338: What Equity is and How Enable it at Your Organization with Celeste Warren

In this episode of *Allyship in Action*, host Julie welcomes back Celeste Warren, a globally recognized DEI thought leader and former Fortune 100 chief DEI officer, to discuss the often-misunderstood concept of equity. Celeste unpacks the distinctions between diversity, inclusion, and equity, emphasizing that equity is about meeting people where they are by providing tailored resources to overcome systemic barriers. She uses the powerful metaphor of people standing behind a fence—some can see over it, others cannot—illustrating how equity isn’t about giving everyone the same thing, but about giving people what they need to succeed. The conversation dives into why resistance to equity stems from fear of being left behind, misunderstanding of privilege, and discomfort with confronting systemic isms. Celeste outlines practical, systemic fixes across the employee lifecycle—from recruitment and hiring to performance management and succession planning—arguing that transparent, equitable systems benefit everyone, not just marginalized groups. She warns that failing to modernize these systems risks losing Gen Z and Gen Alpha talent, who demand clarity, fairness, and purpose. The episode concludes with a call to action: reimagining organizational systems not as obstacles, but as engines of collective success.