Episode #195
The Truth About Equity and Inclusive Leadership with Celeste Warren
Celeste Warren spent almost four decades inside global corporations, including her last ten years as chief diversity and inclusion officer at Merck. Her take on leadership is refreshingly practical: most failures are not complicated. Leaders skip the basics, chase their own careers, and forget that people, not production lines, run the business. In this episode of Unpacked with Ron Harvey, Celeste and Ron talk belonging, trust, influence, and what equity looks like when you treat it as a leadership responsibility instead of a political debate. In this episode: The one habit that builds belonging: regular one-on-ones that go deeper than status updates Why so many managers never learn to lead, and how ego and career climbing get in the way Equity in plain terms: meeting people where they are so they can perform at their best How to win over leaders who disagree with you using data, storytelling, and ideas from the people doing the work Why you should always bring two or three options, each with a timeline and pros and cons Building relationships up, down, and across your organization The fastest way for a new leader to earn trust: do what you say you are going to do Why vulnerability is not weakness, and why no leader is supposed to have all the answers The umbrella principle: shielding your team from executive noise when the pressure is on Moving company values off the wall and into hiring, promotion, and training so a third-shift supervisor knows what to do at 3 a.m. Celeste Warren is a consultant, speaker, and author of The Truth About Equity: What It Really Is, What It Isn't, and Why Everyone Wins When We Get It Right. After retiring from corporate life, she launched her own firm to help organizations and universities build inclusive cultures, fair practices, and stronger leaders. Get the book on Amazon or at Celeste's website: [URL TO CONFIRM] Connect with Celeste Warren on LinkedIn. Unpacked with Ron Harvey is produced by Global Core Strategies and Consulting, a leadership development firm based in Columbia, South Carolina. People always matter. Connect with Ron Just Make A Difference: Leading Under Pressure by Ron Harvey “If you don’t have something to measure your growth, you won’t be self-aware or intentional about your growth.” Learn more about Global Core Strategies . . . . . Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and guests and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any organization or entity. The information provided in this podcast is intended for educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice. Listeners should consult with their own professional advisors before implementing any suggestions or recommendations made in this podcast. The speakers and guests are not responsible for any actions taken by listeners based on the information presented in this podcast. The podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice or services. The speakers and guests make no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in this podc...
