🌍 Embracing Diversity and Leading with Purpose | Career Lessons from Celeste Warren

How do you really make Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work, not just as a policy, but as something that’s lived and felt in an organisation?

In this episode of Your Career Journey, I sit down with Celeste Warren, a globally recognised HR and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI) leader with nearly 40 years of experience at some of the world’s largest corporations.

Celeste shares her inspiring career journey, from her early days as a journalist, to becoming a global HR executive, to specialising in DEI leadership. She reflects on the powerful influence of her father and how his experiences shaped her own perspective on resilience and inclusion.

💡 What you’ll learn in this episode:

➡️ How Celeste pivoted from journalism to human resources

➡️ What DEI really is, what it isn't and why everybody wins when you get it right

➡️ The lessons she learned from embedding DEI into corporate strategy at Merck

➡️ The challenges and opportunities of rolling out DEI on a global scale

➡️ Why continuous learning and authentic leadership are critical for leaders today

➡️ Her advice for the next generation of professionals stepping into leadership roles

Celeste also shares her next chapter: launching her own consulting practice and publishing her book, 'The Truth about Equity', while staying focused on empowering others to embrace diversity and lead with purpose.

📌 Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction and Welcome
00:10 Celeste's Early Life and Career Beginnings
02:47 Transition to Human Resources
04:53 Career at Merck & Pivot to DEI
09:23 What DEI Really Means
12:11 Embedding DEI in Large Organisations
18:28 Global Perspectives on Inclusion
26:19 Common DEI Challenges & Misunderstandings
39:13 Final Thoughts and Reflections

👉 If you’re a leader, HR professional, or simply curious about how to create more inclusive workplaces, this conversation is packed with practical insights and powerful stories you won’t want to miss.

To connect with Celeste:
🌍 Website: https://crwdiversity.com/
📖 Book: https://crwdiversity.com/#book
💼 LinkedIn:   / celestewarrenllc  

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