Celeste Warren on Reframing Equity: Why Inclusive Leadership Wins - 2025 Next Practices Weekly
i4cp’s Next Practices Weekly featured Celeste Warren, a nationally recognized D&I expert, former longtime executive at Merck, and author for a compelling session on the strategic role of inclusive leadership. Drawing from decades of global experience, Celeste shared how embedding equity into leadership behaviors and talent systems leads to measurable business outcomes and a more trusting organizational culture.
Cohosts Amber Burton and Eric Davis guided a conversation that was rich with frameworks and examples. Celeste introduced her signature “Rocks and Fence” analogy to help organizations understand and address systemic barriers to fairness. She also shared strategies for embedding equity into decision-making—especially in the era of AI—and called on leaders to move from symbolic actions to structural solutions that build trust and deliver measurable outcomes.
Key Topics Discussed
- The “Rocks and Fence” Framework for Systemic Equity
Celeste’s powerful analogy illustrates how well-meaning structures can unintentionally disadvantage some groups. Leaders must identify where "rocks" are accumulating and remove them to ensure equal access and opportunity for all employees. - Inclusive Leadership as a Core Business Capability
Rather than a side initiative, inclusive leadership is a competency that drives innovation, engagement, and performance. Celeste urged organizations to bake inclusion into how leaders are trained, measured, and rewarded. - Mitigating Bias in the Age of AI
AI doesn’t remove human bias—it can reinforce it. Celeste emphasized that inclusive leadership is essential to govern AI systems ethically and ensure they reflect organizational values of fairness and respect. - Shifting from Symbolism to Strategy
Lasting progress in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion demands more than statements. It requires embedding equity into everyday processes like hiring, promotions, and leadership development. - Courageous Conversations That Build Trust
Equity is a conversation—one that must be consistent, transparent, and empathetic. Celeste provided tools for leading meaningful dialogue across the organization.
If you missed the live session or want to revisit Celeste’s thought-provoking insights, we highly recommend watching the full recording. It’s a masterclass in moving from performative Diversity Equity & Inclusion efforts to sustainable, systemic change that drives both employee trust and business performance.
Resources Shared
- Is your organization truly remote-first? Find out what leading companies are doing differently—download the new joint i4cp-Akamai report, Remote First Organizations.
- Register for 2026 Conference - i4cp's Next Practices Now Conference
To ensure open discussion, this event was exclusively for HR practitioners. Vendors and consultants were not permitted to attend.
