DEI speaker for hire

DEI speaker for hire: Celeste Warren, former Fortune 100 executive and TEDx speaker

Celeste Warren is a DEI speaker for hire who helps leaders see how everyday decisions and organizational systems shape whether people can contribute, grow, and succeed. She speaks to conferences, boards, and executive offsites, drawing on nearly four decades in human resources and organizational leadership.

Last updated November 2026

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Why choose Celeste Warren when you need a DEI speaker for hire?

Celeste Warren brings 28 years inside a Fortune 100 company, including a decade as Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer. Her keynotes and executive briefings ask leaders what within their organization helps people succeed and what gets in their way, then turn the answer into practical leadership decisions rather than buzzwords.

Senior executives can also work with her directly through confidential executive advisory.

Everything an event organizer or board needs

Numbers card

Celeste Warren by the numbers

Career facts as published on crwdiversity.com
Fact	Detail
Human resources and organizational leadership	Nearly 4 decades
Years at a Fortune 100 company	28 years
Years leading global diversity and inclusion	10 years
Former role	Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer
TEDx talk	The Cost of Standing Still
Books	The Truth About Equity; How to Be a Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador
Elements in the Equity in Action Model	6

What does a DEI keynote speaker do?

A DEI keynote speaker delivers a talk that helps an audience understand how diversity, equity, and inclusion show up in leadership and workplace culture, and what to do about it. In Celeste Warren's case, the focus is on systems as well as people: the policies, practices, access to opportunity, leadership decisions, and unwritten norms that shape people's experiences at work every day.

Her goal is practical. Audiences leave with questions they can ask inside their own organization and decisions they can make differently, not a list of slogans.

Leadership keynotes

Leadership keynote speaker on culture, systems, and decisions

A keynote speaker on leadership, not only on DEI

Celeste's work examines both sides of the equation: how people lead and how organizations operate. That makes her a fit when you need a leadership keynote speaker who can talk credibly about culture, talent, and organizational change from experience inside a Fortune 100 company.

Browse leadership keynote topics

Built on the Equity in Action Model

Many of her talks use the six elements of her Equity in Action Model: Awareness, Access, Advocacy, Action, Accountability, and Empowerment. Each one turns a value into a leadership behavior that can be observed and measured by outcomes, not just intentions.

TEDx

TEDx keynote speaker: The Cost of Standing Still

Watch on YouTube

As a TEDx keynote speaker, Celeste asks a question many leaders avoid: what happens when talented people are ready to move forward, but the systems around them are not? The talk argues that momentum is shaped not simply by individual effort but by systems that either enable progress or quietly restrict it.

For organizers, the talk is a free way to see her delivery before booking. Read the TEDx talk summary.

Comparison

Which format fits your event?

Celeste offers keynotes, executive briefings, facilitated conversations, workshops, and executive advisory. Use this table to match the format to your goal.

Celeste Warren speaking and advisory formats, compared on the same five criteria
Format	Best for	Typical audience	Interaction	Typical setting
Keynote	Align a large audience around one idea	Conference attendees, all-company meetings, associations	Mostly presentation	Conferences and large events, in person or virtual
Executive briefing	Examine a specific leadership, culture, or talent issue	Boards, C-suite teams, senior leaders	Presentation plus focused discussion	Board meetings and executive offsites
Facilitated conversation	Open honest dialogue about leadership and culture	Leadership teams, ERGs, classes, member groups	Mostly discussion	Offsites, panels, campus and member events
Workshop or learning experience	Practice and apply fair, inclusive leadership	Managers and leaders	Hands-on practice	Team and manager development programs
Executive advisory	Ongoing, confidential thought partnership	Individual executives and leadership teams	One-to-one or small group	Over time, as challenges unfold

Procedure

How to book Celeste Warren in four steps

Review the talk and topics
Watch the TEDx talk and scan the keynote topics with your planning team.
Send an inquiry
Use the contact form on crwdiversity.com with your date, audience, format, and goals.
Agree on scope and fee
Discuss format, length, delivery, and customization. Fees are quoted per engagement.
Prepare together
Share context about your organization so the message fits your audience's real challenges.

In their words

What hosts and leaders have said about Celeste

Quoted exactly as published on crwdiversity.com.

"Celeste is a phenomenal leader. A true natural communicator who speaks with candor, passion, and lived experience. We have welcomed Celeste as a leading authority to speak at our DIAL Global Virtual summits as she truly epitomizes authenticity through her passion for positive affirmative change."
Leila McKenzie-Delis, Founder & CEO, DIAL Global
"Celeste delivered an insightful and engaging presentation that provided our members with practical strategies they could immediately apply in their career. Her depth of experience, authentic delivery, and ability to connect with participants made the session especially valuable. I would highly recommend Celeste to schools, universities, and organizations looking for a knowledgeable and impactful speaker."
Will Moss, CEO, HBCU CONNECT, LLC
"Celeste was one of the most impactful speakers I have had visit my class. She has a vast knowledge of DEI issues and was tremendously effective in helping my students make connections between research and practice. Her approachable style facilitated a meaningful and productive dialogue on DEI in the workplace."
Devon Proudfoot, Assistant Professor, Human Resource Studies, ILR School, Cornell University
"The guide for creating cultures where everyone feels welcomed and empowered."
Kenneth Frazier, Former Executive Chairman, Merck & Co., Inc.

For senior executives

Need more than a talk? Ask about executive advisory.

A confidential thought partnership for executives navigating complex leadership, culture, talent, and organizational challenges.

Executive advisory

Common questions

All 45 questions in the FAQ

Is Celeste Warren a DEI speaker for hire?: Yes. Celeste Warren is available to hire for keynotes, executive briefings, and facilitated conversations on leadership, culture, systems, and equity. Her talks draw on nearly four decades in human resources and organizational leadership and 10 years leading global diversity and inclusion. Inquiries go through the contact form at crwdiversity.com.
How much does it cost to hire a DEI speaker?: DEI speaker fees vary widely. Senior Executive's guide to DEI speakers bureaus reports one bureau's prices ranging from $5,000 to $200,000 per speaker. Celeste Warren does not publish a fee; it depends on format, length, travel, and audience. Request a quote through the contact form at crwdiversity.com.
What keynote topics does Celeste speak on?: Celeste speaks on leadership, workplace culture, organizational systems, and the decisions that shape people's experiences at work. Her topic areas draw on her TEDx talk, her two books, and the Equity in Action Model. Exact titles, length, and emphasis are set with each organizer during the inquiry process.
What speaking formats does Celeste offer?: Celeste offers keynotes, executive briefings, and facilitated conversations. Keynotes suit conferences and large audiences. Executive briefings suit boards, C-suite teams, and executive offsites. Facilitated conversations suit groups that want dialogue rather than a single talk. She also offers workshops and confidential executive advisory.
What is Celeste Warren's TEDx talk about?: Her TEDx talk, The Cost of Standing Still, asks what happens when talented people are ready to move forward but the systems around them are not. It argues that organizational momentum is shaped by systems that either enable progress or quietly restrict it, not only by individual effort. The talk is available on YouTube.
Is Celeste a good fit for boards and C-suite teams?: Yes. As a former Fortune 100 Vice President and Chief Diversity & Inclusion Officer, Celeste worked with executives on complex people and culture issues. Her executive briefings and confidential executive advisory are built for leaders responsible for organizational decisions.
How do I book Celeste Warren to speak?: Use the contact form at crwdiversity.com/#contact, which handles speaking and press inquiries. Include your organization, event date, location or virtual format, audience, and goals. That first message starts the conversation about availability, format, and fee.

Planning a conference, board session, or executive offsite?

Tell Celeste about your audience, date, and goals. Speaking and press inquiries go through one contact form on her main website.

Send a speaking inquiry