Celeste Warren: Why Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Isn’t Going Away — And What Leaders Still Get Wrong

What if much of the backlash around diversity, equity, and inclusion comes from misunderstanding what those ideas were actually meant to be? In this episode, Dean Newlund and Celeste Warren unpack the leadership, hiring, and workplace realities behind one of the most emotionally charged conversations in business today. In this episode, Dean Newlund and Celeste Warren discuss: What diversity, equity, and inclusion actually mean inside organizations Why equity is often misunderstood as lowering standards or giving preferential treatment How hiring practices, bias, and talent pipelines shape workplace representation The role of leadership, culture, and belonging in organizational performance Why do many companies quietly continue this work even as public language around DEI changes Key Takeaways: Diversity simply reflects differences in people, experiences, identities, and perspectives that exist within organizations and customer groups. Inclusion is about creating a culture w...