Celeste Warren’s life has been shaped by diversity and inclusion. Growing up in a small steel mill town in western Pennsylvania, she saw firsthand what the impact that inequity and exclusion could have on people. Her father was one of the first black teachers and Principals in western Pennsylvania during the late 1950s and 1960s, when battles for civil rights were raging throughout the nation.
She once asked her father how he dealt with being a trailblazer in the education system, especially during that era. He told her a story about when he first was hired as a teacher at the high school. He was an education major and they made him the Physical Education teacher. There was no gymnasium for P.E., so the class was held outside in the parking lot of the school.
When he first started teaching the students in the parking lot, the parents of the students would come and sit in their cars and watch him while he was teaching their children. He different let him sway him or distract him and continued to teach them. He taught them discipline, integrity, and respect for themselves and each other. He said that each week, the cars would diminish in the parking lot until there were none left. Overtime, he had overcome the prejudices of that era by staying true to himself, his approach, and his students.
Of all the stories and anecdotes her father shared with her about his life, it is that one that she cherishes most because it highlights some of the strongest traits of leadership: Inner strength and patience, self-confidence, and faith.
Celeste has taken those attributes with her throughout her career.
Celeste is a visionary leader who had an impressive 28-year tenure at a global Fortune 100 company, where she rose to the esteemed position of Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. During her decade-long leadership of the Global Diversity and Inclusion Center of Excellence, Celeste implemented groundbreaking initiatives that fostered a culture of inclusivity and equity, setting new standards in the industry.
After her retirement, Celeste founded Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC, where she passionately continues her mission to reshape the landscape of diversity and inclusion. Her consulting services empower organizations to create fair and equitable opportunities for all, driving meaningful change and enhancing workplace culture.
Celeste is also a TEDx Speaker whose talk highlights the critical importance of changing systems—not just individuals—to achieve true and sustainable momentum in equity. Through this message, she challenges organizations to rethink traditional approaches to diversity work and instead focus on transforming the structures, policies, and practices that shape opportunity and outcomes.
In addition to her consulting work, Celeste, alongside her two children, established Destination STEM, Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing vital resources and support to students of color and those in need pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
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 not only reshaped internal culture but 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. 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 and the Pennsylvania Conference for Women, and she is a member of the Forbes Nonprofit Council.
Celeste is a published author whose articles on diversity, equity, and inclusion have been featured in numerous national and global publications. She is also an internationally sought-after speaker and recently published her second book, The Truth About Equity: What It Really Is, What It Isn’t, and Why Everyone Wins When We Get It Right.
Celeste attended the University of Kentucky, where she earned her B.S. degree, and later 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.
Read more
Read less
