dedicated to transforming workplaces into inclusive spaces where every individual can thrive. Our leadership serves as a beacon of hope and progress, challenging businesses to harness the power of inclusion to drive innovation and success.

MY BOOKS

You're About to Discover the Real Truth About Equity...

And Why It Changes Everything.

Equity Matters Now More Than Ever

In today's polarized world, the word equity is often met with confusion, controversy... or complete silence. Yet behind the headlines and hashtags lies a deeper truth: equity isn't just a buzzword. It's a blueprint for a more just and thriving society.In The Truth About Equity: What It Really Is, What It Isn't, and Why Everyone Wins When We Get It Right, Celeste Warren, a globally recognized Human Resources executive and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion leader with four decades of experience, brings bold clarity to one of the most misunderstood concepts of our time.Through unflinching personal stories and real-world examples from boardrooms, classrooms, and communities, Warren dismantles the myths, exposes the systematic barriers, and offers a practical, actionable path forward for anyone in a position of leadership or influence.This isn't theory. It's a call to courage, and a guide to doing equity right. Whether you're leading a Fortune 500 company, shaping tomorrow's minds in education, working to support your community, or simply trying to understand your place in the conversation, The Truth About Equity gives you the tools, language, and insight to make fairness real and progress possible.

Current Challenges

  • Why "equity" is misunderstood as "preferential treatment"

  • How systematic barriers persist even in modern workplaces

  • What happens when voices and opportunities are unequally distributed

What's Possible?

  • A clearer, more inclusive way to talk about fairness

  • Tools to build equitable workplaces, schools, and communities

  • Real-world examples of equity in action that benefit everyone

What You'll Learn In The Truth About Equity

  • A Clear Definition of Equity, Beyond the Buzzwords. Unpack the difference between equity, equality, and fairness, and discover why these distinctions matter more than ever in today's workplaces, classrooms, and communities.

  • How to Spot the Invisible Systems That Shape Our Lives. Learn to identify the hidden structures (e.g. policies, practices, assumptions) that advantage some and disadvantage others, even when intentions are good.

  • The "Rocks and Fences" Analogy That Will Change How You See the World. Explore a visual, unforgettable framework for understanding equity in action... and how small shifts can create transformational outcomes for all.

  • Why Equity and Meritocracy Aren't Opposites, They're Partners. Debunk the myth that fairness undermines excellence. Discover how true merit can only thrive when opportunities are made accessible to everyone.

  • Practical Tools for Real-World Change. Gain actionable strategies for leading with equity, whether you're managing a team, influencing a system, or simply speaking up when it matters most.

  • The Role You Play in Creating a More Just World. From executive boardrooms to family dinner tables, learn how your everyday actions contribute to a culture of inclusion, trust, and shared success.

Ready To Lead With Equity?

Join thousands of leaders who are creating more inclusive, effective organizations.

“THE GUIDE FOR CREATING CULTURES WHERE EVERYONE FEELS WELCOMED AND EMPOWERED.”

KENNETH FRAZIER
Former Executive Chairman, Merck & Co., Inc.

How to Be a Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador

Everyone’s Role in Helping All Feel Accepted, Engaged, and Valued

ABOUT THIS BOOK

This book offers a clear, proven framework for how anyone — from the CEO to a frontline employee — can play a role in creating a diverse and welcoming workplace.Creating a diverse workplace needs to be an ongoing effort, not just the subject of occasional training. What can you do to help? Celeste Warren says you can become a diversity and inclusion ambassador. These people are committed to helping everyone see the importance of inclusive and equitable practices.

Warren offers a straightforward three-stage model:

  • 1. Become aware of your own conscious and unconscious biases.

  • 2. Take an inventory of your surroundings: What is getting in the way of there being an inclusive environment in your organization?

  • 3. Develop a personal action plan.

Celeste welcomes the opportunity to talk to you about being a diversity and inclusion ambassador. Her talks on diversity, equity, and inclusion inspire audiences to create a better future with practical steps they can implement today. She is available for keynotes and panel discussions.If you are interested, please contact Celeste.

“Celeste Warren has supported the National Diversity and Leadership conference several times and each time she has been inspiring with her wisdom. Celeste is fully supportive of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives and her insights on advancing DEI have been well received from our conference attendees. She is a true champion of DEI and I look forward to working with Celeste in the near future!”Dennis Kennedy, Founder & CEO, National Diversity Council

“Celeste is a phenomenal leader. A true natural communicator who speaks with candor, passion, and lived experience. We have welcomed Celeste as a leading authority to speak at our DIAL Global Virtual summits as she truly epitomizes authenticity through her passion for positive affirmative change.”Leila McKenzie-Delis, Founder & CEO, DIAL Global

“Celeste was a guest panelist for an event sponsored by our organization and she brought her unique perspective to the discussion as an African-American executive with a career that has spanned many years focused on embedding diversity and inclusion throughout organizations with the goal of enhancing the employee experience and creating an organizational culture that celebrates everyone and the value they bring.”Dr. Steven Thomas Sr., Former Leader, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at PhRMA

“Celeste was one of the most impactful speakers I have had visit my class. She has a vast knowledge of DEI issues and was tremendously effective in helping my students make connections between research and practice. Her approachable style facilitated a meaningful and productive dialogue on DEI in the workplace.”Devon Proudfoot, Assistant Professor, Human Resource Studies, ILR School, Cornell University

MEDIA & PRESS

The Winters Group, Inc.
Celeste Warren on the Meaning of Justice for All

DPW
3 Traits Every Inclusive Leader Must Have - A Holistic Approach to DEI w/ Celeste Warren

Living Corporate
[Real Talk Tuesday] Black Folks, HR, & Workplace Equity (w/ Celeste Warren)

All Inclusive
How to Be a Diversity & Inclusion Ambassador I Celeste Warren, Global Chief D&I Officer at Merck

The Female Quotient
How Women Are Leading Change in the International Healthcare Landscape

CNBC
To attract and keep workers, make sure benefits reflect what they want, say these people leaders

COLOR MAGAZINE POWERLIST
Celeste Warren was recently named to Color Magazine’s Top 50 Power List

REAL CHEMISTRY
How DEI & Health Equity Work Together

CNBC
CNBC Workforce Executive Council Teachable Moments Series

MULTICULTURAL.COM
Recommended Multicultural and Diversity Books

SCALING CULTURE PODCAST
Episode 73: How to Integrate and Measure Diversity & Inclusion Strategies

PRESS KIT

OFFICIAL BIO

Celeste Warren is a transformative leader whose remarkable 28-year journey at Merck culminated in her role as Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, wherem she spearheaded the Global Diversity and Inclusion Center of Excellence for 10 years. As she prepares to embark on a new chapter in July, Celeste leaves behind a legacy of profound impact that resonates far beyond the walls of Merck.Throughout her illustrious career, Celeste has championed diversity, equity, and inclusion on a global scale, elevating the importance of understanding diverse cultures, perspectives, and beliefs within corporate strategies. Her visionary approach has not only reshaped Merck's internal culture but has also influenced the broader business landscape, empowering organizations worldwide to embrace inclusivity as a cornerstone of success.Recognized internationally for her pivotal contributions, Celeste has inspired countless individuals and organizations to commit to meaningful change, fostering environments where everyone can thrive. Her dedication and leadership serve as a beacon of hope and progress, challenging businesses to harness the power of diversity to drive innovation and excellence.

She has been recognized for her work in diversity, equity and inclusion including:

  • Black Enterprise’s - “Top Executives in Global Diversity and Inclusion”

  • Savoy Magazine’s - “Most Influential Women in Corporate America”

  • Diversity Global Magazine’s - “Influential Women in Global Diversity”

  • Diversity Woman Magazine’s - “Elite100” List

She was also recognized as the Chief Diversity Officer of the Year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council.She serves on the boards of RWJBarnabas Health Systems, the PA Conference for Women and Paradigm for Parity. She is also a member of CNBC’s Workforce Executive Council.Celeste is a published author and her articles on diversity, equity and inclusion have been featured in numerous national and global publications and she has had the opportunity to speak at various events across the world.Celeste attended the University of Kentucky where she earned her B.S. degree. She received her master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University.She is the wife of John Warren and the mother of two children, Christina Celeste and John Steven, Jr.

APPROVED PHOTOS

Speaking EngagementsTo contact Celeste, please email Celeste@celestwarrenconsulting.com or fill out the Contact Form.

FOR MORE INFORMATION / PRESS INQUIRIES

Need the press kit? Find it here.Email Celeste
Celeste@celestwarrenconsulting.comOr fill out this form: