The Truth About Equity: Celeste Warren’s Mission to Redefine Fairness in the workplace

NATIONWIDE - AUGUST 2025 - (USAnews.com) In the summer of 1987, Celeste Warren stepped onto the campus of Carnegie Mellon University, ready to begin graduate studies. With a background in journalism and political science, she needed a summer bridge program to complete prerequisites. To her, it was an opportunity to start on equal footing. Later, when a fellow student questioned why she “got” to take the program, the comment revealed a misunderstanding. He saw it as preferential treatment; she knew it as equity. That moment would influence a career devoted to clarifying and championing equity in both business and community.

From Corporate Boardrooms to Global Stages

For nearly three decades at Merck, Warren advanced to become Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer. She led the company’s Global Diversity and Inclusion Center of Excellence for over ten years, introducing strategies that became models for other organizations. Under her leadership, Merck integrated diversity and equity into its core business strategy, shaping a culture of inclusion that extended beyond the company.

Her work has been recognized by 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, and Diversity Woman Magazine’s Elite 100. She was also named Chief Diversity Officer of the Year by the National Minority Supplier Development Council.

Founding Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC

Following her retirement from Merck, Warren launched Celeste Warren Consulting, LLC, a firm specializing in helping organizations build inclusive workplaces. The practice offers four primary services:

1. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Strategy Development Support – Custom frameworks aligned with organizational goals.

2. DE&I Training Programs – Practical workshops that build skills for inclusion and belonging.

3. Speaking Engagements – Presentations designed to inspire and challenge audiences to become champions of fair and equitable practices for all .

4. DE&I Counseling – Confidential sessions for leaders addressing organizational equity challenges.

Warren’s approach is based on experience, cultural fluency, and measurable outcomes. She focuses on actionable solutions rather than theoretical discussions.

Equity as a Strategic Advantage

In Warren’s view, equity is not interchangeable with equality. Equality assumes all participants begin from the same point. Equity recognizes that some start ahead, others behind, and closing those gaps requires deliberate effort.

The concept of meritocracy, she explains, is incomplete without equity. If individuals do not have equal access to resources, networks, and preparation, merit alone cannot reveal the strongest talent. “The best candidate does not always have the most polished résumé,” Warren notes. “Sometimes it is the person who excelled despite barriers and could achieve even more with a fair chance.”

Commitment Beyond Business

Warren’s work extends to education through Destination STEM, Inc., a nonprofit she co-founded with her children, Christina-Celeste and John Steven Jr. The organization provides resources and support for students of color and students in need pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Its mission is to expand access to fields critical to the future economy.

Author, Speaker, and Board Leader

Warren is the author of two books: How to Be a Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador (2022) and The Truth About Equity: What It Really Is, What It Isn’t, and Why Everyone Wins When We Get It Right. Her writing has been published in national and global outlets, and she has presented at conferences worldwide.

She serves on the boards of RWJBarnabas Health Systems, the PA Conference for Women, and Paradigm for Parity. She is also a member of the CNBC Workforce Executive Council.

Building a Fairer Future

“The systems we have were not designed with everyone in mind,” Warren says. “We cannot change the past, but we can design a future that allows all people to contribute and succeed.” She believes inequity limits potential, while equity expands it, benefiting individuals, organizations, and society as a whole.

Her message is clear: stop expecting individuals to overcome systemic obstacles alone and start working to remove those obstacles. “When equity leads, everyone moves forward,” she affirms.

Learn More:
CRWDiversity.com
DestinationSTEM.org
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