From Excellence to Impact: Celeste Warren on Authentic Leadership and Equity
"Two truths can coexist: you can be proud of your career and ready for something new."
In this powerful conversation, Dr. Lola Adeyemo chats with Celeste Warren—founder of Celeste Warren Consulting and co-founder of Destination STEM—to explore what it really means to lead with authenticity and create lasting change.
Celeste brings her full self to leadership: Black woman, mother, wife, aunt, caregiver, and entrepreneur. These intersecting identities aren't just who she is—they're how she leads, informing her belief that inclusive leadership isn't performative theater. It's about practical, repeatable acts of equity that meet people exactly where they are.
The Moment That Changed Everything
Sometimes one moment of visibility can reshape an entire trajectory. Celeste shares how a single national presentation became a key catalyst that transformed her career path, proving that excellence paired with strategic exposure creates opportunities that "heads-down" work alone cannot.
Her journey spans 28+ years at Merck, and originated from journalism roots to becoming Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. Now, through her consulting practice and new book The Truth About Equity, she's translating decades of wisdom into actionable guidance for the next generation of leaders.
What You'll Discover
The Exposure Equation
Why preparation without visibility limits your potential, and how to strategically position yourself for career-defining moments.
Building Careers on Learning, Not Titles
How choosing roles for skills and stretch over status creates compound leadership readiness that serves you for decades.
Equity, Demystified
Clear, practical language for what equity actually is—and what it isn't—cutting through today's polarized debates with actionable everyday practices.
ERGs as Talent Accelerators
Why Employee Resource Group leadership often provides more management experience and cross-functional visibility than traditional org charts.
Influence Without Authority
Practical moves for individual contributors to shape culture without waiting for permission or the perfect job title.
Inclusive Leadership at Scale
How senior roles don't make the work easier—just different—and why aligning diverse teams around shared purpose is both art and science.
The Intersectional Advantage
Celeste's leadership philosophy is inextricably linked to her lived experience. As she puts it, "We're not one identity. We're the cross-section of what's seen and unseen—life experiences that shape how we lead."
Her path from reporter to global DEI leader to entrepreneur demonstrates how diverse experiences compound into unique leadership strengths:
- Journalism foundations taught her to ask better questions and tell clearer stories
- HR expertise across training, labor relations, and transformation built deep business acumen
- Manufacturing experience where she created learning strategies that upskilled workforces without layoffs
- Global D&I leadership that scaled inclusion across a multinational enterprise
- Entrepreneurship now channeling all of this wisdom into consulting, speaking, and education
Who Does This Episode Serve?
Whether you're an early-career professional learning to navigate corporate spaces, an ERG leader looking to maximize impact, or an Executive working to move inclusion from intention to measurable results—this conversation offers both inspiration and practical guidance.
About Our Guest: Celeste Warren
Founder, Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC - Connect on Linkedin
Former VP & Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Merck
Author of How to Be a Diversity & Inclusion Ambassador and The Truth About Equity
Co-Founder, Destination STEM (supporting students of color in STEM)
Internationally recognized for DEI leadership, including 2024 Chief Diversity Officer of the Year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council. Above all, she's a relentless believer in people and the power of authentic leadership.
About the Host: Dr. Lola Adeyemo
An inclusive workplace advocate. She is the CEO of EQImindset (an ERG/BRG consulting firm) and the founder of Immigrants in Corporate Inc. A scientist-turned-ERG strategist, author, and speaker who helps organizations move inclusion from intention to measurable impact through strategy, storytelling, and workplace communities. Connect with Dr. Lola Adeyemo on Linkedin.
Get Involved
HR/Culture/DEI leaders: Email [email protected] to launch and scale ERGs that drive real business outcomes or to guest on the podcast.
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